Page 21 of All Yours

“I was also telling her that those investors who toured this morning are signing on,” Camden said, smiling.

Relief flooded through me, and my shoulders released a small amount of the tension they carried. At least now we’d have enough to finish the project the way we wanted with the courtyard added.

“That is wonderful news,” my mom said, then lifted her wineglass to her nose and inhaled before taking a sip.

I didn’t get the entire process with wine. My mom could pick out the subtleties of any wine. I’ve never noted hints of hazelnut or the chocolate finish in any of it. It tastes like wine.

“Tell me what’s up with this Sloane girl?” she asked, sitting the glass on the table.

I sighed, rolling my beer bottle between my palms, glancing up to find Camden paying rapt attention.

“Go on,” he said.

“You know who Sloane was before she moved here?”

“Of course. Your father and I saw her win the US Open back in 2009. She was a tiny little thing running around out there. I felt sorry for her.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Because she was so talented, so young, and she didn’t have a normal life. Her dad did all these interviews about how many hours a day she practiced. It didn’t sound like she had much of a childhood, for sure. Then all these photographers following her, then so many expectations at such a young age. It was so crazy that I don’t blame her for running away.” She sipped her wine.

I contemplated what my mom said.

“Well, Sebastian Sinclair wrote a tell-all book about his life, including a relationship with her,” I said. Should I include the part where I’m her fake boyfriend now?

My mother rolled her eyes. “I bet that’s a hot steaming pile of garbage.”

“Her parents sent a PR person today to put together a plan,” I said.

“Not a lawyer?” she asked.

“There’s one filing an injunction to pause the release since she doesn’t know what’s in it. And the publishers never announced the upcoming release until today, and it goes on sale in like two days.”

My mom laughed. “If her dad’s still as fame hungry as I remember, he’s not working that hard to put a stop to it.”

“Sloane hasn’t talked to him in years. Maybe he’s trying to make things right now,” I said.

“I wouldn’t put all my eggs in that basket,” Camden said, playing with the loose corner of the label on his beer.

“How is Sloane taking all this?” my mom asked.

“Not good. She’s terrified of being discovered and her new name and whereabouts put out in the press.”

“Poor thing, and she’s had such a hard time with it all,” she said, taking a gulp of wine. “I can’t imagine the stress.”

“There is something I need to tell you,” I said, taking a deep breath. My leg bounced under the table. But I needed to get this over with.

“What’s that, dear?” she asked.

“I was at Sloane’s when the PR person showed up. She thought I was Sloane’s boyfriend and went on about how it was good for Sloane’s image to be in a stable relationship. So… we never corrected her. And now it may come out in the news that Sloane and I are together.” I pushed the words out so fast I ran out of air.

My mother guffawed, a full-on belly laugh. I’d never heard such a noise come from her.

“This isn’t funny,” I said. “What else was I supposed to do?” It would have been a dick move to contradict Sloane in front of the PR lady.

“So, is that what you couldn’t believe?” she asked Camden.

“Yes, ma’am,” Camden replied.

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