Page 99 of Lucky Puck

Brody reaches me, taking hold of me like he’s saving me from an oncoming mac truck, and pulls me further into the alcove.

“What’s wrong?” All my sadness, turmoil, and distress about the end of our relationship fall away because I know something is wrong. I’ve never seen this troubled expression before, making him look pale and ferocious at the same time.

“Have you heard from Bigelow?” His eyes soften as he stares at me, but his grip on me stays firm, and I feel the intense energy pour from him like he’s made of thunder and lightning.

“No. Why would I?” I get a sick feeling, but he looks almost relieved.

“Just wondering because I know you were supposed to pay him⁠—”

“I did. I sent him the money he agreed to, two thousand dollars. It was a lot, but⁠—”

“Good.” He looks around like he’s worried someone is watching us, but so far no one’s noticed us where we’re almost fully hidden.

“How did you find me here?”

His dimple makes a quick appearance. “My Brooks radar.”

I laugh, and bittersweet pain follows.

“Why the concern about paying Bigelow?”

“Loose end. I wanted to tie up loose ends.” He looks at me, sadness dimming his blue eyes, and I know he’s keeping something from me. “Have you seen Jett?”

“Not yet, but he said he’d be a few minutes late.”

He nods. “I also want to make sure you’re not out of pocket for any expenses⁠—”

A shout cuts him off.

“Brody and Bianca, pose for some pictures.”

As soon as the photographer shouts, pointing his camera in our direction, we’re swarmed with more shouted questions and cameras popping.

Brody holds onto me as we step into the spotlight, and the barrage of attention covers us like a blizzard. I’d probably start shivering from nerves if Brody didn’t have an arm around me. As it is, the practiced smile is frozen on my face.

Gary Edwin from Bar Stool Sports waves a hand, and I nod to him.

“Then there must be a conflict of interest between you and Jett. What does he think of that? Why hasn’t he fired you?”

I tell them what I told Martini of Cavalaro Motors. “There’s no conflict of interest at all. My interests and Brody’s are perfectly aligned. If there’s any sticking point in the future, I’m sure Jett will step in and handle it. We’re a large full-service agency with multiple agents and assistant agents who play different roles for our wide variety of clients.”

I can’t tell Edwin the real answer to the question—that Brody threatened to go elsewhere if Jett fired me—but I think he guessed the answer anyway.

What he can’t guess is that our marriage is fake and only temporary.

I whisper to Brody, “Why would reporters, and especially Gary Edwin, be asking this line of questions again now? We covered these issues weeks ago.”

“I’m not sure, honey—Brooks.” He clears his throat and smiles. “Don’t worry so much. He’s good, and he’s on our team.”

“Speaking of family⁠—”

“No need to meet them if we can finesse it. No need for any more complications than we already have when our marriage is…”

“All over?”

He nods, but it feels like he’s holding something back.

“Nora is here,” he says. “Maybe we shouldn’t wait until after the show to stage our fight.”