Page 137 of Cougar

Emerson shakes her head. “Jay—”

“I didn’t touch her.”

Zach comes back to the table and shrugs. “He took off before I could catch him.”

“We’re headed over to talk to your parents,” Emerson informs him.

His brows jerk upward and he scoffs. “Good luck with that.”

* * *

“What are you doing here?” my sister asks, her eyes flicking between Emerson and me.

“We need to talk to you,” I tell her.

“I don’t want her in my house.”

“Too bad. This is important,” I say, pushing past her and stepping inside, dragging Emerson by the hand behind me.

“Enough, Elizabeth!” Mike snaps from the foyer. “Come in.” He leads us into the living room. Logan is kicking back on the sofa with Zoe perched on his lap.

“What’s up, man?” I drop down on the sofa beside Logan and press a kiss to Zoe’s cheek. “Hi, pretty girl.” Zoe smiles and buries her face in Logan’s chest.

Logan chuckles. “Someone is being shy today.”

My attention moves to Liz standing at the edge of the living room, her arms crossed over her chest and her eyes pinned on Emerson.

Not in the least bit intimidated by my sister’s glare, Emerson—who is still standing—squares her shoulders and gets straight to the point. “I’m here because a photo of Zach and Jayla at a party last night was leaked to the media. Someone I trust, who works for one of the biggest celebrity gossip sites in the country, forwarded it to me. The photo is buried for now, but it’s only a matter of time before it resurfaces on other sites and reporters start digging. It could be today, tomorrow, or next week. I don’t know. But what I do know is money talks, and the people you think are your friends will show their true colors.”

“Story of my life,” my sister quips, rolling her eyes.

“Mom,” Logan chides.

Emerson ignores Liz’s dig and goes on. “Gossip sells, and anything that has to do with Jayla is payday.”

“How do you suggest we handle it?” Mike asks.

“Tighten your circle. Don’t answer personal questions about your family?” She turns her attention to Liz. “Even the checkout lady at the grocery store. When she asks about your family—because she will—you respond with ‘They’re doing well. Thanks for asking’ and move on. Don’t indulge her with details. Your life and your family are not her concern. Padding her bank account is.”

Emerson turns her attention to Logan. “If you have any social media accounts, clean them up.”

“No worries there. I closed all my accounts when I got Zoe back,” Logan tells her, and she nods in understanding.

“And what does this have to do with you, Cam?” Liz asks. “Why are you here with her?”

I look over at Logan. “You should probably take her out of here.” I nod to Zoe.

“Man, just when things are starting to get juicy.” He chuckles as he rises from the sofa and leaves the room.

“Because we’re together,” I explain once they’re gone.

“What do you mean, together?” she asks, her voice rising.

“Emerson and I are a couple. We’re in a relationship.”

Liz’s eyes widen briefly before she narrows them on Emerson once again. “First Mike and now my little brother.” She scoffs. “You’re a piece of work, Emerson.”

Emerson shakes her head with a bored expression on her face.

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