Page 66 of Platinum Pressure

What headline?

Evie:

[Link attachment]

Somebody spotted Porter out in Houston with his ex while we were out baby shopping.

My eyebrows furrowed together as I read her message and the tagline on the link she shared. COINCIDENCE OR SECRET SCANDAL: Superstar defensive tackle, Platinum Jones, spotted with old flame, Raileigh.

Essence:

Having a celebrity in the family is kind of annoying. I can’t even lie. He’s literally trending every damn week. Will our sister even know peace when the baby gets here?

Evie:

I hope she does. I’d hate to start suing people.

Essence:

I’d start drafting up those ceases and desists immediately for real. We have to protect Meadow and our nephew at all costs from these vultures. She might have a brand to protect, but I’ll get in the gutter behind both of y’all.

Evie:

Okay! You know I don’t play about y’all, and I’ll hit these messy ass social media influencers, bloggers, and everybody in between with legal action. Hit them where it hurts the most and get their whole IP banned fucking with my sister. Let these bitches try me if they want to.

My thumbs hovered over the keyboard as I thought about a response. Honestly, I did not know what to say. I knew Porter would never hurt me. We were in love.

But . . . you always had an inkling of doubt in the back of your mind, Meadow. You knew the ball would drop eventually, and here it is.

“Nope. I will not let those thoughts hold space in my mind. My intrusive thoughts would not become a reality before I speak to Platinum and hear from him what happened.”

I copied the text my sister sent me and pasted it in the message thread with Porter.

ME:

:/ what’s this about?

I watched as he opened the message. The three dots appeared, disappeared, and his name popped up as the phone rang loudly. I watched it ring for a few seconds before I slid my finger across the screen to answer.

“Hello.”

“Hey.”

“So . . .”

“I’m almost home. I stopped and got some dinner, but I saw your text and wanted to clear the air before the narrative took off without my input.”

“Right.”

“While I was out shopping, I ran into Raileigh. She stopped me and kept pestering me about the past and shit, but I shut that shit down immediately. The pictures they took looked worse than it was because I didn’t want to go to jail for smacking the shit out of her.”

“Glad you didn’t hit the woman, but the pictures look like you were cozy and comfy with her hand on your arm.”

“I wasn’t. I was repulsed at the sight of her, and after I told her she was a ho who would never ruin what we’re building, I left immediately. I swear on everything I love—which is you, my son, football, and my parents. Sometimes Sed, but he doesn’t have to be included this time.”

I released a soft laugh. “Fine. You got me.”

“Good. You’re my person, and I would never go back to the trenches with any bitch from my past. Trust that.”