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The very next day, it’s my turn to have a hangover and regret my decisions from last night. I find myself at the local park, surrounded by puppy playpens. I have Murphy on a leash while Jules stands nearby with her one-and-a-half date, who I’ve since learned is called Eddy.
I don’t remember much of the previous night… okay any of the previous night past beer number four… and Jules keeps smirking at me, which I don’t appreciate at all.
Across the expanse of grass, Nathan has his sunny smile on full display, looking every inch the NFL superstar I need him to be for the cameras. Which is good, since that’s why we’re here at this park on this aggressively sunny Tuesday morning.
He’s a few feet away, signing autographs, and posing for pictures with adorable puppies… and I am holding Murph’s leash whilst trying not to vomit, so things are going well. Ten out of ten.
“Awe,” says Jules, motioning for me to look Nathan’s way. “Look at that.”
Nathan is kneeling by a little girl who is happily holding a golden retriever puppy. She’s beaming at him like he’s the hero in her favorite book. Her dad looks on, also beaming because Nathan Sterling likely is this man’s hero.
“Makes your ovaries just clench, doesn’t it?” says Jules.
I roll my eyes, and instantly regret it as my head throbs. “No comment.”
“You need to tell him,” she says, yet again. “That could be Rory over there, smiling up at a father like he’s a hero.”
“So you’ve said… about a million times. Point taken. It’s on the record. I know how you feel. Now, will you butt out and let me make my own decisions?”
Jules holds up her hands. “Wow, someone’s touchy this morning. Makes me wonder what happened before I got home with Rory and found Nathan in your kitchen.”
My eyes widen. I lower my shades enough to look directly at her. “Nathan was at my house?”
Eddy, who I only just realize is totally listening to all of this, is looking back and forth between me and Jules, shocked and excited all at once.
Jules tilts her head. “Were you that drunk? You don’t remember?”
I shake my head. Oh god, what if he saw pictures of Rory? My brain catches up enough to remember that Jules just said she got home with Rory while he was in my kitchen. What if he saw my daughter? His daughter? “Did he say anything?” I ask, panicked. “Tell me exactly what happened. No detail is too small.”
Jules shakes her head. “I think he was as surprised to see me as I was to see him. He just bolted out of there. He didn’t ask about Rory. Maybe he thinks she’s mine, or something.”
It’s the “or something” that’s worrying me.
I pinch the bridge of my nose, wincing behind my dark shades. “What am I going to do, Jules? This is only going to get worse. I never should’ve taken this job. I clearly can’t make good decisions around him.”
Jules takes a long, suffering breath. “Izzy, had you told me the truth about Rory from the very beginning, I’d have given you the same advice I’m giving you now. Tell that man the truth.”
Nathan starts heading over to us. I motion a hand across my throat and shoot Jules a death glare. Eddy, too, just to be safe.
“Feeling chipper this morning, I see,” Nathan says.
My death glare finds a new target. “No thanks to you.”
“Hey, I wasn’t the one throwing back beers like they were candy.” Nathan smirks again, but then his face changes and he says, “What the hell is she doing here?”
We all turn to see Courtney Warner sauntering up, looking like a model walking the runway. She spots Nathan and her face lights up, she waves and shouts, “Hey babe!” She knows exactly what she’s doing, because the cameras instantly focus on her as she reaches Nathan and greets him with a kiss on both cheeks.
To his credit, Nathan looks completely blindsided by this. “Courtney,” he says pleasantly, aware of his audience. “What are you doing here?” This last bit is more out of one side of his mouth so no one can read his lips.
“I never miss a chance for good PR,” she also pantomimes. “My people called your people and told me you’d be here.”
She turns to the rest of us. “Who are your friends? I’m Courtney, which I’m sure you already know, curse of fame,” she gives the fakest wince I’ve ever seen. Truly an Oscar-worthy performance.
“Ah, Court, this is Jules, and…”
“Eddy,” he supplies.
Nathan nods. “Right, Eddy. and she’s–er–Rossi. Isabella Rossi.” While Courtney looks at him like he’s having a stroke, Jules hides a laugh in Eddy’s shoulder and I will the earth to swallow me whole. My ringing phone comes as the perfect distraction As usual, it’s the school. I have a momentary panic attack as I check the time. Is it four already? Did I completely lose track of my day? But it’s only two… which means they’re calling for another reason. My stomach sinks.
