She remained quiet, and I had to pull the phone away from my ear to make sure she was still connected.
“Yeah, well, I’m sure. It’s… terrible. I’m terrified to leave my room.” Her voice shook, and anger surged through me.
“What’s being done to protect you?” I asked.
“Everything,” she murmured. “More security. We’ve canceled a week of shows. We had to refund the fans. I didn’t know fame could be so terrible.”
“But it’s good too, right?” I asked, trying to guide her to the silver lining.
“It is good,” she said. “It’s my dream. I just don’t like how someone is trying to make it ugly. I want a break from all that.”
“I get it.” I looked down at my feet for a moment before asking what I needed to ask.
“How is Anson?” I ventured, my voice thick.
“Um, good. He’s good. He’s not here right now. There was a meeting he had to be at tonight. It’s a dinner thing for the label. I didn’t want to go. Or rather, didn’t think I should go. Ryder and Trent are here with me.”
“I’m glad you didn’t go,” I said. “Because I got to talk to you.”
She laughed softly. “I’m glad too. Those dinners can be so boring, but Anson wants to keep up appearances.”
I swallowed hard. “How is married life with him? Good?”
She was quiet for so long, I didn’t think she’d answer me.
Finally, her soft voice came over the line.
“I didn’t marry Anson.”
My heart jumped at her words.
“Y-You didn’t? Who did you marry? I-I thought it was Anson. All the media say it was. There was even a picture of you two kissing and his social media…”
She scoffed. “They’re vultures. But no, Anson and I aren’t married. I do have a husband, but he doesn’t like being the center of the media. We did it to draw attention to Anson, so maybe this creep will make a mistake and show himself. Plus, it put a different light on us instead of the tragic stalker story.”
“Is it that guy from Fatal Promise? Riley? Or that Fabian actor guy you’re seeing?” I knew she had to be seeing someone.
“Why do you want to know so much?”
I licked my lips. “I guess because I should congratulate him on getting such a perfect girl. Tell him he’s lucky as hell. Tell him… I don’t know.” I shook my head. “Is it… Klaus?”
She laughed softly. “No. It’s not Klaus. We didn’t marry.”
I figured as much. I knew she dated him before she left, but I wasn’t sure about the status of all that. Plus, Levin never mentioned his father or Rosalie. The one time Cole asked him, he’d given him the finger. I assumed that meant that the relationship was over.
“Oh.” I cleared my throat, needing to put this thought to bed. “Will you tell me his name?”
“Evan,” she said, her voice so soft I had to press the phone closer to my ear to hear her. “His name is Evan. He stays out of the spotlight. He’s the one I married. Anson does a really good job keeping my private life private. I would appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone his name.”
“I won’t,” I promised, meaning it, my heart hurting a little more. “Your secrets are safe with me. I would die to protect them.”
“Thank you,” she said, her voice shaky at my proclamation. “He likes his privacy. I want him to have it. We are letting the public believe it’s Anson. It makes it easier for everyone.”
I nodded, my throat tight. So not Anson. Fuck. That made it even worse.
“H-How did you meet him?” I ventured, hoping I wasn’t going to get my feelings hurt further.
“Anson,” she murmured. “He, um, introduced us. In Colorado. It was love at first sight.”
