Page 44 of The Publicist
“What the fuck did he do?”
“Besides not keeping a low profile, and stopping drinking like I’ve asked several times, he’s hooking up with someone. He was making out with her in a bar, and they were photographed getting into a car together. Why did I decide dating him would be a good idea?” I’m too pissed for tears, but I don’t want to scream in her ear either. I opt for stern.
“Quinn, I love you, and I mean this the best way possible, but are you sure? He is practically in love with you. I haven’t seen him this happy since Cassandra, and you are so good for him.”
“Look at the pictures. I know they can be misleading and the paparazzi sucks, but when he’s sucking on someone’s face, there isn’t much you can do to change how that looks. He won’t answer his phone. I think he blocked me.”
“Hang on.” I hear her rustling around, probably searching for the pictures, and the next words out of her mouth confirm she has seen them. “What the fuck did he do?”
“I don’t know, Elena, but he’s no longer my problem. He kicked me off his assignment, and as far as I’m concerned, we’re through. I haven’t even gotten a chance to explain anything to him, and at this point now, I don’t think I want to. That man needs to grow up and grow some balls. He can’t sulk around when he’s not happy.” I’m fired up, and I’m starting to feel that I dodged the bullet that is Caleb.
“I’m going to call him now.” Elena pulls me from my thoughts. She hangs up quickly, and I put my phone down, deciding it is best to back out of everything that is going on. From a work perspective, this is a publicity nightmare, and while I know Amanda can handle it, I want her to know I’m there to help. I send her a quick text.
Me:Hey, if you need any help, let me know. If it has nothing to do with work though, I don’t want to know about it.
Her response comes in after a few minutes.
Amanda:I’ll keep that in mind for when I see him Monday. Thanks.
I grab a bottle of wine from the fridge and a large glass. Sleep isn’t going to pull me under anytime soon, so I might as well get drunk. I gulp down half the glass quickly then replenish the empty room in my glass with more wine. I’m determined to get a quick buzz going. I open my Instagram and regret it instantly. I have several DMs from people I don’t know asking for an update on my relationship with Caleb; others are telling me he’s better off without my fat ass.All right, they didn’t say those words exactly, but I’m not dumb. I know that’s what they mean.
After emptying my glass in another two large gulps, I pour myself a refill. Just as I feel the start of a nice buzz going, which I’m extremely happy about, my phone rings and Caleb’s name lights up the screen.
“What the fuck do you want?” I ask, my words becoming harder to form as the alcohol sinks in.
“You were drugged? What the fuck happened, Quinn?” he panics.
I’m in a sarcastic kind of mood now. “Wow, look who suddenly cares. First, you fly off the deep end without even talking to me. Then, you fuck some random chick. She’s fake, by the way. No way that rack is real.”Oh yeah, that’s a great argument, Quinn.
“You saw?”
I laugh maniacally. “Caleb, you are my job.Were. Youweremy job,” I correct myself. “I see everything you do. By the way, there are many women who will be thrilled that we aren’t together anymore. More for you to lust after.”
His voice seems to soften. “That’s not what I want, Quinn. You’re right, I overreacted, but you know what Tait does to me.”
“Stop. Blaming. Tait!” I yell. “God, I can’t stand that about you, Caleb. You don’t trust me, you never have, and that’s why we won’t work. That’s why you fucked up with Cassandra. She was right to leave you.”Oh shit!The words leave my mouth before I have a chance to register them, and when I do, I want to take them back. “Caleb, I-I’m sorry. That didn’t come out right.”
“You know what? Fuck you, Quinn. I’m glad I fired you before things went too far. Also, for your information, I didn’t sleep with that girl. She came on to me, and I was thinking about you the wholefuckingtime. I had the driver take her home, and I went to my room alone, where I am now. I lied, just so you know. Youwerejust a notch in my belt. I wanted to see if I could get you to sleep with me, and I succeeded. There were never any feelings involved.”
I know he’s hurt, and he’s lying, but it doesn’t hurt me any less. “It’s a good thing you got out then, while you had a chance. Have a nice life, Caleb.” I hang up the phone and allow myself to cry.
Getting involved with him was the worst idea I have ever had. I knew not to mix business with pleasure, and now I have a huge PR mess to deal with. It’s one thing when I have to deal with this for someone else’s life, but it’s another when I have to drag my own love life through the mud, which is what I’m going to have to do to get through this.
I’m not going to be rash; I want to give this a day or two to sink in before I do anything. He is still in Denver through tomorrow, and if I put anything up on social media, he’s going to have to deal with it tomorrow. As much as I hate him right now, I don’t want him to have to deal with the backlash of his crazy fans.
I pick up my phone and call Tait, needing to speak with someone that isn’t friends with Caleb. While I love Elena, she will try to fix everything, and I just need to vent.
“Hey, Quinn. You all right?”
“Hi, Tait. Caleb and I just ended things, and I need someone to vent to. Do you have a few minutes that we can talk?”
“How can you end a fake relationship?” He doesn’t sound sarcastic, only genuinely curious.
“You can’t, but you can end a real one. I agreed to date him for real the night of the premiere.”
“Ah. Well, I am sorry to hear things ended then. Maybe it’s for the best?”
“Maybe. I don’t know what to do.” I finish my glass of wine, and my head is spinning so much I know I have to stop. “Why couldn’t you have been a better guy in the beginning, Tait? I could have fucked you, and then I wouldn’t have had to deal with the mess I’m in. We could have kept it casual.”