Page 98 of Freak Show

And that was exactly what was happening here.

“I want to apologize again,” she practically whispered.

I looked over at her, miserable in the passenger seat, and reached over and took her hand.

“There are going to be a ton of bumps,” I told her. “This thing”—I swirled my finger around us—“though it was your sister this time, it will be some media influencer next time. Remember what I said about them being greedy and putting Titus’s daughter on that website? It’s something that will happen, again and again, until I’m dead. All because of the career I chose, and how popular I am.”

She squeezed my hand. “I don’t like it.”

I didn’t, either.

“Why do you think I let the media think we’re married?” I asked. “Life’s easier when they think I’m attached. It’s like they lose interest because I’m not as much fun.”

She sighed, dropping her head gently against the back of the seat.

“My sister is going to be an issue for the rest of my life,” she said. “Unless she finds someone else to love, who doesn’t care that she calls him a hundred times an hour, texts him every second of the day, and ultimately doesn’t care that she has issues. That’s the only time ever it’ll not be a big deal. She will always be there to come between us.”

I thought about what I wanted to say before I said it. Meaning we were almost back to the circus when I composed my words enough for them not to sound so…harsh.

“I want you to know that I’ll deal with your sister as long as it comes with having you,” I told her. “I know that she’ll always be there. And though I’m not quite okay with how your own family handled it, I’ll never allow you to be put on the back burner. If that pisses your sister off…oh fucking well.”

Her eyes lit with amusement when she turned to survey me.

“Am I forgiven?” she asked.

I brought her hand to my mouth just as I turned into the fair grounds.

“There’s nothing to forgive,” I promised.

And there wasn’t.

She was allowed to be mad.

Especially if she saw something like she did, expecting one thing from me and getting another.

If anyone knew how shit was misconstrued, it was me.

“Time to face the music,” I said as I stared at all the siblings, gathered ’round, getting an update from Keene.

As one they all turned to survey us.

“We could just buy more clothes,” I suggested.

She snorted. “I’m too picky about my clothes. Everything has to fit just right…”

I opened the door and got out, rounding the truck to get her out, and hearing murmurings from the family behind me.

When she hopped out, wincing at the jarring motion, I caught her and steadied her before saying, “Easy.”

Together, hand in hand, we walked toward the group.

Her family was extremely good looking. As in, every last one of them could be a supermodel in their own right.

But my gaze focused Ari’s twin.

She had this odd glint in her eye that clearly said she was not happy to see me.

“What are you doing?” she asked us. “Are you okay?”

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