youngest brothers of five siblings in the Morgan clan.
Colin Beretta. Another easy one. He’s the drummer of 22 Goats.
Matthew Fishberger. Hmm. I don’t recognize the name, so I google it, and, instantly feel like an idiot. That’s Fish! The bassist for 22 Goats who’s come across as easygoing and likeable in every interview of the band I’ve read this past week.
Josh Faraday. Another easy one. Reed’s “male model” best friend from college, whom I met at the bar.
Kat Faraday. I google her and find out Josh’s wife is a gorgeous blonde bombshell who recently published her first romance novel—a romantic comedy entitled Suck It.
Well, this I’ve got to see. I find Kat’s book online, and when I behold the smoking hot cover, and read the sassy synopsis, I buy that sucker on the spot.
“Kat Faraday,” I murmur. “I think we’re going to be two peas in a pod.”
Ten minutes later, I’m flying through the names on the list, until I reach one that stops me in my tracks.
Isabel Randolph.
Gah. On the one hand, I’m dying to interview her. She’s been one of my favorite actresses since before she became a massive movie star. On the other hand, though, I’m not sure I’ll be able to pull off an interview of her, to the best of my abilities, when I have these feelings for Reed. Will I be distracted the entire interview, with feelings of jealousy and insecurity? Will I imagine Reed doing all the things he does to me... to Isabel? I don’t want to wonder these things, but I can’t help it. Did Reed tie Isabel up, the way he did to me? Did he fuck her in a sex swing? Did Reed give Isabel whatever might have been her equivalents of a Peloton, a Pilates reformer... and the most perfect, breathtaking ruby necklace the world has ever seen?
My heart pangs.
Why am I torturing myself? She’s engaged now, for God’s sake! And Reed explicitly told me he and Isabel have become more like siblings than ex-lovers. But, see, that’s the thing. The idea of them being like siblings simply doesn’t ring true to me. How could Isabel get fucked by Reed the way I’ve gotten fucked, and then, somehow, magically, desire nothing more from his hot body than a brotherly peck on the cheek? I don’t care how badly Isabel might have gotten hurt by Reed at some point in their relationship—how big an asshole Reed might have been to her in the end. I can’t imagine she’d turn down the chance to fuck Reed senseless again, regardless, if the opportunity presented itself...
If Reed cheated on Isabel, then, yes, maybe I could imagine her never wanting him to lay another pinky on her. That’s how I feel about Shawn. Physically ill at the thought of him touching me. But that’s not what happened between those two, or they sure as hell wouldn’t be “like siblings” now. And, anyway, Reed says he’s not a cheater, and I believe him. But if things between them really did simply peter out, if things really did just “run their course,” as Reed said, then I can’t imagine Isabel being completely over Reed. Unless, of course, she’s now so madly in love with her new fiancé, she can’t imagine wanting anyone else, ever again, even someone as swoon-worthy and smoking hot as Reed.
Which brings me to the next name on the list. Howard Devlin. The guy Reed told me is Isabel’s fiancé. As I recall, Reed said Howard Devlin is a big shot billionaire movie producer and studio owner. Which made me retort, “Oh, then he’s the Reed Rivers of the movie industry?”
I input Howard’s name into Google, excited to see how this guy matches up to Reed, and when I see his photo, I gasp. Howard Devlin looks like Isabel’s pervy grandpa! Gaping like a fish on a river bank, I read the guy’s Wikipedia page and quickly learn he’s sixty-five years old—thirty-four years older than Isabel!
Holy hell. I know I’m the one who always says “age is just a number.” But, damn. I’m having a hard time believing a woman as young and vibrant and successful as Isabel said yes to spending the rest of her life boning that guy. Although, I suppose Isabel only said yes to spending the rest of Howard’s life boning him. Which, when you’re talking about your pervy grandpa, maybe isn’t all that big a commitment.
Okay, I’m being a total bitch right now, and I need to