Even if I fully and wholeheartedly consented to the kissing and the touching and the… everything else. Even if I was anenthusiastic participant in everything that’s happened between me, Hale, Noah, and Evan.
Even if, while I’m internally kicking myself for being such a reckless idiot, I can’t help feeling like I wouldn’t take any of it back.
Branson studies me for a long moment. If anyone is going to see right through my lies, it’s going to be her.
Eventually, though, she lets out an exhale and says, “I believe you, of course. But I want to discourage any further complications. You’re on firehouse property around the clock. You’re a beautiful young women and they are handsome young men. Even I can acknowledge that. These situations escalate quickly. If this campaign leads to reputation-related orlegalfallout, the union will have to take action. And if your continued presence here further contributes to distractions from the actual goals—”
“Then we kill it,” I interrupt as firmly as I dare. “We cut the campaign short and switch strategies. I get it. Believe me, we’re on the same side.”
Branson shrugs and, on some invisible signal that I’m not privy to, pushes back from the table and stands. “I trust your judgment, Lila. For now.”
“I won’t let you down,” I promise.
But the fact of the matter is that I’ve already let her down. I’ve let everyone down, including myself.
And after a meeting like that, I desperately need some air.
Twenty minutes later, I let myself into Hartstrings PR’s tiny headquarters. Lou, who was already expecting me, glances up from her laptop at the long folding table we’ve been using as a double desk.
I mutter a greeting, then sink down into the creaky chair beside her.
“Well, I’m glad to see the Hawk didn’t eat you alive,” Lou chirps.
“She should have,” I grumble. “I’d deserve it.”
“Yes, woe is you. It’s so difficult being a twenty-eight-year-old bombshell with perfect tits and three insanely sexy men who want to eat your cookie.”
“Okay, ew? Don’t ever phrase it like that again.”
“I mean, I personally would hate to be in your position, given that I don’t like men, but that’s beside the point.”
I frown, then glance down at my chest. “Do you really think my tits are perfect?”
Lou snorts. “Focus, cupcake. What did Branson say?”
“She’s worried about fraternization.”
My best friend throws her head back with a mighty cackle. “Wise woman.”
“Lou!”
“Well, she’s obviously not wrong.” Lou shrugs. “And now we’ve got that pesky #AllThree thing going around.”
I sink down lower in the chair. “How is this happening? How did I manage to get myself into a love triangle like this?”
“Love square, technically. There’s four of you.”
“Lou.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I didn’t mean for it to happen. I wanted a big career moment and I wanted to help people. I wanted to do something genuinely good.”
Lou sighs, her expression softening. “You are doing all of that, though. But you’re not made of stone, Lila. They’re good guys. It’s not hard to understand why you’d fall for them. Even the grumpy one.”
“I’ve just never juggled anything like this before. Usually, I struggle to get just one man to treat me like I’m worth anything at all.”
“That’s not your fault, though,” she assures me. “We’ve been through this, hon. You pick the wrong guys because you think love is supposed to be a challenge.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah. Blah, blah. Divorced parents. Workaholic father and emotionally absent mother. I’m pathologically wired to feel like I have to earn love. Tale as old as time; it really doesn’t make me special or give me a real excuse here.”
“I’m just saying, Lila. For the first time, you’re being chosen. You didn’t actively seek them out in a romantic sense.” Lou drums her fingers thoughtfully on the desk. “Not to mention, from what you’ve said, they’ve made it clear that they think you should be an obvious choice. For all of them.”
