Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 142866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
“It’s quits for the model and the mogul.”
My jaw drops, and the headline on Black Business, a popular entertainment site, is a hook in my open mouth, pulling me in.
Reality television star Zere O’Malley and her longtime boyfriend Maverick Bell released a joint statement announcing their split after three years of dating.
“We go our separate ways as friends who deeply respect each other. The time we’ve had together has meant so much to us both. This is an amicable situation and a decision we’ve reached mutually. We ask for privacy as we move forward with the next chapter of our lives.”
I reread the statement again and again, but the words don’t compute.
Can’t say I’m sorry this is almost over.
The hurt on Zere’s face when Maverick said that. His rush to reassure her. Looking back, knowing this, it all makes sense. I felt more than once that something seemed off between them. My Spidey senses must have been correct. They usually are.
“Sounds like they did the ol’ united-front thing for the party,” Skipper says, resting her ample bottom on my desk and facing me, “but had this all planned before Saturday. That’s what everyone’s saying online, but no one saw it coming.”
“He struck me as a very private man.”
Except for the fact he told me some really personal shit within minutes of meeting me. That was, I know certain, out of character.
“He definitely is,” Skipper agrees. “But she isn’t. I mean, everyone said they were a mismatch in a lot of ways from the beginning. Obviously she’s drop-dead gorgeous, and he’s rich as hell.”
Something itches under my skin at hearing Maverick reduced to his net worth. Sure, Zere is one of the most beautiful women in the world, but that man… well, anyone would be lucky to have him. He’s fine, yes, but so much more. I learned that in the limited time I spent with him. He’s smart and funny and compassionate. And has a quiet, compelling quality that tunes a room in to his frequency. I’ve met a lot of rich men, but I’ve never met anyone like him.
“Hen.” Skipper snaps her fingers in my face, studying me with a curious expression. “Did you hear me?”
“Sorry.” I blink and shake my head, hoping to scatter the lingering cobwebs in my brain. “What’d you say?”
“I said you have a Zoom scheduled with Zere this morning about the show.” Skipper grabs my iPad and scrolls down. “Right before lunch with the Aspire team. And after lunch you have a call with that magazine that wants to do the spread on Chapel.”
I dispel thoughts of Zere and Maverick. I got too much business of my own to be minding theirs. I sink back into my chair with a sigh. “Why’d you let me load up the schedule like this my first day back?”
“Let you?” Skipper shakes her head, jangling her earrings with a dozen charms. “Who is ever letting you do things? I said you should take Monday off and you vetoed that idea.”
“Next time, remind me of this moment.”
“I’ll try.” Skipper stands and crosses back around the desk. She doesn’t break stride, but heads for the door. “I’ll be back.”
“Where you going?”
“I know you well, and with a day like this…” She pauses in the door leading to the reception area and laughs over her shoulder. “You’re gonna need more coffee.”
I raise my cup and drain the last few drops of my morning brew before looking at the iPad, the screen overwhelmed with color-coded appointments.
“Damn right I will.”
CHAPTER 7
MAVERICK
Are you sure you’re okay?”
My father’s call makes him the tenth person—today—who has asked me that. Ever since the announcement, well-meaning friends and acquaintances have been “just checking on me,” concerned that I’m devastated by the breakup.
And I am in a way. I’m sorry it ended like this, but I’m also ready to move on and forward.
“Pop, I’m good.” I lean on my bedroom’s balcony railing and consider the tumultuous ocean that is my backyard here in Malibu. “I’ll always care about Zee, but you know we wanted different things.”
“Not like I wouldn’t want more grandkids,” he grouses from the other end of the line.
“You and Mom shouldn’t have put all your bets on me.” I chuckle and draw in a lungful of ocean air. “I do have like twelve cousins. They got kids and half of ’em consider you a second grandfather.”
“I know. I don’t really care about that. I just want you happy, Mav. I thought Zere might be the one who could get you to settle down.”
“I did settle down for three whole years. We shared our lives. We were together and now we’re not. Not everybody gets a soulmate for life like you and Mom.”
“So you don’t want to get married? Don’t want any more kids?”
“I was a father by the time I was twenty-two, and Tamia just graduated from high school. Why would I want to start all over for another eighteen years now?”