ログイン~ ROMAN ~I spent four hours deleting everything that had made him angry. Every post with mine and Marty's names together. Every photo from that bar and every headline about Celeste. I removed them all including the comment thread where strangers thought they had a say over our relationship like it was something to be studied and judged.I deleted it all.It's not like it can really fix anything because once things were online, they never fully went away. But I needed to do something with my hands, and this was what I could control. I made a call to my team and gave them the orders I needed to carry out."I need you all to deep everything worth digging on Kieran," I said. "Everything he does not want people to know. Every mistake. Every bad thing and when you are done release it all."The person at the other end, paused. "That is a different kind of request, boss.” "Yes, I know what it is. But get it done.” "I would like to carry this out but if we do as you request of us, this
~MARTY~ My phone woke me before the sun did.It would not stop vibrating. One message after another, filling up so fast my phone started to hook. I sat up slowly, my body still heavy from the night before, Roman was asleep beside me, turned toward the window, one hand curled near his face like a little kid. For a second, just looking at him, I felt almost okay. My phone vibrated again, and I picked it up.It was not Lisa this time nor was it Kieran. Rather it was hundreds of strangers, all talking at once, all saying the same name over and over under the post of last night.Why is my phone on? Didn't I turn it off before going to bed? I scrolled through the comments, and the cold feeling in my chest grew with each comment. Someone had found an old photo of Roman in a suit, with a woman in white gown beside him, both of them smiling for the camera.Someone else had found the paper to go with it. A real marriage announcement, with both their names printed in black ink, from before
~ MARTY ~I did not look back at Kieran. I just held onto Roman's hand and pulled him out the door. The cold night air was cold but it was a welcome relief. Anything was better than that room full of staring eyes.At least they were not judgemental. Roman stumbled beside me, still holding his half-empty glass as if he forgot to put it down."Give me that," I said through gritted teeth, taking it from his hand and setting it on a window ledge."You came," he slurred. His voice was soft now, not loud like earlier. "You actually came for me.""Of course I came," I said. It wasn't like I had a choice. If didn't come, that crazy man would probably have taken advantage of him."Get in the car."He fell into the seat and I buckled his seatbelt myself because his hands were shaking too much to do it although my own hands were not much better.I started the car and drove. For a few minutes, neither of us said a word. "He was my first," Roman suddenly said, sucking in a deep breath, his head
~ MARTY ~I was inside my car before I fully realized what I was about to do but that didn't stop me. My hands found the keys, and I turned the ignition I pulled out of the parking lot with my phone still gripped in my other hand.“ Roman, are you still there?” There was no response, making me panic even more. I removed the phone from my ear, I checked and saw he had hung up.Fuck, this man might be the death of me. My phone rang again and without checking the screen I answered because I assumed it was Roman calling back. I was prepared to scold him more, I just can't understand why a grown ass sensible man would go to the bar at seven to get drunk when he fucking exposed himself to be dragged online. “ Hello Roman, you…” "So you are still disgracing the Lake name?” An angry voice questioned. I would recognize that voice anywhere in this world. “ And good day to you too Dad,” I whispered sarcastically.Dad? Yeah right, I haven’t had one in a long while. “ Why haven't you change
~ MARTY ~Why did I do that? How could I have slapped him?!“ Ahhhhhh! That was so stupid of me!” I screamed loudly into my pillows.I slumped back into my bed and stared at the ceiling and replayed the four seconds on that pavement over and over, Kieran's mouth on Roman's cheek, his hand on Roman's chest, and the way Roman had just stood there and did nothing.But that shouldn't have made me slap him. After giving up on sleep, I sat up at four in the morning and made coffee that I didn't drink and sat at my counter staring at the chair he had been sitting in.I wanted to call him and apologize to him yet again, I told myself I needed the morning to think.Still, I found myself waiting for his call. By nine fifty one while I was still mopping around, Lisa sent me an article with a question.LISA: Did you see this?I downloaded the article and read it while standing in my kitchen still in yesterday's clothes. Felix's name was plastered everywhere with a campaign dispute from three ye
~ ROMAN ~I had not planned to be on that street at that time. Fuck, all the annoying misfortuned meetings with Marty has never been planned by me. I had just finished a meeting nearby early and was walking back to my car when I saw him through the restaurant window. Marty, once again was sitting across from Felix with his jacket over the back of his chair and his posture more relaxed than it had been around me in weeks.I had stopped walking. That was when Kieran appeared at my elbow.He came from nowhere the way he always did, as if he had been watching or worse had a tracker on me, waiting for the right moment to make his entrance, and I had been so focused on the restaurant window that I had not seen him coming."Roman," he called softly. "What a pleasant surprise.""Kieran." I did not look away from the window immediately. "What are you doing here?""I had a meeting nearby. Same as you, I imagine." He followed my gaze toward the restaurant window and I watched his eyes widened
~ EVANGELINE ~The hall exploded after Damien's announcement.Cameras flashed everywhere. Reporters screamed questions. People rushed toward the stage from all directions."Damien! How long have you known about Evangeline?""Is the marriage real or fake?"Damien's security guards moved fast. They s
~ EVANGELINE ~The car ride to the gala was silent.Jason sat in the front seat next to the driver. Victoria sat beside me in the back. Veronica was in her own car following behind us.I stared out the window and watched the city lights blur past. My hands were folded in my lap so no one could see
~ EVANGELINE ~The police pounded on the door again."Police! Open the door now!"Jason stared at me with his hand still raised. "You called them.""I didn't," I said. "I swear I didn't.""Liar!"The pounding got louder. "We have a warrant! Open this door or we're breaking it down!"Jason dropped h
~ EVANGELINE ~The next few days were the same nightmare on repeat.Veronica played lady of the house. She sat at the head of the table with Jason and wore my clothes and gave me orders like I worked for her."Emma, I need coffee.""Emma, my bathroom needs cleaning.""Emma, these towels aren't soft







