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“See ya around, Nugget,” I say, suddenly feeling like I’m floating in a surrealhaze.
She pauses by the door. “And sorry that I hit you with my car. Are you alright?”
I don’t know what I am. All I saw on her phone was my name along with the headlinesRipped from the Riptide,Spouses-to-beSpurned, andOusted at the Altar.
I give a weak wave and then lower into the loveseat under the window, feeling anything but love. I feel hated as I scroll through the alerts on my phone—the ones my publicist, agent, and management teams are supposed to handle.
Trust me, I’ve given them enough business over the years to pay for their cars, boats, toys, children’s college tuition, and more. I used to joke that my antics were for charitable purposes. Now, I’m not so sure. This feels different.
I’m sucked into my phone as I scroll past headline after message after comment.
After an uncertain amount of time, someone’s hand lands on my shoulder. “Hey, brother.” The only time Magnus addresses us using that term is when things are bad—like when we lost Mom and Dad bad.
I shake my head slowly. “I don’t know what went wrong.”
“Talk me through it. One step at a time.”
Glancing around, we’re the only two people in here, except for Magnus’s fiancée who’s in the back kitchen. Hoping the Coconut Wireless isn’t snooping, I tell my eldest brother about my prison break.
“That wasn’t very honorable.”
“I know. I should call Jayda and explain.”
“That’s a good place to start.”
Lally, who I didn’t notice appear, inches closer. “I’m sorry, guys. I don’t mean to meddle. It was hard not to overhear.” She squishes up her face like she’s uncomfortable and genuinely doesn’t want to interfere.
“It’s okay, Love Muffin.”
Her face turns red.
Magnus’s expression ripples like he’s trying not togrin—unlike me, he’s not quick to smile. “Sorry. I thought that might lighten the mood.”
“Lighten the mood? Dude, my career is over.”
Lally, aka Love Muffin, which is a term of endearment I vaguely recall using to tease Magnus when he and Lally were still new, tiptoes closer. “I didn’t mean to snoop, but?—”
My brother pulls her down to sit beside him. “What she’s trying to say is, yes, your name is plastered all over the internet, but the lesson here is to read primary sources. If you look more closely, you will see that the fiancée in question, co-jilted.”
“What? How do you know?” My eyes widen with disbelief.
“I have alerts set up to find out what the world is saying about you,” Magnus reveals.
“You spy on me?”
“I keep informed in case I need to extract you from a life-threatening situation.”
I frown. “Thanks for having my back, I think.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“Where were you when Harley ran me over?”
“She didn’t run you over. She merely gave you a love tap.” Magnus’s eyes dance with amusement.
“With her car.” Getting to my feet, I pace-stomp. “How do you know that, anyway?”
Magnus positions his first two fingers in front of his eyes then turns them to face me.
