Page 5 of Love on the Byline

Bran’s half smile was for the crowd gathered around them. Heshrugged, putting on a show while Ollie tried to assess the situation. “Baby, Iwish I did,” Bran said, taking a long, languid look at her. “Cause then I couldmake it right.”

There were snickers from the onlookers, but Ollie’s focuswas on Blake, on the set of her jaw and the vein ticking at her temple. Herexpression was murderous, and he stepped between them just as she began tolunge forward.

“What’s going on?”

She blinked up at him as if fighting through a red haze.“Oliver. Your friend here sabotaged my story.”

“He…what?”

“They killed it,” she replied, her jaw tight.” The Ledger.The editor killed my story on legacies, thanks to your buddy over there.”

“I didn’t do shit,” Bran said over his shoulder.

“Like hell, you didn’t.” If Blake’s eyes could shoot lasers,Bran would have been in pieces on the hardwood floor.

Again, Ollie found himself putting his body between Blakeand her target. “Hang on,” he said as calmly as he could. “Can we go somewhereelse and talk about this?”

“I don’t know what’s got her panties in a twist, but I’m notgonna take her shit.” Bran pushed through the ring of spectators, some of whomfollowed in his wake.

With the spectacle over, Ollie and Blake stood essentiallyalone in the center of the room. She was breathing hard and blinking fast.

“Come with me.” He led her out to the back porch, where onlya few people stood, smoking. They went to the other side.

“Asshole!” She huffed out a frustrated breath. “How are youfriends with someone like that?”

“Bran’s a good guy.”

“He really isn’t,” Blake spat. “He used his name and h-h-hisweight to pressure the editor. I know it.”

“You have proof?” He didn’t want to believe Bran would dosomething like this.

“No, but—”

Relief and frustration flooded him in equal measure. “Thenwhy did you storm in here accusing him?”

Her eyes flashed dangerously, this time with disbelief. “Youthink I’m lying? I’m making it up?”

“No, but—”

“Maybe you think I’m too close to the story? Since I haveevery loan and grant I can possibly get, and I still have towork two part-time jobs to afford this school, I can’t be impartial?”

“Can you?” It was the wrong thing to say.

“You sound like Crosby right now.”

“Blake,” he said, hoping to sound calm. “Be reasonable. I’monly asking if you have some proof that Bran screwed with your story.”

“I have my intuition. Of course, there isn’t proof. He’sdumb but he’s still too smart for that, it was something my editor said thatmakes me sure it’s him.”

Ollie clenched his jaw. Bran was a goof,and occasionally stuck his foot in his mouth, but he was a little tired of Blakealways badmouthing him when she didn’t know him at all.

Her eyes narrowed. “You’re always so quick to defend him.Why?”

“He’s my best friend.”

“Yeah, but why? You’re so much better than a guy like that,or...I thought you were.”

Unease prickled at the back of his neck. “What do you mean?”

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