Page 91 of Madden

She narrows her eyes, lost in thought. “Do you have soup? I could go for a grilled cheese and tomato basil soup.”

“I think I can figure it out.” I smirk. “You go upstairs and crawl into bed, and I’ll be up with your food when it’s ready.”

She leans up on her toes, sliding her arms around my neck to pull me closer, and kisses me. When her tongue swipes across my lip, I grunt, breaking the kiss, and step back, shaking my head.

“You’re not gonna get one over on me,” I quip, earning me a smirk. “Get your sweet ass upstairs.”

She huffs, shaking her head and stalks out of the room, leaving me with a grumbled, “You’re no fun,” under her breath.

I’m relieved to find we have all the fixings for what she asked for. Otherwise, I was going to have to order it for delivery. I fire up the stove and lean against the counter again, pulling up Hollywood Tea on my phone to see what garbage they’re spewing now.

There’s a doorbell sound, and I glance up, wondering where the noise came from, when I realize it’s from Brielle’s computer.

I look over to where she left her laptop on the bar and decide to pack up her stuff and bring it upstairs with her dinner, when I spot who the email message is from with my name printed in the subject line.

Why would Brielle be emailing Hollywood Tea?

I glance back down at the list of articles on my phone, each one posted over the past few weeks, several of them spewing more lies and garbage about me and the guys.

I walk through the dining room into the entryway, debating whether I want to go upstairs and ask Brielle about it now before I let my curiosity get the best of me. I stalk into the dining room, staring at the laptop screen before moving the mouse to click on the email.

From:Clive Teller

Date:April 25th, 2022

To:Brielle Silvers

Subject:Madden Cole

Brielle,

Well, well, well… I certainly hadn’t expected this email or all the juicy details. You and Madden Cole? Let’s just say, you’ve piqued my interest.

We can meet at Granite on Monday at 3 p.m. Until then, you have my word not to let anything shared hit publication.

Clive

PS – The offer still stands if you ever decide you want to come back to Hollywood Tea. We miss you here.

My eyes read the last line over and over.

The offer still stands if you ever decide you want to come back to Hollywood Tea.

Brielle worked at Hollywood Tea?

I grit my teeth and slam the laptop shut, pacing back and forth in the kitchen until I realize I’ve left the soup simmering on the stove unattended.

I quickly turn off the burner and set the pan in the sink.

What the hell do I do?

On the one hand, I want to stomp up the stairs, demanding her to explain the email. What juicy details? Why is she meeting him at Granite on the day she’s supposed to be flying back to New York?

Most of all, why, after all I’ve told her about being screwed over in the past, did she not tell me about her history with Hollywood Tea?

I press my fingers into my temples, attempting to massage them to ease the pulsing tension.

She’s still recovering from what happened, and the last thing she needs is for me to snap.