Page 67 of The Interview

Then come the headlines from the tabloids the next day.

Fresh Meat for a Marley and Maca Sandwich!

Who’s The Latest Filling for Marley and Maca?

And the most tabloid of tabloid headlines:

Another Deli-icious Filling Goes Home for a Roll with Marley and Maca!

“Jesus,” I hear one of my boys say.

“Did they not know you were Marley’s sister, Sean’s ex?” Talullah asks.

“They hadn’t figured it out at that stage,” I reply.

“So, this all happened the night before my birthday party, right?” Ash asks.

My face burns.

“The night we met, babe,” Marley says.

“And the night I got dumped,” Cam adds. I thought he’d left but should’ve known he wouldn’t go too far.

I close my eyes. It’s not just my face burning now. Both my insides and every inch of skin feel like they’re on fire. I really wish I could disappear.

“Oh, shit, yeah. Sorry, big man.” Marley adds a long, slow whistle for emphasis.

“Oh, don’t worry. Things didn’t go great for me that night, either,” Ashley adds. “Just ask Marls.”

“Tell us about that,” Daniel requests.

I panic. My belly bubbles, and I’m suddenly unsure if I want to vomit or literally shit myself.

“One minute you were one of rock’s biggest bad boys, dating supermodels, actresses, and even royalty. The next, you were settling down with a girl the world knew nothing about.”

He’s talking to Marley. I thought he was asking Cam about being dumped!

My heart rate slows, my head stops spinning, and I’m instantly grateful to my brother and sister-in-law for the deflection.

“One look,” Marley says. “It really was that old cliché of it happening the moment our eyes met. I think I told her she was beautiful.”

“I didn’t believe him; not for a second. Obviously, I’d heard all about his reputation, so I just assumed all he wanted was to get in my knickers,” Ashley adds.

“I did,” Marley confirms. “The last thing I was expecting was that by the end of the night—afternotgetting into your knickers, I might add—was that I’d also want to get into your heart and build a house—a home there.”

Collectively, me, Ash, Len, and Jim stare at my brother. After a few moments, I shift my gaze to Ash, whose eyes are shining with tears.

“I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me,” she whispers to my brother.

“It’s the truth,” he replies, equally as quiet, making me feel like an intruder. Like we should all fuck off and leave them to have their moment.

“Even after I puked everywhere?” Ash asks him.

“I actually think that’s what swung it for me. What’s more intimate than holding back the hair of the girl you just met as she vomits in your toilet? I can tell you right now, there’s no other woman I’ve ever done that for.”

Ashley’s face lights up before her attention shifts to Dan.

“It was my twenty-first; I drank far too much. Marley took me home with him,” she starts.