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“How’s that a good thing?”
“Seriously? Are you that insecure? It’s basic supply and demand. She’ll get paid more and work less. Jesus, never fire your agent.” He shakes his head and sighs. “Ideally, she’ll stay in LA and spend time withus.”
I sit silently for what feels like an eternity, my mind swirling with everything he suggests. Being with Aurora has always been my endgame, but I approached it all wrong. While Ethan is manipulative, and the prospect of her gaining more popularity is a tough pill to swallow, I see the logic in his argument.
Yet, l haven’t put together one piece of the puzzle.
“What’s in this for you? You keep saying ‘us’ as if you’re not stepping aside.”
He scoffs. “Hate to break it to you, but I’m not. She loves you—sober you,” he adds. “I doubt she’ll let me near her anytime soon, but I still need her in LA to see my child. Plus, I get to annoy the fuck out of you.”
He grins, and I can tell by his smug expression he’s playing the long game. Little does he know, I’ve already taken up that position.
“I’ll send my bodyguard with her to New York and update my publicist.” I circle back to our prior conversation. “But we still have to convinceherto go along with your plan.”
“I’m calling her tonight.” He relaxes in his seat with an air of superiority. “I’ll let you know how it goes.”
My brows furrow. “You talked to her earlier?”
“We’ve been texting.” He half-ass shrugs, aware he’s getting under my skin and wearing away at my last fucking nerve.
Still, I need to know. “What did she say?”
“You’re ridiculously jealous. You make this too easy.”
He laughs, and I have the sudden urge to punch him in the throat.
“Calm down, killer. We’re on the same team here. She told me she’s going to New York, she’s not quitting her job, you don’t support her financially, and she’s searching for a place in Santa Monica. She says she feels fine and agreed to let me attend the next doctor’s appointment.”
My frown deepens, and my knee bounces. “Why’d she say I don’t support her?”
Gray eyes lock with mine, radiating defiance. “Because I told her if you wouldn’t, I would.”
I’d care for her without hesitation if she let me. He knows that. Why is he warning me? So I don’t fuck up? That’s a no-brainer.
Unless he offered to support her and she shot him down, which is why he’s scheming.
A self-satisfied smile graces my lips. “You won’t be able to buy her affection.”
“Oh, I know, and neither can you. That puts us on an even playing field. Aurora doesn’t want shit from me, which only makes me want to give it to her more.”
“Dude, hate to break it to you,” I mimic in his same annoying tone, “but it sounds like she’s not interested. I don’t fuck with puck bunnies but maybe shoot your shot there. I hear they come cheap and easy.”
The sharper my sarcastic jabs, the more amused he becomes. He’s impossible to fluster or intimidate.
“No thanks. Aurora is hotter than any puck bunny I’ve ever seen.” A cocky, shit-eating grin lights up his face. “Besides, I can’t imagine the sex is any better.”
That’s a punch to the gut, and I huff. “I fucking hate you. Ireallyfucking hate you.”
That only makes him laugh harder.
TWENTY-FOUR
ETHAN
I pacethe hotel room and rake my fingers through my hair, waiting for Aurora to answer my call. All day, I’ve been thinking about this, going over my words again and again.
But when she picks up, my mind goes blank, and I freeze.