Page 67 of Don't Date Your Nemesis

“And the photos?” I asked.

“They were group shots and cropped to look intimate. There were eight other people in those pictures.”

I believed him.

“Why didn’t you defend yourself publicly?”

“What’s the fucking point?” He laughed. “The tabloids always win. I got tired of fighting. Let them think I’m a playboy. At least then they’re not digging for the genuine stuff that hurts.”

“What genuine stuff?”

His eyes met mine and seemed vulnerable. I had never seen him with that look on his face before.

“That I’ve been lonely as hell for a decade. That meaningless hookups made me feel worse, not better and… I keep people at arm’s length because loving someone and losing them fucking destroyed me.”

Silence filled the space between us.

I reached over and took his hand. His fingers closed around mine immediately.

“I believe you.”

“Why?”

“Because I’ve seen who you are when the cameras aren’t around.”

After that talk, I didn’t tell him what I was planning. Liam shut himself in his room while I took care of things.

The next morning, I called Marcus, who knew everyone in Hollywood and got me on his friend’s podcast. Spilling the Tea with Jasmine was one of the most popular entertainment podcasts in the country.

Jasmine was in her mid-thirties, sharp as hell, and didn’t pull punches.

We talked about my new role with Ananya Mehta. About the challenges of being typecast and also how it was living with an Olympic athlete and his insane protein shake collection.

Then she leaned forward.

“So, about Liam and these allegations.”

I had prepared for this and rehearsed in my head.

But what came out was completely unrehearsed.

“The Liam I know isn’t the man these tabloids describe. My fiancé is loyal, protective, and honest. We’ve known each other since we were kids, as our families are connected. I’ve seen him at his best and his worst.” I paused and said, “I trust him with my life.”

I meant every single word. The realization hit me mid-sentence, and I had to keep talking to cover my shock.

“These stories are designed to tear people down and to sell papers. But the man who defends me stands up for me. The one who found my grandmother’s ring when I thought I’d never find it again. The one who notices when I’m overwhelmed and helps without being asked, that’s the real Liam. Not this tabloid fiction.”

Jasmine smiled. “You two are really in love, aren’t you?”

“Of course, why else would I tolerate him and his protein shakes? Do you know how bad some of them taste?” I said, laughing nervously.

The episode went live that afternoon, and within three hours, #Liamika was trending number one worldwide.

Blake called immediately when I was in the back of the cab, going home.

“That was rash! You should have asked me before⁠—”

“You would have said no.”