“Em went to TMZ,” Courtney said to his back.
Okay. Right. Weeks. Shit.
Her mind began working out which angle she would play as publicist. Where Bax could go in the interim—because her house was very temporary. They’d probably kill each other in the literal sense if forced to live together for any extended period.
Em had not waited forRaglan’s exposé—an exposé Courtney was pretty certain she had tempered to nearly nothing.
But if Em went straight to TMZ…
“She made some choices to get the press on her side so she could nudge along a Dimefront documentary deal,” Hans said, filling in Courtney.
Em’s side of the story painted Bax as a womanizer—which he was. Or he used to be. He hadn’t been since Em came into the picture.
Her side of the story painted Bax as an absent partner—which, when he was on tour, he was. But he hadn’t been on tour in over a year. Not since he’d proposed to her.
Her side of the story made Em look like she was a saint, while Bax was the devil. Which, while Bax might be part-devil, Em didn’t exactly have angel wings. Her past was rockier than Bax’s.
“We spill it. We spill Em’s tea,” Courtney decided in the moment. That was the angle they’d have to take. “Bags, coffee beans, anything and everything.”
Hans had been filling the teakettle on Em for a while. They both had a bad feeling about her from the beginning.
Usually, Courtney wasn’t one for fighting fire with fire. She preferred water for flames. Stay above that little line that etched markings onto one’s soul.
But this wasn’t about her.
This was about the band.
Saving a lot of terrible publicity.
“No,” Bax said. Firm. He set the plate down in the dish rack and leaned into the edge of the counter, his back still to Courtney. “We stay out of it. It’ll go away.”
“Did you catch that?” Courtney asked Hans, already knowing he totally caught that.
“Let me talk to him,” Hans said.
Courtney had no issue handing over the phone and letting Hans talk some actual sense into her houseguest.
Judging by the scowl, Bax was not impressed with what Hans had to say. Still, he listened. Because that was what a person did when Hans spoke.
“Fine, yeah.” Bax glanced up and clocked her with his gaze, perma-frown plastered in place. “I’ll stay here. But we don’t go after Em. Agreed?” He lowered his voice a little. “She’s still Em.”
Right. On that note, she’d just go grab him a towel and some bedding for the couch.
Chapter Three
Bax
Last night,Bax decided he might as well embrace his fucked-up life. He also stopped fighting Hans about staying with Courtney while Hans figured out a longer-term plan. Unfortunately, Hans made good points, Courtney’s couch did not suck, and her shower was amazing. He might as well live in this shower.
Arm against the tile, he dropped his head to his forearm, letting the water flow over his back.
His band was totally fucked.
His relationship was totally fucked.
He didn’t even have a dog.
He’d always wanted a dog, but Em didn’t like dogs. Apparently, what Em enjoyed was stepping out on him, so he was questioning a lot of her likes and dislikes. He resolved right then that her name was off-limits—the woman had no name as far as he was concerned.
