AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What a fucking mess. He’s going to run with this story as far as he can go,” Mike grumbles, throwing his phone to the seat. “We need to get ahead of this.”
I huff a humorless laugh. “Damage is done, don’t ya think? What can we possibly say?”
“We can spin this. Make it solely about pre-game rituals. Really push your superstition.”
Cassidy squirms next to me, and I look over to see that she’s chewing on her bottom lip.
What’s going on with her? I know it might be in part from the bastard reporter, but it’s more than that. I know it. I also know that she likely doesn’t want to discuss it in front of Mike, so I don’t ask. We’ll be home soon enough, and I’ll ask her then.
“How do you want to handle this, Slate?” Mike asks again.
“I want to get some sleep. To think on it,” I say, running a hand back through my hair, hating the products that have it stiff. The need to shower and wash it and this fucking shit show of a night down the drain is at the top of my must-do list. “Just have Jane make a statement that the information was given by an unreliable source. A mother who I’ve been estranged from for years. Throw her in the river for all I fucking care. Air her drug addiction. Then tell them I’ll make a formal statement regarding all of this by midafternoon tomorrow.”
“That won’t be soon enough, Aiden. He’ll push. His social media post is already going viral. By morning, it will make national news. They’ll want your side of the story.”
“Too fucking bad, Mike. I pay you and Jane a massive amount of money to handle this shit. Handle it. Buy me the fucking time I need.”
I’m spiraling, and Mike can see it.
His hard features soften, and he nods.
“I’ll take care of it.”
The car pulls up to my apartment, and I’m desperate to get inside. To shut out the world and all the gossip swirling around about me.
“Get some rest and call me when you’re prepared to discuss this,” Mike says and turns toward the driver. “I need you to drop me off at the office.”
I feel horrible. Mike will be up all night dealing with this. He won’t sleep.
Not that I will.
The second we get inside my place, I’ll turn on the television and torture myself with every single bit of bullshit they’re spewing, courtesy of the woman who carried me.
She’s no mother.
She’s a parasite.
I’ve just cleared the threshold of my place and shut us inside when Cassidy’s hand extends, palm up.
I glance at her outstretched hand and then back to her face. Her head tilts, and I know she’s waiting for something.
“What?” I say, nose wrinkled.
“Give it to me,” she says.
I narrow my eyes, trying to determine what she could possibly be talking about.
“Give you what, exactly?”
She sighs heavily. “Your phone, Aiden. Give me your phone.”
I continue to stare at her, completely dumbfounded, but she explains.
“There will be no TV or looking at your phone. None of that. You’ve had enough for one night. We can deal with all of this tomorrow.”
“Don’t you think I should know exactly what she said? To be prepared?”
She purses her lips and shakes her head. “Aiden, what difference is it going to make?”
