Page 126 of Forgotten Desires

Earlier I was really cold, and my head was pounding, but that seems to have gone away.

The last two days I’ve been even more tired than before, having strange symptoms that disappear within a few hours. The doctor said it’s completely normal and that I’m entering the next phase of recovery where there’s so much healing going on and my body is still in a trauma state.

However, I’d do it all again tomorrow if it meant I could help my dad.

“No, I’m not.”

“I knew it,” I say as I move slowly. “Is it about Layla?”

He shakes his head. “No, Jacqueline entered the rehab center today. It’s . . . fuck, Bee, I don’t even know how to tell you this.”

My stomach drops. “Please just say it because my head is making up a million ideas.”

“Please sit.”

“I’d rather not.”

I don’t know why, but I know sitting is not going to help. He runs his hand through his hair and sighs. “My PR team was contacted to comment on a story that was set to run tomorrow. Most of the time, they ignore them, but the writer called four times from a reputable publication. My team asked to see an advance on the article as well as a timeline, and requested to hold publishing it so we could review and comment.”

I nod. All of that is what I would do if I was on his PR team. “Okay, is it about Layla? The custody? Oh God, did they find out about the drunk driving incident?”

“I wish it was any of that.”

My eyes widen. “What?”

“It’s about us.”

What the hell could anyone write about us? “I’m not understanding. We get things written about us daily.”

Then I wonder if it’s about my father and the surgery. What if they went through some of my past and found out about his drinking and the arrest when I was a kid? He can’t endure that kind of pain and he shouldn’t have to.

“Someone, and I don’t know who, sold our story. Our whole story. At first the PR team didn’t think anything of it, but there are specific details and dates. Things that only someone who is close to me or you would have access to.”

“You’re going to need to stop dancing around. I’m not feeling all that great right now and this anxiety is only making it worse.”

He comes to me, taking my hands. “Brynn, someone told them that we got married for the custody arrangement and to get insurance for your father’s surgery. They had specifics on how we found each other again and how my lawyer advised a marriage. Everything in the article is true and everything is going to be out there.”

My jaw drops. “I never told anyone. Not a soul.”

“I didn’t either.”

“Well, clearly you did if I didn’t. Someone had to know something. I lied to everyone, Crew. Everyone I love thinks that we’ve been madly in love since the day we found each other again!” I pull my hands away.

“Calm down,” he says quickly. “Please. I didn’t tell anyone, either.”

“No one? Not your stupid friend, Ford? Not your brothers or sister? No one at work?”

“No! I promised I wouldn’t,” he says and then pulls his tie off. “I’m just as pissed off as you are. I lied to everyone too. I never wanted this to get out.”

This really can’t get any worse.

I struggle to breathe as my anxiety rises and then I force myself to get control. I’m a crisis management publicist. I think my fear is coming from my lack of knowledge and I need to break it all down.

“I want to see the article,” I demand.

“Sure, I’ll show you, but it doesn’t change the fact that this is lingering, and we were only able to hold it for another three days. After that they’ll be publishing.”

I extend my hand. “Understood. Give it to me.”

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