Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“You said enough to make people talk when this interview goes live. Fuck, what were you thinking?” He rubbed a hand over his face.
“I told you I was tired of doing this. You knew I wanted to talk to you about it. I can’t…I can’t keep lying.”
Steve frowned, the set of his body relaxing as he looked at me with what I thought was worry. “I know, kid. I get it. It’s a lot to consider, and I’ll back you in whatever you do. Always. And eventually, it’ll be okay. It’ll blow over, but I also know you, and that interview with Scarlett? That was nothing. The questions will come, and they won’t stop. And people will say horrible things online, but there will also be people who support you. Some people will say you lied to your fans for years, but again, others will back you up. I’m worried you’re not prepared for that. You won’t be able to hide from it forever. So we plan this. We do it right. Before anything, I have to speak with your label. That’s number one. Then, I meet with PR…hell, I have a list around here somewhere. But we do it smart, and we do it right, without little slipups like that. More important than anything else, you make sure you’re ready, Remy, because there’s no taking it back. You make sure you have a support system, and we have a plan as far as interviews, and that you’re ready to talk about it. I know you think I’m the bad guy here, but I’m not. I’m on your side.”
I sat in the chair on the other side of his desk, my elbows resting on it with my face in my hands. My leg bounced like there was some kind of electric current running through it. “You’re right. I know you are, and I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. I gotta do it, Steve. The hiding is eating away at me.”
“Then we do this. I’ll put some calls out. We’ll get a plan going. It’s not going to happen tomorrow, okay? I’m sure you have people in your personal life you need to talk to, and whoever this guy is, I hope he’s in it for the long haul.”
“He is.” Of that I was sure. Other friends might come and go, fans as well, but Law wouldn’t go anywhere.
We spoke for a few more minutes. When we were done, I made it to the door before Steve said, “Remy?”
I stopped and turned to look at him. “Yeah?”
“It might not seem like it, but I’m proud of you, kid.”
I nodded, feeling a warmth in my chest. “Thanks. That means a lot to me.”
“Now get the hell out of my office. You gave me a whole hell of a lot more work to do.” He winked. I smiled and left.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Lawson
The last place I wanted to be was sitting in my parents’ driveway. Well, I was sure there were worse places to be, but I would have rather been home with Remy. He wasn’t even back in town yet, but he would be soon.
I waited until Mere and Bruno pulled up before getting out.
“Safety in numbers, huh?” my sister asked while closing her car door.
“Obviously.”
She cocked a brow. “You’ve been avoiding me too.”
“No, I haven’t. I’m sure it seems like that, but I’ve just…been with Remy.”
Her smile was so big, I was pretty sure it could light up the whole damn world. “I can’t wait to meet him.”
“Meet who?” Bruno asked, having stayed in the car for a minute. I wasn’t sure if he’d been doing something or had done it to give us a minute.
Mere looked at me as if unsure what to say.
“My boyfriend,” I answered.
“Good for you, man,” Bruno replied.
We headed into the house, to the sound of Phil and Dad talking about Grant’s and Mom and Alesha talking about baby stuff.
“And here come the troublemakers,” Mere said softly.
Mom’s eyes shot toward us like she had some kind of homing device. “You weren’t at church!”
I frowned. “I’m never at church.”
“Not you. Your sister.”
I turned my gaze toward Mere. “You weren’t at church?”
“Gee, thanks, Law.” Mere looked at Mom. “No, I wasn’t. I don’t have to go to church every Sunday.”
“Smells good in here,” Bruno said, trying to change the subject.
I admit I was surprised Mere hadn’t gone. It was what the family did; well, everyone except me. I put my arm around her.
“The two of you enjoy stressing me out, I think. Can’t we at least pretend to be a family with a united front?” Mom asked.
“You care too much what other people think,” Meredith told her.
“And there’s nothing wrong with our family,” I added.
“You skip family lunches. I had to trick you to get you to take a call from me. Now your sister is not showing up at church and not telling me ahead of time!”