Page 21 of Through the Five-Hole

“The hell they will be!”

“Colton, it’s already in the works.Besides, Puck-Lit-Love girlies adore love stories.That will propel your image to change almost immediately, and I know the rest will fall into place from there.”

“So, undo it.This story is making me sound like I’m unable to handle an emotional crisis.”

“No, it’s not.I’m giving your fans and the public a glimpse into the real side of you.A side you’ve hidden for far too long.The vulnerable side.Besides, everyone loves a love story, and if your fans can be a part of it, they will all swoon, especially the female fans.”

“So I’ve heard,” he said, wiping his face with his hand.

“Trust me, this couldn’t be more perfect.Your lawyers have told us that there were no recordings from that night, so it’s basically your word against his.Since everyone knows what paparazzi can be like when they poke and prod, or at least they should, we are giving you a major out on the public front, while your lawyers are finally taking care of things in private.We want people to feel sorry for you, and while you think it won’t work, the fact that you’ve never mentioned a relationship in public just goes to prove how private and protective you are with that personal side of your life.”

“Uh-huh.That is because that side of my personal life doesn’t exist.Now, what’s your plan for tomorrow?”

“You’ll see,” I said, sitting down and working on things again.

“I can’t wait to see what you come up with,” Colton said.“Probably something just as unhinged as this concocted garbage.”

“You know, it could be exciting if you just open yourself up to it.”

“I highly doubt it, but you do whatever you feel you need to do.Shut the light off before you go to bed.”

“I work late, but I’ll make sure I shut it off,” I murmured, focusing on what I was typing.

I was so focused I didn’t see Colton still standing there watching me, and I jumped when he cleared his throat.I looked up at him.

“What?”

“When are we going to talk about this morning?”

I frowned.“What about this morning?”I questioned.

“You know, about your avoidance issues?”

“What avoidance issues?”

“Emma, don’t play dumb.”

I got up from the chair I was sitting in and went over to the cupboard, grabbing the box of graham crackers I’d bought.I grabbed a sleeve from the box and turned back around but stopped dead.Colton was right in front of me.He was so close I could feel the heat radiating from his body.I could smell his cologne and the sweetness on his breath from the beer he’d been drinking, which I made a mental note once again to reiterate stopping.

He stepped in closer, and I backed up, my lower back hitting the edge of the counter.He was so close I could barely breathe, as he looked me directly in the eyes.

“You going to stand here and pretend you don’t remember me?”he said, keeping his voice under control.

“Mr.Fox…” I said, my voice trembling, completely different from the control I had this afternoon.

“Are you going to play it off that you aren’t the same person from all those years ago?”His eyes left mine, landed on my lips, and then went back up to my eyes.

I could have sworn someone had sucked all the air from the room, and I jumped when my phone rang.I tore my eyes from his and glanced over at my phone ringing away on the table.

“I, uh, I have to get that,” I stammered.“It’s probably Mark.”

He stood there, his eyes locked with mine, and then he finally moved back less than an inch, still blocking me.

“Thought you had to get that?”he said, when I didn’t move.

I shook as I took a step forward, my body brushing against his as I shoved past him and walked over to the table, grabbed my phone and said hello, my voice trembling.

He chuckled under his breath and shook his head.“That’s what I thought.”