“But it’s not true!” I repeated.
Panic started whirling around deep in my belly, flip-flopping as though I was on the end of a bungee rope swinging in the air, my heart pounding in my ears. My breath had shallowed; I was finding it hard to get enough oxygen in at once.
Jupiter took the phone from me as I was shaking too much to hold it.
“Drew, have you seen what’s being printed?”
He shook his head. “No, but they called Mary for a comment, so we know the gist. They gave her until three p.m. today, but she already told them it was categorically untrue. And I don’t know if that fucking dickhole is even mentioned. She said they were sketchy with the details except that he’s made himself out to be some hot shot surgeon, so he’s coming across as credible.”
“Of course he fucking is. He wouldn’t know a scalpel if it cut his tiny dick off,” he growled. “I’m going to break every bone in his body.”
“Yep, and I’ll fucking hold him down.”
I tried to remember what I’d just heard. This can’t be right. Drew must be mistaken.
“Babe, are you sure? This didn’t happen, it’s not true. How can they print it?”
Drew looked so pained and upset. “Because they don’t care, it’s just a juicy story for them. I’m working with the lawyers on stopping the print, but Mary’s not hopeful. They’ve given us no time.”
Bile started churning in my stomach, my eyes heating up, burning with tears of anger and injustice.
My face dropped in my hands. “How could he do this? What do I do? Oh my God, people are going to read it.”
Jupiter started rubbing my back.
“Sweetheart, all the people who know us know that this isn’t true.”
I looked back up at Drew. “But what about all the people who come to the studio?”
He flinched. “Baby, I know. I’m so sorry; I’m trying to stop it. I’m working with Mary.”
My throat thickened until I choked on the unshed tears and they started pouring out in loud sobs. Jupiter put his arm around me, drawing me into his chest as I cried and cried.
“Dude, let me call you back. What time is it going up?”
“Okay, in an hour. Fuck, Jupe, I’ve tried to stop it.”
“Yeah, I know, this isn’t on you. When are you back?”
“The day after tomorrow.”
“Okay, I’ll call you in a bit.”
Jupiter dropped the phone and put both his arms around me, holding me as I wept inconsolably.
“Em, it’s okay, it’ll be okay.”
“It’s not okay,” I croaked, my voice hoarse with anger and tears. “How could he do this? I’ve done nothing to deserve this. I don’t understand. He cheated on me. HE CHEATED ON ME. ME!”
Jupiter kept rubbing my back. “I know, Em. I know. He’s a total dick weasel. We will sort this out though, and he will pay for this. Count on it.”
He held me tight as I continued sobbing, telling me over and over they would make him pay, until I’d had enough.
I sat up and stared hard at him. “HOW? HOW WILL YOU? He didn’t get the message when I blocked him on my phone, then he turned up outside my apartment and assaulted me. ThenI thought it would be over following the restraining order, and now he’s trying to publicly humiliate me.”
“I know Em, but we will fix it. Let’s see what Drew’s lawyers say, and I’ll call mine to see what can be done too. And everyone knows Page Six is full of shit.”
I stood up, unable to stay sitting anymore. It was harder to be angry sitting down.
