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“Of course,” I say, standing to offer my support. “What can we do?”
“I’m not sure yet. I, uh…I don’t have any siblings and my dad is long gone, so I’m all she has.”
“I’m so sorry, Marcus,” I say.
He nods, brushing off my sympathy. “It’s fine. I just…I need to get home and figure things out with Sabrina and the kids.”
“Where’s your mom located?” I ask, and Rivera is suspiciously quiet during the entire exchange.
“Florida.”
“Will you just need to be there for the surgery?” I’m trying to maintain my sympathy but I still need to know how long my boss is going to be out.
“I have to make the cross-country trip, be with her during the surgery and help her after in rehab, sell her place and get her set up in an assisted living facility. I have no idea how long that might take. A few weeks, probably. I can work semi-remotely, in fact I will need to, but I’ll need your help here.” He looks between Rivera and me. “Jolene,” he begins, and I figure he’s going to ask me to be in charge here in his absence, “with the podcast and the season starting soon, your plate is full. Ryan, I’ll need you to step in as the temp editor while I’m out.”
I gasp audibly, not really caring that Rivera overhears me. “Are you serious?”
“It’s my only option. I need to go. Please tell me you two can play nice while I’m away,” he says.
“I know I will,” Rivera says, his lips so far up Marcus’s ass he can probably taste what he had for lunch.
I cross my arms over my chest defensively. “Fine,” I mutter.
I don’t like any of this one tiny bit, and I don’t trust Rivera at all.
I’m a little worried about what he might do in Marcus’s absence, but there’s nothing I can do about it, and it’s not like I can unload Rivera’s threats onto Marcus now that he’s worried about his mom.
I keep my mouth shut and cross my fingers as I hope for the best.
After Jonah gets home from school, we head over to my parents’ house. His favorite thing to do is sit in my dad’s office watching all the YouTube channels I don’t allow at home, and once he’s set up in there, my parents sit in the kitchen with me as we each crack open a soda, my mom’s preferred beverage of choice.
“Heard about the podcast,” my dad says gruffly.
“Yeah, I figured you did. It’s sort of why I decided to stop by for dinner.”
“Do you think partnering with that monster is a good idea after what he did to you?” he presses.
“He’s not a monster, Dad,” I say, and my voice sounds tired. “Can’t we just put the past back where it belongs?”
“I went through the worst injury of my life at the hands of Eddie Nash, the man who claimed to be my best friend. He ended my career, Jolene. Do you understand that?”
“Of course I do,” I begin, but he barges on over my words.
“His son tore your heart out and stepped all over it the same goddamn day. If you think for one hot second I’m going to bury that in the past, you are mistaken. They will do it again. You just watch. This supposed chemistry between you two—it’s for ratings. Lincoln Nash is putting on an act. I’m sorry to tell you but if you get close to him again, he will only hurt you again. That’s the reality of it, and I can’t stand by supporting this.” He storms out of the room without waiting for a response.
I glance at my mom, who remained silent through that entire exchange, and I wait for her to say something supportive.
But that’s not what I get.
She sighs and shakes her head a little as she presses her lips together. “I’m with your father, honey.”
My brows crease together. “You’re with him? Seriously? Don’t you care about my career?”
“I care about your heart, baby girl.” She pats her chest. “Seeing your child with a broken heart is one of the worst things a parent can endure, and you changed after he broke up with you. You’ve never been the same. I can’t watch you go back down that road.”
“We’re hosting a podcast, Mom! It’s not like we’re sleeping together!”
But that’s the thing.
