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“You’re a selfish asshole.”

Micah moved to a sitting position. “Selfish. That’s what shesaid.”

“Because you are. Dude, you probably don’t know this since you’ve had, like, zero experience with any relationship that lasts longer than an hour, but when you love someone you do things in the best interest of you as a couple, not just you as a superstar. You can’t give up your playboy status to see where things go with Maddie?”

Micah leaned forward. “I need more time without the press to see how thingsgo.”

“Bullshit.”

“What do you fucking know aboutit?”

“I’m always with you, Micah. I know all about it. I know all about you. You want more time to come up with another excuse about why it’s not going to work out. Because heaven forbid things did work out and you found out all your years of self-imposed solitude were a waste of yourlife.”

Micah sat back into the couch and pulled the pillow into his lap. “Whatever. I’m not talking about this with you anymore.”

Fudge’s eyes traveled to a spot behind where Micah sat. “Fine with me. You can discuss it withLulu.”

“I’m not discussing shit withLulu.”

“Micah?”

Lulu’s voice behind him made Micah jump up, the pillow flying from his lap to the floor. “Mom!” Fuck. He looked and felt like shit and now he had to deal with his mother.

Micah circled around the couch to hug Lulu. “You didn’t say you were stopping by. What are you doinghere?”

“Chris calledme.”

Micah turned to Fudge and delivered his best death glare. “I wonder why he would dothat.”

Lulu threw her purse down on a side table. “He was worried, and I can seewhy.”

Christ. Lulu, too? “There’s no reason to be worried.” As he talked, Micah straightened the room, both because it was trashed and because he needed something to help him avoid his mother’s eyes. “I’m a little hung over, that’s all. You know how we celebrate when a shoot isover.”

“Micah, I know it’s not the movie. You don’t have to pretend.”

He bent over to pick up the pillow that had fallen off the couch. “What do you mean?” He was afraid to find out the answer.

“I told her.” And Fudge’s tone said he didn’t regret it atall.

Micah’s eyes flitted from Lulu to his bodyguard. “What exactly did you tellher?”

Lulu’s face softened with compassion. “He told me everything, Micah. About Madalyn.”

If Micah could kill Fudge with a simple stare, he was sure this was the stare that would doit.

“I told her the truth! That you’re hung up on Maddie but you’re being an asswipe about it. Excuse my language, Lulu.”

Lulu smiled reassuringly. “You’re fine, Chris. From what you told me, I think asswipe is more than appropriate.”

Micah threw the pillow down onto the couch in complete frustration. “Why are you on his side? You didn’t even want me to stay here to work on herfilm.”

“I didn’t know you were in love with her. Why didn’t you tellme?”

“What do you care aboutlove?”

“What’s that supposed tomean?”

“You left your marriage, Mom. You chose your career overlove.”