Page 32 of Claim to Fame

It didn’t matter. Anything with Hannah was out of the question. She had lied to him, even if she hadn’t really been dating that slick boy band asshole. She still should have told him.

Like you told her about your life?

It was different. Her life was complicated in ways he couldn’t even begin to imagine, and the last thing he wanted was a paparazzi spotlight shining in his direction.

“It might not be the worst thing she’s here now,” Gavin said. “It gives you both some time to figure out what you want from each other.”

Ethan swallowed the bitter taste at the back of her throat. “I don’t want anything from her. Did you miss the part about her being caught up in a media scandal?”

Baz shrugged and pointed at Gavin. “He married his son’s ex.” He flicked his hand towards Jamie next. “He got together with your daughter behind your back. My wife was supposed to be my sister-in-law. ‘Famous ex-boyfriend’ isn’t so bad.”

“Knock, knock!” Mrs. White’s voice reverberated off the hardwood in the office as she and her friends pushed into his office. The four octogenarians had been Ethan, Baz, and Gavin’s elementary school teachers. Now they settled for beating them at bar trivia every week.

“Nice jackets, Mrs. B,” Gavin said to Mrs. Blumenthal, who had struck a pose to show off the hot pink bomber jackets they all wore, the words “Grandma Gang” embroidered across the back.

“Aren’t you sweet,” Mrs. Blumenthal said, grinning.

“Rumor has it your ladies wiped the floor with you at trivia last night,” Mrs. Kemp said.

“I don’t know that I’d saythat,” Jamie protested.

“What was it Mikey said?” Mrs. Greene asked Mrs. White. “That these boys didn’t stand a chance?”

“It was only twelve points,” Ethan said.

“That’s a whole category,” Mrs. Blumenthal said, barely containing her laughter.

“Did you all come down here to mock us?” Gavin asked.

“No, dear. As much fun as that does sound, we have some pressing business with Ethan,” Mrs. White said.

“You do?” Ethan asked.

“We most certainly do! Who is the charming young lady staying with you?” Mrs. Blumenthal said. “Your mother didn’t know anything about it.”

“You told my mom?” Ethan groaned.

“I didn’t realize I was telling her anything she didn’t already know,” Mrs. Blumenthal said.

“Wait, how do you even know about Hannah?” Jamie asked. “She only got in yesterday and you weren’t at trivia last night.”

Mrs. White scoffed. “One of these days you’re going to learn, we know everything that happens in this town.”

“Wait, do you know Midnight Storm?” Gavin asked, turning in his seat to better face the women. “They had that big hit about driving through a hurricane to take a girl on a date.”

“That is definitely not advisable behavior,” Mrs. Greene said. “But, yes, I remember the song. The children in my class couldn’t stop singing it all year,” she said, shaking her head.

“Ha! I told you! Everyone knows Midnight Storm,” Gavin said, turning back to his friends with a satisfied smirk.

“Don’t change the subject,” Mrs. Kemp said. “Who is the young woman in your guest room?”

“Her name is Hannah and she’s just visiting. She needed a nice,quietgetaway,” Ethan said pointedly.

“We should invite her to join us for book club,” Mrs. Blumenthal said. “I bet she’d have lots of interesting things to say about this week’s selection.”

“You have a book club?” Baz asked.

“Of course, we do. Strictly romance novels,” Mrs. Greene said.

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