Okay, now I just want to sob.
“This is what we’re going to do—you’renotgoing to respond. Do not engage. Do not speak to anyone about it. We’re going to get a lawyer and seek some council on how we respond until the child is born.”
“Can I delete my social media accounts?” I ask.
“You can.”
I nod, though that doesn’t make me feel better. “I’ve already suggested that the team blocks her account so she can’t continue to tag them, though that doesn’t do much good for everyone else tagging the team.”
“There’s no way to prove that it wasn’t me before five months?” I ask.
“I’ve already been in touch with both the hotel and the club. If this had come up within thirty days of the dates you were there, we could have visual evidence. The club doesn’t keep more than two weeks before recycling the space on the hard drive, but the hotel is trying to recover for us,” Rigo says. “I’m afraid that this is going to be a waiting game for a while. Keep yourhead down and do not talk about it with anyone. Don’t answer questions. Don’t even glare. Just ignore it.”
My gut clenches. “Okay.”
“Go about life as normal. If the paparazzi get bad, I have the name for a security detail.”
And now I have a sour taste in my mouth. I hate this. I hate everything about it!
“Okay.”
“It’s going to be fine.”
We get off the phone and I’m left staring at the back door. Pushing it open a few inches, I peek outside. I don’t see anyone. No cameras. No random people waiting. There’s an arena security guard at the far end of the parking lot.
Taking a breath, I head for my car. I make it without incident. As soon as I’m inside, I rest my head on the steering wheel, start the car, and dial Lo.
“Are you okay?” he asks as soon as he picks up.
“No,” I answer, squeezing my eyes closed. “I’m going to be sick.”
“We know the truth,” he says. “It’s going to be okay.”
“But the world thinks I’m a sleaze ball. And there’s nothing I can do about it for five fucking months until she brings that thing into the world!”
Lo chuckles. “People don’t like to have their babies called things, babe.”
“Right now, I can’t bring myself to care. She’s trying to ruin my life.”
“She’s trying to get your money,” he corrects.
“I’d give her money to go away,” I mutter.
“No, you won’t. You hear me?Do notdo that. She doesn’t get a penny. Take a breath, babe. Breathe for me.”
I spend the next several minutes doing nothing but breathing and listening to Lo’s quiet, sexy voice surround me.
“Where are you?”
“In my car.”
“Heading home from practice?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
“Can you make it home safely or do you need to call Creed?”
A smile touches my lips. “I can drive. I just… I needed to hear your voice, I guess.”
