Secrets & Submission

“There are other rumors too. Like Kam isn’t really your conservator and it’s a cover-up. You went to rehab.”

I don’t say a word, but my eyes are locked on Trish’s. “Don’t worry, my love, there are so many rumors no one knows what’s really going on … but the biggest rumor is that you tried drinking and fucking your way through mourning, and it ended up with a rehab hangover.”

“Your social being quiet since you came back is throwing people off, though.” Kelly’s comment once again holds a tone. She’s good at saying things without actually saying them. The hidden message: I better start posting and filling people in so they stop talking.

“You haven’t seen anything, have you?” Kelly asks and Trish answers, “We know Kam isn’t showing you the articles. But trust us, it’s a good angle.”

“What are most people saying?”

“You took a trip down to a private resort. A few do think you went to drug rehab. No one really believes the conservatorship is real. There’s a seal on it and since Kam knows the judge and Kam’s been telling everyone to mind their damn business and let you enjoy some sunshine … really people are just wondering if you’re mad at them. You’ve never been quiet before and most people miss you.”

“It’s just us who know, right?” Trish questions although I’m sure Kam has filled her in.

I nod.

“And what about that hunk over there?” Kelly asks.

Peeking over my shoulder, I catch sight of Zander just as he was glancing at me. Butterflies stir and when he winks at me, I blush violently. It’s a sin what this man does to me.

With a simper I tell them, “He’s my secret. Anything else out there is PR.”

Kelly questions, “So the bit about him getting fired because you were fucking?”

I laugh into my drink, some cucumber mocktail the waitress whipped up. “Well, sometimes PR does reflect the truth.”

“Mostly people are just happy to see you back and happy that you might be seeing someone else. Like, that’s the chatter. You’re back from wherever, you’re sober.” She looks at her mocktail and playfully clinks it with mine. “And that you’re fucking around again and causing all sorts of problems with your security team that you hired to keep people the hell out of your life.”

Trish nods with a half smile. “It’s a good spin on it, I think.” Then she asks me, “If we take a pic, can I post it?”

“Selfies with our mocktails?” I lift my drink in pose.

“Girl gang, bang bang?” Kelly offers the caption.

“Fuck yes.”

“Will Kam be all right with that?” Kelly asks and I shrug, quickly popping a cherry into my mouth before saying, “Yeah. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

“And what about Playboy?” Trish’s question brings my gaze to hers. “Can I get him in the background?”

Another one of him in the background?”

“You know what they say …” Kelly says in a singsong voice.

Spotted once could mean anything or nothing. Spotted twice together means everything.

“Yeah,” I say, pushing the word out with more excitement than I anticipated I’d have.

I wonder when he’ll see. Who’s going to tell him. I want to know what he’ll think of it the most.Maybe I should be more careful, but it excites me that they’ll know he’s something to me.

“Don’t tell him you asked me,” I whisper to them.

“Feeling cheeky?” Trish murmurs as she applies a fresh pat of powder to her face.

Shrugging, I tell her, “He looks good.”

“He looks damn good,” she agrees and snaps her compact closed.

“Smile,” Trish says as she snaps a photo. I pop in another cherry garnish just as Trish says, “Wait, one more.” Back in position, with a cherry at my lips I pose humorously and then pull it out to smile.