Page 14 of Popular (Private: The Extended Edition #5)

J.T.

I watch Weston Wilcox, my first best friend, father of my nephew, anxiously pace the floor of his home office, bouncing around his screaming son from the other end of the video chat. “He hates me.” Wes switches Wyland to the other side. “My son actually hates me.”

“He doesn’t hate you,” leaves me at the same time I fidget with my glass of whiskey that’s on my bedside table. “He just takes after his mom.”

“ Meaning? ”

All of a sudden, Clark Baker, trusted member of the estate and our honorary father, steps into the frame to transition Wy out of his father’s arms into his. The second he’s there, Wy stops wailing and starts laughing.

Clapping.

“Meaning he gets a kick out of you all wound up.”

“Is that true?” His mismatched gaze moves to lock eyes with his son’s. “Is that what you want?” He lets his scarred face wrinkle in consternation. “Do you want daddy sounding like something Batman needs to lock up in Gotham?”

Wy leans over and open mouth laughs in Wes’s face.

“ Unbelievable ,” murmurs the man I technically work for.

“You mean diabolical.”

“Come along, young Wilcox,” chortles Clark during his exiting of what I envision is the room. “Perhaps a late-night snack will help you get back to sleep.”

“Always helps Bryn,” I teasingly interject, gathering Wes’s glower once more.

“And where is the mother of my first born?” He migrates his way around his desk to flop down into his leather, office chair. “Getting her own munchies?”

“Taunting my security detail over his sucky karaoke skills.”

“Singh did karaoke?”

“We all did.” One hand lifts to coincide with my correction. “Except Hurst”

“Wait,” his black hoodie covered frame leans back in amusement, “ you did karaoke?”

“Yeah.”

“Bryn record it?”

An attempt to smile is made. “For future blackmail purposes, of course.”

“Of course,” chuckles the male on the other end before folding his hands together in his lap, “but I’m guessing that’s not what’s got you nursing a glass of whiskey off camera.”

Guilt makes itself briefly seen in my gaze.

When your best friend is a recovering alcoholic – the type that could’ve cost him everything – it’s only right to do your part in the sobering practice.

Not drinking in front of him is one of those things.

But I needed it.

I needed something to wash down the bitter disappointment of the woman I’m meant to love walking out of my life without a second thought.

“I appreciate you keeping it out of view.”

Another grin does its best to grow on my expression.

“You know whatever answer you’re looking for isn’t at the bottom of that glass.”

“I know.”

“So, what’s the problem you’re looking to solve?”

“I’m not…looking to solve anything.” Running one hand through my dirty blond hair precedes me explaining, “There’s nothing to solve.

The chick I’ve been spending the week with got a chance at her dream job and is gonna take it.

And she should take it! She’s earned it!

That job should be hers! The fact they’re even making her audition again is ludicrous!

The fact they didn’t just hire her to begin with is even more fucking ridiculous!

I’ve seen her performances, plus, I’ve been on stage with her to see it firsthand.

” Bashful beaming can’t be held back. “She is unstoppable with those lights on her, dude.”

“ Don’t call me dude, ” scolds Wes like normal.

“I’m happy she’s getting the opportunity she deserves. I really am.”

“You just don’t know what that means for you in her life.”

“Right.”

“You didn’t talk about it?”

“She ghosted me.” My fingers resume spinning the glass in place. “She found out when we got off stage, rushed to her room to call them back, book a flight, and pack.”

His slow nodding somehow convinces me to keep talking.

Block silence from settling.

“Which is fine, I guess.”

“Being ghosted?”

“Yeah. I mean…this was just supposed to be a fling, you know?”

“I know that flings are all you’ve done for quite a while now.”

“Between getting the app off the ground – the tests, the prep, the bugs – and bracing for this demo tour in LA, Manhattan, Chicago, and West Palm Beach followed by the official launch in Highland, flings are all I’ve got time for.”

“No, they’re all you’ve made time for.”

Culpability callously clogs my vocal cords a second time.

“This is your project, J.T. You make the rules. You make the schedules. You determine the meetings. You are in complete control; however, there are a few things in life more important than deadlines and boardrooms and shareholders and money. And when we discover those things, we must do whatever it takes to have them. Keep them. ” He warmly smirks.

“ You once took the time to remind me of that when I needed to hear it most, so consider this as my moment to return the sentiment.”