“No, but?—”
“Did they print any explicit or private photos?”
“No, but?—”
“Did they threaten him in any way?”
“No.”
“Then what exactly are you so pissed off about?” she asks.
“They published hisname.”
“I hate to break it to you, Talon, but he’s an adult. His name is fair game.”
A growl tears from my throat.Does no one understand the issue here?
Unfortunately, she’s right, and if I’m going to lose my shit on someone, I definitely don’t want it to be on Jackie.
“Understood. Sorry for waking you.”
I hang up and send a text to my family. I should’ve started with them anyway. They’ll help me through this mess. They always do.
Me
I need to move dinner to lunch. Zeke and I are coming over at noon. Shit’s about to hit the fan.
Lookslike I’ll be enlightening everyone about what a big fucking deal this is all at the same time.
Chapter 36
Zeke
Talon’s penthouse is akin to being at Summit. Seeing as it’s on the top floor, I suppose the penthouse is a type of summit anyway. Rising high into the air, the view overlooks the urban jungle instead of the snow-covered slopes, but the feeling of being above it all, and the weight of the world melting away as we ascend, is the same.
But this article is weighing heavily on him, and not even being squirreled away together on top of the world is helping.
I know I’m missing something; I’m just not sure what it is.
Sure, I don’t love that Dahlia announced our relationship through the media, but I’m not as bothered by it as Talon is.
His reaction threatens to bring back old demons, but I cast them aside.
Iamgood enough for him, dammit.
No longer hungry, I head to Talon’s bathroom to grab a shower.
I’m in the middle of rinsing soap from my body when Talon enters the steam-filled room.
“Hey,we’re going to do lunch with my family instead of dinner, okay? We’ll leave here around eleven-forty-five.”
Opening the shower door, I reach a wet hand toward him.
“I feel like I’m losing you. What’s going on?”
Talon sighs and strips his shirt off.
“Are you trying to distract me with your body?” I ask, only partly joking. “Because it might work, but it doesn’t make me feel any better about whatever it is you’re going to say.” When Talon barely cracks a smile, I get worried. “Talon, tell me we’re okay,” I demand in a harsh tone, my fear getting the best of me.
