Page 38 of Not the Puck Bunny

“There's only three, and they're all over social media,” I said. “Along with approximately one hundred and seventy-three different theories about our relationship. They start with suggestions he's sleeping with me so he doesn't get kicked off the team, and end with himbeing an alien.”

“You know you've made it when the Internet accuses you of being an alien,” Rafe said with a grin.

“I guess I haven't made it yet,” I said wearily. “Most of them suggest I'm using him.”

That stung worst of all. After the conversation with my parents, he made me feel good about myself for a while. Now, I felt like I was back at square one. Behind square one maybe, because accusations of using people who work for you, tended to stick.

Rafe grimaced. “The Internet is such a bitch. Those of us who know you, know you're not like that. The PR department is working to turn the story around. I heard a rumor they're bringing in someone special just for this.”

“Because this is a particularly bad dumpster fire,” I said with a sigh. “I never should have gone on that rollercoaster.”

“I said the same thing about Jacoby when we first met,” Rafe said. “We're both so different, it was wild for a while. But we stuck in there, and look how we turned out. I've almost managed to convince himStar Trekis the best franchise ever.” In a loud whisper, he added, “He still swears it'sStar Wars.”

I shook my head at him. “That's quite the obstacle you had to overcome. Especially when thereality is, it's a tie betweenVampire DiariesandStargate.”

Rafe raised a hand to his lips in mock horror. “Clearly I haven't educated you properly. It's time we had aStar Trekmarathon.”

We were interrupted by the sound of Cam, leaning against the door frame and clearing his throat.

Rafe swiveled around in his chair. “Perfect timing. Help me to settle this issue once and for all.Star Trekis better thanVampire DiariesorStargate, right? I mean, they're all great, butStar Trekis by far the most superior franchise of all time.”

“I'm more aSupernaturalguy, to be honest,” Cam said.

Rafe raised a hand in front of him and sniffed. “You're both dead to me.” He shook his head and smiled. “But you're both invited to theStar Trekmarathon. I'll convert you yet. In the meantime, coffee.” He pushed himself to his feet and headed towards the door. He stopped in front of Cam and gave him a Vulcan salute.

Cam smiled, held up his hand and returned the gesture.

Rafe turned back at me and grinned. “He's akeeper.” He hurried out of the office before I could respond.

“He's such a geek,” I said. “I guess that's why we get along, I'm a nerd.” I gestured for Cam to come inside and take the seat Rafe just vacated. “I take it you've seen the photos.”

Cam sat back in the chair and crossed his legs. The ankle of his track pants rode up, revealing brightly colored socks, covered in what looked like dancing penguins.

He rubbed his stubbled chin, brown eyes filled with regret. “I have. I've just come back from speaking to PR. Apparently they're hiring my sister to deal with this…situation.”

I sighed and rubbed my temples with my fingertips. “I'm sorry. This whole shit storm is a mess already. It shouldn't have happened.”

“I'm the one who's sorry,” he said softly. “If I hadn't kissed you…"

“It takes two to share a kiss,” I said. “You didn't hear me objecting, did you?”

“No, I didn't,” he admitted. “But if I hadn't done it, they wouldn't be saying the things they’re saying about us. About you. They wouldn't have to involve my sister.” His lips twisted to the side in annoyance.

“Is that the real problem here?” I asked lightly. “The fact they're bringing your sister in to deal with what we did?”

Was he more concerned that family was getting involved than he was about the hate the Internet was dumping on me? I couldn't even start to get my head around how I felt about that. Of course, family was important, why would you put a virtual stranger in front of them? Especially one who was a one-woman dumpster fire when it came to relationships.

“My sister is good at what she does,” he said.

He closed his eyes and exhaled slowly out his nose. “After Clio and I ended it, social media had a bunch of shit to say about me. They claimed I abandoned her. There were only two ways to deal with it, tell the truth and drag our whole relationship through the mud, or wait and hope like hell it blew over. I chose the second option. I stayed away from social media and ignored it until it went away. Before that…" He shook his head, opened his eyes and looked directly into mine.

“I don't want you to have to weather that storm because of anything I did. The things they're saying about you are a whole lot worse than anything they're saying about me.”

“I know,” I said softly. “They always are.” He was the hockey hero who got caught playing tonsilhockey with his boss. And I was the curvy woman taking advantage of him. Because of course, a man like him wouldn't voluntarily kiss a woman like me. Except that he had, and I wished he would again.

I leaned forward and rested my elbows on the desk. “I've been reading things about myself since before I started working for my father. If I let it get to me, I'd be curled up in the corner, crying. But I can't, and I won't. Because the people saying those things? They don't know me. They don't know you. They just have nothing better to do than make up bullshit. Unless you're an actual alien?”

He looked surprised for a moment, then grinned. Did he have to be so gorgeous?

---