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“And what happened with Ben? He was seen with a major black eye. Claiming it’s a boxing injury.”
“For once he didn’t lie.” I glance over and smile. “We might have sparred.” When I see Gage’s distress, I add, “Don’t worry, I let him hit me first. Hurt like a motherfucker, too. I have a witness.”
He rolls his eyes, but he’s smiling now. “And I’m guessing you had something to do with the clip of that podcast that Maren received. It’s got the internet lit up.”
“I almost forgot about that. I crashed as soon as I got home. Is Autumn okay? Are they ripping her apart?” I look around for my phone, but I left it in my room.
“They were. Not for long though.”
I glance at him. “What are you talking about?”
He chuckles as he picks up my television remote. “You missed a hell of a morning of celebrity news.” He points the remote at the TV and turns it on. “What station is that entertainment channel? I bet it has it on it if they aren’t rerunning some reality show.”
I have no idea, but we search until we find it. Their ‘news’ show is on air and Autumn, Hilarie Ray, and Ben are all they’re talking about. It all started with the reveal of the podcast last night then this morning Autumn released a statement along with an incriminating recording of her and Ben’s meet up at the Starlet. An hour later, Hilarie posted on her Instagram account that she broke up with Ben after discovering him trying to get rid of the phone he claimed was stolen. She also included a lengthy apology to Autumn. Now they’re reporting that a few of Ben’s former girlfriends are coming forward with claims of emotional abuse. Then they play a clip of an interview Autumn did.
“It’s been really hard. Hearing all the cruel things people have said about me and not believing that Ben and I had a relationship during Sunset Beach, no matter what I said. Shaming me for having a healthy and robust sex life with my consensual partner. Unfortunately, my relationship with Ben didn’t stay healthy. The more our fame rose, the more he chipped away at my self-esteem and self-worth. And I let his words affect me long after we broke-up. I really didn’t want to stoop to his level, but I couldn’t let him control my life anymore. It was time to take my life back.”
They cut away then and move on to a different story. Gage hands me his phone and has the recording Autumn made queued up. While I suspected this was the case, it infuriates me to hear how Ben treated her. I really wish I’d hit him harder. God, I’m such a fucking idiot for not being there for her. No wonder she was so hurt.
As much as I want to kick my ass all over again. I’m so damn proud that she faced him and got the ammunition she needed to rid herself of him for good.
“She did it.”
Gage grins. “She did.”
I wish I was with her right now, to celebrate this moment with her. Not that I deserve to.
“All that’s left is for you to grovel. What did you say to me? You need to go rom-com on her ass.”
I laugh at that, even though it hurts to. Man, if I only I remembered my advice to Gage then I wouldn’t be in this predicament.
I stand, suddenly unable to sit still. “What if she still wants space? Or what if she doesn’t want me anymore?”
“Pretty sure if you tell her that your head over heels in love with her, she’ll come around.”
I jerk my gaze to him. Hearing that out loud, it makes it real. Not that I didn’t know I was falling in love with her. “It’s so fast, Gage. Can it be real when it happens this fast?”
“Look at me and Everleigh. I’d ask her to marry me tomorrow.”
“What?! You’re going to ask her to marry you?”
“Fuck yes. Not tomorrow. We need to date properly for a while, but she’s it for me. What do you want with Autumn?”
I sigh, my chest aching. I’m afraid that if I can’t make this right, it’ll forever feel hollow. “Everything. I want everything.”
“Then tell her that.”
“She’s in L.A. That’s not exactly the kind of conversation I want to have over the phone.”
“No, she’s not.” I snap my gaze at Gage and he’s smiling. “When she dropped the statement, that interview was already recorded. She grabbed a private plane back to Austin this morning.”
“She’s here?”
Gage glances at his phone. “She just landed. She’s staying with her author friend but going back to the rental later to pack up everything she left behind.”
“I’m guessing you aren’t supposed to tell me this.”
He shrugs. “She didn’t say not to tell you.” Gage holds my gaze with a sober expression. “J, why would she come back? She could easily pay someone to take care of everything for her, but she’s not. If she wants space, then why is she closing the distance between you?”
