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I blew out a breath. James’ lips to God’s ear. A long and happy life together, dealing with everything thrown our way, including publicity, good and bad, and long tours, maybe a couple kids, who’d also be exposed to the prying eyes of the press.
Before I could reply to James, my phone buzzed again. I dragged it out and spied a new text.
Catie: We probably need to talk before I head over. You may not want me there after all.
That would never be the case.
Me: Facetime?
All I got back was a thumbs up. I initiated the call.
When Catie answered, tears were streaming down her cheeks.
“Honey, what’s wrong. Is someone trying to get in?”God, please make it not so. Please let her remain undiscovered by the press.
She sniffled, lowered her head, and then drew a deep breath. “Callan, I’m so sorry. Please don’t hate me, but…” Her voice broke on a sob, and she covered her eyes with one hand.
Naomi’s face appeared in the frame as she slung an arm over Catie’s shoulders. “What she can’t bring herself to tell you, and please keep in mind this is not at all her fault, but when she divorced her dirtbag husband, his new girlfriend published some revenge porn featuring Catie and her son of a bitch ex.”
22
CATIE
Hey Dad. I know you hate me whining, but damn, my life is all over the place. That woman I told you about…Turns out I love her. And I may have fucked up her life because of that. Remember how shitty things got after your accident? Yeah- that fucked up again. Wish you were here to guide me through this. Love you, Dad. Miss you every damn day.
The words were barely out of Naomi’s mouth before a fresh spate of sobs wracked my body. I buried my face against Naomi’s shoulder. Callan was going to hate me. Just like the text I’d gotten this morning from the unknown number; I’d fucked up his life. It wasn’t my fault, but the minute the damn photographers got wind of my name, they were bound to find that damn video.
I’d been a big girl for a long time, and now I needed to shut down my emotions and face this music. I lifted my head, rubbed the heel of my hands on my eyes, and drew a shuddering breath.
But before I could speak, Callan broke in. “We’ll do our best to keep that video from surfacing. I promise, Catie-belle. What kind of stinkpot would do something like that?”
In the background James guffawed. “Stinkpot? Are you fucking seven? Is that a nice way of saying shithead?”
“In this case, shithead is totally applicable. For Steve and his new wife.” What had she been thinking? Here she was embarking on a new life with someone else’s husband, and she wanted to sully his reputation as much as mine? “Right after the video was posted, my brothers visited my asshole ex. Honestly, I’m not sure what they said or did, because I was too hysterical to ask. But whatever they said was effective. The video vanished within a couple hours. But she tagged me when she posted it, so there is an eternal trail to me.”
Callan’s face was shadowed, but even on Facetime I could see the emotions flip through his eyes. His brows lifted. “Which name?”
I was confused. “Excuse me?”
“Is Marlowe your married name?”
“Oh, I see…no. She tagged Catherine Brinker, that was my name at the time.” Hope flared like a matchstick in a dark cavern.
Naomi tipped her face right next to mine. “I made her reclaim her maiden name when she moved here. Brinker sucked as a dude and as a last name.”
Callan laughed. “That it does.”
“See, I told you so, Catie.” Naomi poked my shoulder.
“I gave in, didn’t I?” After the divorce I wasn’t any more attached to the name than I was to the man. Reclaiming my birth name had been an easy decision.
“What you actually did was buy us a little extra time to plan a strategy.” I started to protest, but Callan held up one hand. He continued, “Sure, the paparazzi are great at ferreting out all sorts of info, but it will take them a while to figure out who you are, link your maiden name back to your ex, and then find a video. Buys us time to build a promo plan that makes your ex and his new girl look like petty idiots, and to position Catie as the wronged person here. Catie-belle, did you take any legal action?”
“I consulted my divorce attorney but didn’t pursue anything since my brothers had convinced Tiffani to take the post down.”
“I need to meet your brothers,” Callan said, a bit of hero worship in his tone.
“You might get the chance. It will only take one of them to notice the picture that was posted overnight, they’ll all be hopping in their trucks and heading here to protect their little sister. My dad will be riding shotgun with one of them.” I was planning to call them to warn them and beg them to stay in Oklahoma for the time being. I just needed to get over the crying jag I’d been on since Naomi brought the video to my…or back to my attention.
