Page 97 of Tell Me When It's Over

It’s not that odd. Kyler and I have gone back to the way we used to be. Inseparable in a lot of ways. “I guess so.”

We’re a little too quiet for comfort as we climb into his car. I watch as he buckles and starts it, pulling out with a tick to his jaw. I’m not sure what passes through his mind, but he eventually sighs and eases into the seat. “Are you going to the taping of Hot in Hollywood next week?”

Turning my body toward him, I toy with the zipper of my bag. “No. Why would I?”

Surprise flickers across his features. “Oh. Maybe he wanted it to be a surprise.”

I don’t do well with surprises. “What?”

He sighs again. “Maybe I’m not supposed to tell you, so you didn’t hear it from me.” Pinning me with his eyes until I agree, he nods once and says, “Kyler is supposedly performing his new song on the show next week. I only know because Garrick and Mia are also guest stars on the show to do a duet of their single as a first-look exclusive or something.”

My eyes widen. Nobody told me that was happening. Not Kyler or Mia. “Oh,” I repeat slowly, wondering why they’ve kept it hush hush. I didn’t even know Kyler’s interested in going on those types of shows. Last we talked about it, which was a while ago, he said he wasn’t planning on doing anything like it.

Chase butts into my thoughts, probably guessing where they’re going. “I’m sure they wanted to surprise you with the news.”

I manage to lift a shoulder. “Maybe.” There’s no way I’m not bringing it up when I get home. I want to celebrate with them. Even if going on Hot in Hollywood wasn’t Ky’s idea, it’s worth being excited over, and Mia hasn’t performed in quite a while either. “Are you going?”

He glances at me, one shoulder lifting. “I want to, but Mom is having a few people over and I promised I’d stay home and catch up with everyone.”

My chest deflates. I wouldn’t have minded going with him to support everyone. It would make things more fun than being on my own. I don’t even know if I’m invited along, though, so I better not think too much into it. “I’m sure it’ll be boring anyway.”

Not even his chuckle is convincing. “Oh, yeah. A bunch of hot celebrities singing songs you absolutely love would be torture for you.”

Blushing I playfully shove his shoulder.

He shoots me a wink and reaches over, threading our fingers, and resting them on my leg, and I try hard not to think about how often Ky and I do this when we’re out driving, or even at home watching television together. Last night, he was going through my paper to proofread, a pen in one hand, mine in his other, and I’d been completely at peace with the silence between us.

He squeezes my hand. “Dinner tomorrow, then the party?”

“It’s a date,” I confirm, though my stomach doesn’t get the tingly feeling it used to.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Kyler / Present Day

“You’re an asshat,” I inform my sister, glaring at the screen she showed me. It isn’t like her elephant-level laughter is surprising considering the headline, but it doesn’t stop me from hoping she pees herself again.

She wheezes. “It’s just…” More wheezing as her hands cradle her stomach. “I think I’m going to frame it. Put it somewhere everybody can see.” Her head bobs. “Yep. It’s going in the bathroom.”

“The bathroom?” I repeat deadpan.

A confirming nod.

Why do I put up with her? I don’t even want to be here running lines, but she insisted that Lenny already agreed and the scene she has to audition for needed three people. Her husband could easily do it if she weren’t so damn picky, but he’s off with an old friend for the day while we stay with her.

The headline stares me in the face until I finally close out of the app and begrudgingly pass my sister’s phone back to her. She’s a pain in my ass but I love her, even if she finds it funny that a “source” claims my new song is about my feud with Garrick Matthews. That could be ignored if the speculation didn’t stir some bullshit rumors that maybe the Australian and I had a lot more going on than we led people to believe over the years.

After a few seconds of silence, Mia starts laughing again. “They think you two are lovers,” she rasps out, holding her sides. She’s turning red from how hard she’s cracking up, for Christ’s sake. Cheeks puffed out as she tries refraining from more, she fails. “Oh my God. If I don’t stop I’m going to pop this kid out before he’s ready.”

I blink. Did she just…? “You’re having a bo

y? I’m getting a nephew?”

Leighton walks back in the room with a tray of drinks she insisted on making for us. “Did I just hear the baby is a boy?”

Mia sobers quickly. “Shit. You didn’t hear that! I couldn’t stop wondering so I made an excuse for Dylan to leave the room that way the doctor could tell me. Dill doesn’t know.”

I’m surprised Dylan left the room. He’s been her guard dog since she entered her second trimester, reading up on every possible thing the internet said could go wrong. He only leaves her side when he knows trustworthy people are with her just in case. “What did you say to him?”

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