Page 192 of Contentious

“How much of that did you hear?”

“All of it. You did great.”

“Oh good. I’m glad you thought so. I was flying blind once again.”

“You told him enough for him to get the gist without overwhelming him with details. It was perfect. And PS, you’re pretty good at this fatherhood thing.”

“That might be the best compliment I’ve ever received.”

“You’re pretty sexy, as well.”

“That’s a good one, too.”

“Teagan got a message from D&G. They want to meet with me tomorrow at ten a.m. to discuss the way forward.”

“How’re you feeling about that?”

“A little nervous but resolved not to take the blame for crap someone else did.”

“That’s the way to be. They’d be crazy to cut ties with you after you’ve been a victim of domestic violence.”

“I don’t really see it that way. I’m nobody’s victim.”

“No, you’re not, but violence was done to you. It’d be a terrible look for them to discount that fact in their discussions with you.”

“I suppose, but I don’t want them keeping me around because of something he did. I want it to be for what I bring to the table.”

“I get that, and I’m sure they know exactly what you bring.”

“I wish I could be so certain, but Teagan said the Quantum statement went a long way toward shutting down that nonsense. She said they did a good job of shaming the press into shutting up about what consenting adults do in their private lives. I’m sure they’re intent on keeping the attention on the film, where it belongs.”

“That’s good news.”

“It really is, but my association with it could be enough for D&G to invoke the morality clause in my contract.”

“If they’re stupid enough to do that, someone else will come along to snap you up, and you may end up better off than you were with them.”

“I guess we’ll see what they have to say.”

“On another topic I’ve been meaning to mention to you, did Marlene say anything about hooking up with my brother Ethan?”

“She did, but I wasn’t sure if you knew about that.”

“He told me when I was still in the hospital. What do you think of it?”

“Well, for one thing, she had no idea he was your brother at the time.”

“He had no idea she was your best friend. He said he almost died of shock in the Cedars ER waiting room when he saw her sitting there with you.”

“I wish I’d realized that at the time,” Cresley said, “but I was too terrified for you to think about anything else. But she said she nearly fainted when she realized he was your brother.”

“Awkward,” Carson said with a laugh. “You said for one thing. What’re the other things?”

“Marlene went through a horrific divorce a few years ago.”

“I know. I was the investigator on her case. Her ex-husband is a piece of shit.”

“That’s giving him more credit than he deserves. He was a monster to her. Ethan is the first guy she’s hooked up with since the divorce.”