I had my friend back.
“We were all too young and stupid to look that far ahead,” I said. “I’m just glad we’re back in each other’s lives now.”
“Even though it’s brought you into a media frenzy.”
“I still don’t like my face on all those papers and posts,” I said, “but my life with you and Tal in it is infinitely better than without you.”
“Flatterer.”
“Yup,” I teased. “Everything I feel about you and our friendship is a joke.”
“If I was there, I would swat you.”
“Speaking of that,” I said. “Why aren’t you here? Are we not having our daily crisis meeting of the minds?”
“Actually, no,” she told me. “We don’t need that today.”
I slurped down more coffee. “Why?”
“Because word got out about the intruder, and the public isn’t happy. They’re boycotting any images of you and Talbot.” She laughed. “You guys even have your own hashtag.”
My brows were practically in my hairline. “A hashtag?”
“Yup. Hashtag FreeTalmy.”
“Um, what?”
“It’s your couple name,” she said. “Talbot and Tammy equals Talmy.”
“That’s . . . “
“Super, ridiculously cool?”
“No,” I said, wrinkling my nose. “It sounds like the brand for a tampon.”
Maggie hooted with laughter, and I found myself unable to stop the giggles. “Talmy,” I breathed, plunking down my mug. “How is that a thing?”
A warm arm slipped around my waist. “How is what a thing?”
I was still laughing as he hauled me up, didn’t protest when he snagged my cell from my hand and put it on speaker. “How is what a thing?” he asked again.
Maggie got control of herself much sooner than I did.
“You two have a hashtag,” she said, still chuckling. “And a couple name.”
His eyes came to mine, brows drawing together. “Tell me you are not serious,” he said.
“I think you’ll find that you like being part of a couple name,” Maggie said, her voice filled with teasing. “I’ve already filed for the trademark and am setting up a website for merch and—”
My jaw fell open. “You didn’t.”
More laughter, though this time, it wasn’t paired with laughter of my own. “Of course, I didn’t,” she said, “but it is good news.” She went on to explain about the hashtag and photo boycott, how the paparazzo had been booked on charges of criminal trespassing and had apparently been exiled from the group of camera-toting men and women outside the gate. “There are even fans outside with homemade signs emblazoned with Free Talmy.”
Tal pulled up the feed on his cell, and we both stared, dumbstruck at the line of people with neon-colored posterboards blocking the paparazzi.
“Free Talmy, Free Talmy,” Mags chanted lightly. “It has a ring to it.”
I shuddered again at the name but felt inexorably touched by the gesture. “Yeah,” I said, “it has a ring to it, if you’re a whale.”
Talbot snorted, setting his cell aside. “So, we’ll be free of this mess soon?”
I moved to the fridge, started getting out ingredients. I could feel his gaze on me, but I just kept gathering what I needed, setting the eggs, milk, and butter on the counter then moving to the pantry for flour, baking soda, and sugar. Oh, and chocolate chips. Couldn’t forget the chocolate chips.
“I think it would be prudent to make a statement and maybe include a picture of you two on your Instagram and Facebook pages, especially since you two are together now.” A beat. “You are together, aren’t you?”
“I don’t know about Mr. Green,” I said lightly. “But I’m just here for the hot sex.”
Mags made a retching sound.
“Don’t even,” I said, pulling out a bowl and starting to measure ingredients. “I had to hear all about your hillside romp with Aaron in Tuscany, so you can certainly deal with a bit of my happy times with Talbot.”
“What are you doing?” the man in question asked.
“I’m making cookies.”
He glanced at the clock. “It’s seven-thirty in the morning.”
“And?” I raised my brows.
“And . . . nothing, I guess,” he said.
“What’s happening?” Mag asked, her voice slightly tinny through the speakerphone.
“Tammy’s making cookies.”
“Maybe I do need to come over for our mid-morning emergency meeting.”
“Maybe, you do,” I called, cracking several eggs into the bowl. “It’s your recipe.”
Mag sighed. “You play mean, Conners. I’m curled up with my fiancé, and you’re tempting me out of my nice cozy bed.”
“Well, by the time you pried yourself out and made it through traffic, I doubt there would be any left.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m making them for the Free Talmy people out front.”
Talbot froze, his face a comical mask, shock written across every pretty line.
Silence from