“Oof.”
“How did this even get out?” Sunny asked.
My brain took a moment to recalibrate before I fully remembered everything that happened yesterday. “I think I have an idea,” I said through gritted teeth as I scrolled through my contacts and then held the phone to my ear.
“Are you calling Nolan?” Sunny whispered. “I can leave, or just be, like, super quiet. Oh my God, please let me stay.”
I nodded my head at her and then rolled my eyes after it rang twice before going straight to voicemail.
“This is Jack Hart. I never check my voicemails, so don’t bother. Text me or try my manager.”
After a long beep, I let loose, unleashing all the rage I felt for him and his weird threatening calls and texts and for Dominic Diamond and his awful catchphrase and his disgusting entitlement to private information. “Jack Hart, you piece of shit. How could you? I was nice to you! I was one of the only people still in your corner and you go and sell me out to that human leech! I hope you lose MissCrumpets in the custody battle. She deserves better than you.”
And then I hung up, pumping breaths in and out of my lungs as my adrenaline skyrocketed. “I can’t believe I just did that.”
“Yeah.” Sunny shook her head, her eyes wide with amazement and a little bit of terror. “That last part was brutal.”
I sank against the headboard. “Was it?”
“No, no, but totally deserved,” she said, her loyalty unyielding. “I mean, that poor dog probably needs to be removed from both of their custody if we’re being honest. I just didn’t know you had it in you.”
I set my mug down a little too hard next to hers, coffee sloshing over the edge.
“You think he really sold you out to the press?” she asked.
I nodded. “He left a threatening voicemail yesterday, and he’s still pissed at me for bailing on him.”
“I find it baffling that Rebecca’s son could be so vicious.”
“Rebecca?” I asked. “You mean Jack’s mom?”
Her wistful gaze drifted beyond me. “She’ll always be Rebecca to me.” After a moment, she shook the thought from her head and said, “While you’re all hyped up, though, I thought I should show you this before someone else beats me to it.”
She pulled up a screenshot on her phone and handed it over for me to see.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHRISTMAS NOTCH, VT
DECEMBER 25, 2022
INNOVATIONS AGENCY AND MANAGEMENT FIRM
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:[email protected]
NOLAN SHAW HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF HIS COSTAR’S PROFESSION
Representatives of Nolan Shaw can confirm that Mr.Shaw wrappedDuke the Hallson Christmas Eve. When Mr.Shaw was cast by the Hope Channel to star in this Hopeflix-launching film, he was set to appear opposite Winnie Baker, whom he has known and held in the highest regard for many years.
While Mr. Shaw was happy to work with Ms. Baker’s replacement at the last minute, he had no prior knowledge of Ms. Hobbes/von Honey’s career as an adult film actress. Mr. Shaw is not associated with pornography nor does he condone the predatory nature of pornography.
Mr.Shaw did attend a team-building outing at a local venue in an effort to support the economy of Christmas Notch, Vermont. As such, Mr.Shaw was unaware of the establishment’s more obscene offerings.
Mr.Shaw remains proud of his work onDuke the Hallsand fully respects and understands the Hope Channel’s image and brand as a source of clean holiday entertainment for the whole family.
Sunny’s phone slipped from my hands and onto the bed and everything just went... numb. My brain began to disconnect from my body, because if I let myself fully feel this pain, I might not leave this bed. Ever.
