Page 52 of Finding Emotion

Even though he might have been right, the thought of allowing people to swipe at Skylar didn’t help ease Damon’s sudden need to do something for her. His phone beeping was a welcome distraction.

“Erin’s ready,” he said. The idea of visiting their dad didn’t appeal to him, but at least it was something that would take his attention away from Skylar’s breaking news. His dad hadn’t been a bad one, but losing his wife had torn him up, and he’d never been the same since. When Trenton had lost his wife, Damon had worried he’d follow the same path. He’d probably called his friend too much over the years. Seeing him so content in his new life with Celia had been a joy two nights before.

Damon brought out his phone as they rode the elevator down, saving the new number that had contacted him. It was ridiculous that he missed Skylar already, but that didn’t make it any less true.

Chapter 20

Skylar tapped her fingers against her leg. “Are you serious about this right now?”

“It caught me off guard as well,” Mandy said.

Skylar studied her, taking in her pinched lips. Her manager wasn’t simply surprised. She was visibly annoyed. It normally took Skylar a lot to get her to look that way.

She turned to glare out the window again. “I figured the videos took care of it.” Her hands reached up to fiddle with the necklace Mandy had made for her. The crystal absorbed the cold, and she shivered.

Mandy’s reflection nodded in the glass. “I passed them to the social media team, and the one they released is being well received. It’s gone viral already.”

“How much did they edit out?” Skylar asked, her lips twisting.

“None from what I saw.” Mandy turned her phone, but Skylar only glanced at it. “Damon Lynch’s fans are going ballistic.”

Skylar snorted. “I bet they’re even hotter for Mr. Sweetface after my glowing review.”

“It’s not about that.” Mandy pulled the phone closer to herself. “Skylar, you didn’t realize, did you?”

Skylar’s fingers danced faster. “Realize what?”

Mandy put the phone right in her face. She’d paused the video on an expression Skylar had never seen herself make.

“What the fuck is that?” she asked, her eyes widening. Her smile looked… real. Soft, somehow. “Oh, hell.”

“You showed a pretty cute expression every time you said his name.” Mandy smiled at her. “Paired with the irritation, it had quite an effect on the fans. They’re convinced you two are in love now, despite the video being about his, um, performance.”

“For fuck’s sake!” Skylar’s eyes squeezed shut as the pounding in her head increased. “Why didn’t you tell me that before we sent them?”

“Because I was convinced it would work. And it has.” When Skylar opened her eyes, she found that her manager’s expression had turned stern. “This was a brilliant move, Skylar, especially after the sweet message Mr. Lynch spread the other day.” She put her phone away and took a breath. “I’m assigned to you to know what’s best. That’s why I’m going to ask you to allow me to handle this meeting.”

“Not a chance,” Skylar snapped. The throbbing of her heartbeat spread. She could feel it in her legs and even her fingers. “I’m not fucking running from him!”

Mandy’s mouth pressed into a grim line. “Self-preservation isn’t running.”

“Stop talking out of your ass.” Skylar turned to glare out the window again. “You don’t know anything.”

“Because I’ve respected your decision not to tell me. But I’m not an idiot, Skylar. I can read between the lines.”

“Oh, yeah? Then what do you think this is about?” Skylar held her breath as she waited for the words. Part of her wanted to hear them out loud, and the rest of her wanted to hurl.

The silence behind her stretched, and her lungs began to ache.

“Never mind,” Mandy murmured, reaching for the door handle.

Skylar’s next breath hitched when the blow never came. “I need a minute.” The words came out in a whisper.

“Of course,” Mandy said, sliding out of the limo and closing it behind her.

Skylar’s eyes squeezed shut as she focused on her breathing. It was the worst move. Her arms tensed as the ghostly memory of fingers pressing on her shoulders caused them to ache. The beeping of her phone added a new tremor to her hands as she fished it out. He was probably taunting her again.

Instead, Damon’s name flashed. ‘Thinking of you.’