Page 31 of Cougar

“Emerson?” She frowned.

“Liam’s sister.”

“And why do you have it?”

I shrugged like it was no big deal and dropped my gaze to the floor. “I found it in a box of Lizzie’s high school stuff.” I’d been playing hide-and-seek with my nephews. While I was hiding in the closet of my sister’s old room, I found a box of her stuff from high school. Emerson’s picture was at the top.

Jules moved to sit beside me on the bed and bumped her shoulder against mine. “And?”

“You can’t say anything, Jules,” I warned. “Not to my parents, and especially not to Liam.”

Jules shifted to face me and placed her hand on my back. “Cameron, we are friends, no?”

I answered with a single nod. “It’s just a crush. She’s a grown woman with a family. And she’s married to a rock star.” I huffed out a laugh, embarrassed. “It’s crazy, but every time I see her or even hear her name, I get this weird feeling in my stomach.”

“Butterflies.”

“Huh?” I looked over at her, confused.

“That feeling. It’s called butterflies.”

I scoffed. “Butterflies are for girls.”

She smiled sweetly. “Don’t worry, Cam. Your secret is safe with me.” Then she whispered, “I have a secret, too.”

Turned out Mr. Sterling was overly fond of Jules, and his leering looks made her extremely uncomfortable. I spent a lot of my free time at the Sterlings’ during my senior year. Jules and I became best friends, and we even dated off and on for a few years in college. We’ve had a lot of fun over the years, and although we didn’t work out romantically, we’re still good friends. Good friends who sometimes have sex. Good friends who keep each other’s secrets.

Emerson

“To my daughter, Jayla Mackenzie King, I leave the sum of—”

“Mom.”

“I also leave the villa in St. Thomas, the penthouse apartment in New York City, half the Malibu beach house and the home in Heritage Bay, Florida—”

“Mom.”

“—percent of King Records.”

“Emerson.”

“—and last but not least,The Jaybird.”

“What’sThe Jaybird?”

“An early birthday gift from your father,” our attorney informed her.

“Which is?”

“An airplane.”

Her brows dipped in confusion. “Why do I need a plane when King Records has two? It’s not like we travel all over the world or anything.”

The attorney’s gaze shifted to me. I turned in my chair to fully face her and exhaled. “Jayla, we’re leaving California. Indefinitely.”

“Mom!”

My body jerks and my eyes pop open. “What?” I mumble as I blink myself awake to find Jay standing over me with a smile on her face.

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