Page 28 of Love is a Drum Beat
Another text came in, and she sighed. But this time, it wasn’t Noah.
Melanie:Call me asap.
She couldn’t quell the fear those words from her former publicist brought out. Taking in a calming breath, she dialed Melanie and waited.
Melanie answered after the second ring. “Jo… It’s going to be okay. We can fix this.”
“Fix what, Mel? I don’t speak publicist.”
“You haven’t seen?”
“Seen what?” Jo shifted to get more comfortable.
“There are pictures all over the internet of you entering the hospital in that mask you wore.”
Jo laughed. “Is that all? They couldn’t know it was me.”
“Except they do.” Melanie sighed. “There are quotes from a valet driver and another picture…” She paused for a moment. “Dax isn’t going to like this.”
“Why?”
“It was of the two of you exiting through the parking garage. Now, the media is trying to figure out who the mysterious man with you was and if he’s the father of your baby.”
Jo had no words. She closed her eyes, knowing as soon as Dax found out… He’d stayed out of the media on purpose, valuing his secret about all else. This wouldn’t stop. And she’d signed an NDA to keep her from revealing the truth.
“Mel?” She didn’t wait for Melanie to respond. “You said we can fix it. How?”
“I already have emails sent to my contacts at the bigger media platforms. We’ll schedule you for some remote interviews.”
“You aren’t my publicist anymore, you know that, right?” Yet, it felt good to have Melanie on her side.
“Yes, but Devlin is a giant buffoon, and if you went to him for help, he’d high five you for getting laid and tell you all of this will blow over. It won’t.”
“Whoa, Mel. You really don’t like that guy, do you?”
“Not after he revealed Noah’s marriage without consulting Noah. He’s young and inexperienced and will only ruin your reputation.”
Jo looked to the ceiling, unable to believe what she was about to say. “I don’t care about my reputation, Mel. If I were a guy and got someone pregnant outside of a relationship, no one would bat an eye. This pregnancy and the alien baby I’ll eventually hold… it’s not something I’m ashamed of.” Sure, she hated that her entire body ached, that she had to stay in bed and give up her independence.
But what she hadn’t told anyone was that she kind of liked this.
So, why had she insisted on hiding it for so long? All her reasons unraveled as if the news getting out set her free, rid her of the fear.
Melanie was quiet for a long moment. “You’re right. I don’t want you to be ashamed of something so life changing. What if we got Blake to pretend to be dating you?”
“Um…” She didn’t know why she hadn’t told the rest of the group about the NDA, but maybe it was time. “I sort of can’t say he’s the father.”
“Of course, you can.”
Jo sighed. “I signed an NDA.”
Silence.
And more silence.
Then, a string of curses and a “sorry, Stella!”
“I know what you’re going to say, Mel, that I shouldn’t have signed.”
