Page 45 of Devoted

And what about Cannon? Is his picture out there? Will anyone recognize him?

“Oh, honey. They’re making all sorts of speculations about you and Juan Pablo. And the way they’re going after your mother is just unfair. They’re trying to make comparisons to failed careers and failed marriages with both of you.”

A cloud covers the sun, the perfect way to describe my mood. The sky might as well open up and dump acid rain on me. “Do you know how bad the damage is? Is there any way I can talk to Mother or see how Juan Pablo is doing?” I chew on a fingernail to keep me anchored while my thoughts threaten to spiral out of control.

“I don’t know. I’m so sorry. Your mom is at least familiar with how entertainment media works. Maybe your dad is too?”

Father hates the spotlight, but he should remember the early days of his marriage to Mother. When she was doing bit parts and trying to break into adult roles. The magazines back then used to love to rip her apart—her looks, her acting, her choice of husband. She left the world to preserve herself and her marriage. It helped until their opposite personalities did the rest.

I make a fist to keep from chewing my entire nail off. “Why would this story be a thing? Why would people care?” I exhale and close my eyes. I sink onto the bottom step. My energy is drained. “Never mind. I guess the better question is—since we can suspect Roman of leaking the details, my question is why?”

“I don’t know that either. God, I feel like I’m just telling you shitty news and I have absolutely no solutions. But I agree. That’s the right question. How does it benefit Roman for the world to think you left him for a bodyguard?”

My panic creeps higher. How’s Mother taking this? Is the gossip causing issues between Juan Pablo and his wife? A tremble runs through my body. It’s bad enough Roman’s men shot at my mother and he shut down the strip mall. I’m helpless to stop his swath of destruction through those I love. “The reality is that if it were true, it would’ve been an easy decision—to run off with anyone. But he’s not telling people the truth about himself. So how does this story benefit him? Or rather, his business?”

“He won’t hurt us,” London says with confidence I don’t feel. “He knows enough about Jacobi to give us a wide radius. Same with Holland and Kase. If I use your logic, then going after our image won’t benefit him. It’d put him at risk.”

“Trashing Juan Pablo’s marriage doesn’t help him either.”

“Entertainment news loves to make people assume men and women can’t have a nonsexual relationship. Even Roman would have to know that. If he doesn’t, his team would.”

She can’t see me, but I nod. My thoughts are swirling, and I’ll have to get off the phone with her to think about the situation. I’ll have to watch all the media I’ve been taught to avoid and wade into the vicious social media posts. “Can you believe that we’re talking like this?”

“I was thinking the same thing. We’re a long way from new flavors of lip gloss.”

Her comment makes me think of how I helped Mother with new flavors of smoothies and granola bars. So normal. A needed activity in a world that can be dark at times. Just like my profession. I can’t help people through dancing the same I would if I were a paramedic or a doctor, but it balances the crappy times in someone’s life.

“When I’m back in LA, we’re going for margaritas and coming up with all sorts of lip gloss ideas. A mojito lip gloss could add a ray of light to a girl’s day.”

“Deal. I don’t have a mojito lip gloss. Ooh, that’d make awesome shower gel. Paired with coconut.”

This is my out. I need to prepare myself for Roman’s current attack. “I’ll let you go brainstorm. Love you, friend.”

“Love you too. Stay safe.”

I give myself one minute. I let all the anger course through me. My heart pounds and tears burn in my eyes. Why? Why can’t he leave me alone?

It takes more than one steadying breath to settle myself down. Then I get up and go into the house.

Cannon opens the screen door before I do, his expression concerned. “You heard?”

I nod. “How bad?”

“I have everything pulled up.”

As I follow Cannon to his office, I think about how I’ve changed. Being with Roman made me feel weak. He filled me with shame. Leaving him has made me stronger. I have the support of my friends. I always have. And I have a man who truly cares for me. He empowers me. And together, we’re going to beat Roman.

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