“Yeah.”
“Don’t be stupid. I have my brother-in-law, best friend, and perfect uncle to my child all rolled up in one. Half the time you’re the reason I don’t run away screaming. Yeah, we’re okay. I knew you were a slut. I just didn’t know you got paid for it.” A grin broke her pouty lips. “Actually it kinda gives you an edge. I thought I knew everything about you. My sweet little Randall. I like that you got this whole other thing going on.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“No, I mean it. I can only dream of having that much freedom. Of being able to simply do whatever—” She stopped talking abruptly, and her smile faded.
I glanced behind me to see if Dustin or someone had walked into the coffee shop. No one had. I kept expecting someone to recognize me. Luckily, it seemed no normal person had read the article despite all the calls. I turned back to her. “What?”
She twisted her wedding ring. “Please don’t hate me, but does Bailey know?”
“What!” I leaned back in the booth, floored. “Of course Bailey doesn’t know. Why the hell would Bailey know that? If I didn’t tell you, my best friend, you think I’m going to tell my seven-year-old niece?”
Her shoulders relaxed. “No. Of course not. I know you wouldn’t. I trust you completely. But I had to ask. Freedom is all well and good, but the last thing I want is for Bailey to get the message that she can be a prostitute if she wants to be when she grows up.”
The thought made my stomach cramp. That was a horrible thought. “Of course not. And seriously, could you have said that any louder?”
“I know. I’m sorry. But really. Why would you think it would be bad for Bailey if it’s okay for you?”
“I….” Whoa. That was a thought. “I don’t know. It’s just different.”
She gave me a skeptical look.
“Well, you tell me, Kayla. You’re the one who married my brother. Do you want Bailey to marry someone like him when she grows up?”
She grimaced. “Ouch. But point made.”
“Sorry. I’m a bit on edge.”
Kayla slid out of her seat, taking her cup with her. “I’m going to order something hot and not skinny. This day calls for the real thing.” She motioned toward my empty cup. “Want another.”
“No thanks. One chai is good. I’d already had a pot of coffee this morning as I was editing. Any more caffeine and I really will have a breakdown.”
“Suit yourself.”
I watched her sashay up to the barista. She was right. I truly was lucky. I couldn’t help but think Stewart had been trying to ruin my life. Maybe he didn’t believe I was cut off from my family’s money and saw this as the way to make sure it happened in real life. I couldn’t see any other motivation. It obviously wasn’t going to make me want to get back into contact with him, so it must have simply been out of vengeance over his hurt feelings. Over his fucking batshit-crazy, hurt feelings.
But to do so through The Dirty website? That made no sense. Like my family would ever see that. He should have put it in theSeattle Times. Although maybe he tried and they weren’t interested. Whatever he was trying to do, it failed. I’d already parted ways with Daddy’s money, and Noah wasn’t going anywhere. That part I truly couldn’t believe. It almost made me thankful to Stewart. Forcing me to get it all out on the table and see how much Noah really wanted to do this whole relationship thing with me.
I was still embarrassed and pretty tender. But… I couldn’t help but be somewhat happy it happened. There had only been one reporter call since the night before. The thing was definitely over.
Kayla was back with a steaming drink within a couple of minutes, and she slid effortlessly back into the booth.
I made a show of peering into her cup. “Did you really do the real thing?”
She looked appalled. “Of course not. Don’t be disgusting. Can you imagine how much more time on cardio I’d have to do to make up for that? Not on your life. And if I was going to fall off the wagon, it would be for carbs, not the equivalent of hot chocolate.”
I chuckled.
“I fail to see any humor in that thought. I really do miss pasta.” She took a drink and sighed. “This is still pretty good, though.”
“So I was thinking while you were gone. I bet this whole thing just blows over. I mean, you didn’t tell anyone, right? You’re not going to mention this to Dustin.”
“What is wrong with you?” She rolled her eyes. “You give me absolutely no credit.”
Kayla could never keep her mouth shut, but I was willing to bet, for something like this, for me, she could. “Well, great. Then this whole thing should blow over. Nobody reads stuff like The Dirty. I’m good.” I paused, feeling stupid that it took me over twenty-four hours to make the connection. “Wait a minute, Kayla. How did you find the article?”
“I read The Dirty every day. There’s always something juicy on there. Always.”
