Page 128 of Fame and Obsession

I want to block out all the pain and memories we’ve both lived with, go out on that deck, and bring her back where she belongs.

With me.

Always with me.

Fuck my career. Fuck stardom and fame and fortune. My priority is the woman I can’t live without and our baby.

Then reality hit me like a sack of bricks.

I’m going to be someone’s father.

Holy shit.

“Julian?”

While I’m busy having an existential crisis, Phoebe comes back in and leans against the glass door, her head cocked to the side.

“Hey,” I say, giving her a tight smile. “Are you okay now?”

“Yeah. Sorry about before. Zane just got to me. He seems to have a talent for that.” She halfway grins, then lowers her chin to her chest.

I can tell she wants to tell me something but is having a hard time finding the words. I’m in a giving mood, so I let her off easy. “What’s on your mind, princess?”

“Faith.”

“I didn’t take you for the religious type, all things considered, but I guess we have to have a little faith to deal with all of this.”

She snorts softly. “No, I mean Faith Addison.”

“Is that like Scientology?”

She rolls her eyes. “Would you stop? I’m serious.”

I shrug. “I’m listening…”

“Tanna reminded me of someone who could help us.” Taking a few tentative steps, she runs her hand through her hair and gauges my reaction.

The fact that Tanna said anything to her at all surprises me. According to her, female bonding is as welcome as a raging case of herpes. “Tanna? Helpful? Has hell frozen over?”

“Well, as helpful as Tanna can be,” she admits. “She really cares about you, you know.”

“I know.”

“No,” she says, pinning me with a cautious stare. “I mean she really cares about you. She seemed kind of angry at me. For a minute I thought she might kick my ass.”

“Don’t worry about her. That’s just Tanna. She’s moody, which tends to come off as blunt and bitchy. She and Vivian had a love-hate relationship.”

She quirks an eyebrow. “How so?”

“They loved to hate each other—with a passion.”

It seems wrong to paint Vivian in a negative light, especially now, but it’s the truth. Those two were like oil and thicker oil. I don’t foresee Tanna shedding any tears at Vivian’s funeral—if she goes at all.

Phoebe swallows. “She mentioned the Blogosphere writer probably hacked a public relations database.”

“She’s probably right,” I agree, pulling her into my arms. “You shouldn’t let that woman get to you. I’ve told you before, princess, you’re going to need a thick skin to get used to this life. That includes people trying to pry into it. I’m going to do everything I can to shield you from it, but I can’t break everyone’s camera.”

She sighs. “Julian, I don’t want or expect you to maul every photographer in the city.”

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