I set my phone down slowly. “If this is aboutthe press—”
“Oh, youthink?”
He’s practically vibrating with rage, jaw tight, hands clenched. “I just got a call from one of Olive’s coworkers. Something’s happening. She won’t answer my texts, so I’m here.”
I frown. “She left for work like normal. I didn’t think—”
“You didn’tthinkat all,” he cuts in. “You dropped this PR bomb on her life and didn’t think it might blow back?”
“I didn’t expect it to escalatethisfast—”
“Yeah, well, it did. Reporters outside her school, Ash. People asking questions. Parents calling. Kids seeing that shit. You think Olive wantedthat?”
My stomach twists.
“She didn’t sign up to become a headline,” Liam says. “She’s a fucking kindergarten teacher. Not some reality star.”
“I know that,” I say, quieter.
“Do you?” His eyes narrow. “Because she’s mylittle sister,man. And if anything happens—if this screws up her life—”
“It won’t,” I say quickly. “I’ll make sure of it.”
“Youbetter.” His voice drops to something cold and lethal. “Because this isn’t some fake-marriage joke anymore. This isrealfor her. For all of us.”
He takes a shaky breath and rakes a hand through his hair.
“She trusted you. And if you let her get eaten alive by the media? If she gets hurt? That’s onyou.”
I nod once. I can’t argue. I feel every word like a gut punch.
“She deserves better than this,” he mutters. And with that, he turns and leaves—slamming the door behind him.
19
OLIVE
Suspended
When I round the corner and see the cluster of people outside the kindergarten gates, my first thought is that someone called a fire drill. Then I see the cameras.
Dozens of them. Flashes go off like fireworks, and before I can fully register what’s happening, I’m surrounded.
“Olive! Olive Hart!”
“Olive, how did you meet Ash Ryder?”
“Did you seduce him into marrying you?”
My tote bag slips from my shoulder as I raise both hands in front of my face. The sidewalk vanishes under swarming feet. A microphone jabs toward my mouth like it’s a weapon.
I can’t breathe.
“I—excuse me—please—”
A small hand grabs my elbow.
“Nina?” I breathe, stunned.
