I watch them perform an intense bro-greeting ritual: hand-gripping pulled into a tight hug with a dash of aggressive backslapping. My shoulder spasms just watching them.
“Thanks for coming, man,” Eric says.
“Wouldn’t miss it. You know I’ve always dreamed of smelling like a jockstrap.”
“Just for that, you’re not going home with a gift bag.” He turns to me and flashes his signature megawatt smile. “Hi, I’m Eric,” he says, holding out his hand.
“Cassidy,” I say, smothering a laugh.Like I don’t know who you are.“Would you mind if I asked you a couple of questions?”
“That’s what I’m here for, so shoot.”
“Fantastic. First of all, congratulations on the cologne launch,” I tell him, getting that out of the way. “It smells”—awful—“great. Very... potent.”
“Some might even call it...forceful,” he says, straight-faced.
“Right.” I huff a laugh and make a mental note:Eric Jessup makes puns!“I was actually hoping to learn a little more about your recent engagement.”
He grimaces. “Ah, sorry, we’re not—”
“I know you’re keeping things private, and I totally respect that,” I barrel ahead, talking faster before one of the publicists circling us like sharks catches wind of my line of questioning and whisks him away. “It’s just that our readers are dying to know more about Olivia and how you two reconnected.”
I watch his face go carefully neutral. “Sure. Well, I’m very happy and looking forward to settling down.”
I nod like he’s said something groundbreaking while suppressing an eye roll. That kind of rehearsed, generic quote isn’t exactly the headline catnip I’m after—and it won’t win me any bonus cash, either. I rack my brain for another way to draw him out.
Jack breaks in before I can. “Oh come on, you can give her more than that.”
I lock eyes with Jack and beam him a silent message:Alright, you’ve earned that date.He shoots me another wink.
Eric groans. “Look, I’d love to help you out, but Liv’s really adamant about privacy.” I file that little detail away, the casually intimate way he uses her nickname.
“How about this—if I give you my card, would you pass it along to her? I’m sure you’ve experienced this yourself,but sometimes saying nothing just encourages more speculation. It can be better to just tell your own story rather than let others tell it for you.”
“I have tried explaining that to her,” Eric admits. “I don’t see her changing her mind, but I’ll take your card.”
“I appreciate it. In the meantime,” I press, pushing my luck, “is thereanythingyou feel comfortable sharing? Like what are you most looking forward to about married life? Will you stay in New York or move back to Louisiana? Is there anything you wish the public could know about Olivia?”
When he eyes me warily, I add, “Trust me, no woman would be upset to hear her fiancé publicly gushing about her.”
Eric looks at Jack. “She’s good.”
Jack splays his hands like,What can you do?
He sighs. “Alright, here’s what I’ll say: I’ve been in love with Olivia basically my whole life. She’s the most beautiful woman you’ll ever meet, inside and out. I would’ve married her a long time ago, but life got in the way a bit. I feel very fortunate that we were able to find our way back to each other.”
You mean you decided you were ready for kids and needed a broodmare,I think to myself, but I’m not about to quibble. It’s a quote I can use, and Siren readers will eat it up.
“Would you say she was the one that got away?” Jack says seriously, and I nearly snort.
“Well, she didn’t get away, now did she?” Eric replies with a smugIf you know what I meanexpression, and I watch them laugh and swap those cocky guy head-nods.Ugh.Another minute and I’ll be witnessing a dick-measuring contest.
“Thanks, man. I know you’re busy here, we appreciate it,” Jack says and claps him on the shoulder.
“Sure thing. Though if Liv gets pissed at me, I’mblaming you,” he says with a laugh, then turns to me, jerking a thumb in Jack’s direction. “How long you been working for this guy?”
“Oh, we don’t work together,” I quickly correct him.
He looks surprised. “No? Sorry, I just assumed.”
