Page 110 of Tangled Up In You

“Yeah. And I only know it ’cause the magazine sent me the article asking me to comment on it before they went to press. Bastards knew I would give them nothing.”

“When did you read it?”

“About a week ago.”

“A week? Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I dunno. I guess I didn’t know how the fuck to respond at first. Now it’s gotten all out of control.”

“It’ll die down,” Conor reassured him. “You gave them enough. Now just shut it out and they’ll have nowhere to go with it and it’ll be done.”

Gavin was quiet again. “I hope you’re right, Con. ’Cause I honestly don’t know if I can handle this.”

“Youcan, Gav. You can. Look, I’ll be there soon enough. Now, put Sophie back on for a second, okay?”

“Sure.”

While he waited for Sophie, Conor noticed Colette was watching the continued “news” report on the true story of Gavin’s mother. A ripple of irritation coursed through him at seeing her so captivated.

“Gavin seems a little better for talking to you,” Sophie said as she got on the line.

“Thing is, it won’t last,” he replied. “Do me a favor, honey?”

Colette now turned and watched him as he spoke on the phone.

“Sure, what?”

“Cancel whatever modeling gigs you have for a bit. He shouldn’t be alone.”

“Wait a minute, what makes you say that?” she asked with alarm.

“No, I don’t mean it like that. He’s about to slip into some serious depression here—you said it yourself.”

“I know. I’ll do whatever I can. You know that, Conor.”

“I know, Soph. Thank God for you. And hey, do your best to … distract him from all this ’til I get there.”

Sophie laughed. “Are you suggesting what I think you are?”

Conor smiled. “You know me—always comes back to sex.”

“We’ll see you soon. Have a safe trip.”

After ending the call, Conor fell back against the bed, already exhausted.

“So you’re leaving?” Colette asked as she sat with him.

“Yeah. I gotta get back. Not sure how to get the fastest flight?—”

“I texted my agent—she’s booking it for you. She’ll call back in a few minutes to tell you which airline.”

He sat up and smiled at her. “Thank you, Colette. That was sweet.”

“That’s where you belong, isn’t it? With Sophie?”

“And Gavin,” he said, annoyed.

“I just thought with you calling her honey and talking about sex, she’d be the one you’d need to rush back to.”

---