had done.
As Robin read, Charlie wrapped me in his arms and held me close. The words hurt, but the love that poured off
Charlie helped to soften the verbal punches.
“This is all garbage,” Pete said.
All of Charlie’s bodyguards looked angry. I couldn’t blame them. It was their job to protect Charlie, plus they
genuinely cared about him. But they couldn’t protect him from cruel words.
“Are they all like that?” Charlie asked.
Robin nodded.
“What about on social media? What are my fans saying?”
Robin stared at his laptop for a moment and then started to read out short messages. “Good luck, Charlie and
Austin. A match made in heaven.”
Much more positive. It was a good start.
“You disgust me. I’m throwing my Charlie Faire albums into the bin.”
Charlie sucked in a breath. It was my turn to wrap my arms around him. He rested his forehead on my chest as
we listened to a dozen more. It was a mixed bag of support and vitriol.
“Enough,” Pete said, leaning over to shut Robin’s laptop. “We get the idea. Now go do whatever it is you do when
we’re travelling.” He made a shooing motion with his hand, effectively dismissing Robin.
Robin didn’t object. He gathered up his laptop and went to the back of the bus.
“Don’t let it get to you,” Pete said. “It’ll all die down. Like you said, Charlie, before long, the media will have
something else to gossip about. They love drama, and reporters and editors don’t give a shit about whose
feelings they trample on to sell copies.”
“It’s true,” Charlie whispered. “I’m pretty sure they don’t even see celebrities as people. We’re just headlines to
them. And because we’re famous, we’re fair game. They don’t care that we have feelings and hurt, just like
everyone else does.” He lifted his head and wiped his eyes. “I don’t regret going public, not for a second.”
“Are you sure?” I asked.
Charlie nodded. “I’m not going to pretend hearing all that didn’t hurt. I probably was naive. I genuinely believed the
majority of people wouldn’t care and that those who did would just be happy for us.”
“A lot of your fans are happy for you,” Pete said.
“A lot but not all. Do you regret it?” Charlie’s gaze searched mine.
“No,” I said eventually. “I’m just disappointed that my fears are being realised.”
“No, they’re not.” Charlie caressed my jaw. “I’m not going to lose you or my career because of a few nasty
clickbait headlines.”
That had been my biggest fear. That the press would destroy him like they’d destroyed me, and then he’d realise
being with me was a huge mistake. But I could see from the fire in his eyes that he would never let that happen. I
pulled him to me and kissed his hair.
“I love you,” I whispered.
Charlie looked up at me and grinned. “That’s useful because you're stuck with me.”
I held his face in my hands and kissed him hard, not caring that we had an audience of bodyguards around us.
More than ever, I wanted to mark his skin and make him my mate.
Charlie glanced down the bus. “Can he hear?”
“Who, Robin?” Wulf asked.
Charlie nodded.
“He’s got headphones on.”
“You mentioned yesterday that Jesse is thinking of starting his own record label?” Charlie asked.
“He mentioned it to me at the adoption party and asked me to be his partner.”
“And you said yes?”
I sighed. “No. I agreed to think about it.”
Charlie gaped at me. “Why?”
“First, it’s not something he’s thinking of doing immediately but when he wants to retire from singing. Second, I’m
not sure it’ll be good for our relationship to be partners.”
“But you already work together.”
I looked down at the table. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea anymore either. The lines are too blurred between
being his dad and his manager. That didn’t bother me eighteen months ago, but now that we’re getting along, it
does.”
“Have you told Jesse that?”
“No.”
Charlie nuzzled up to me. “I think you should.”
“I know. And I will.”
“Something else to work up the courage to do?”
I smiled half-heartedly. “I’m such a coward, aren’t I?”
“No. You’re afraid of losing the things you love. That’s natural. But you won’t lose Jesse or me.”
I rested my chin on his head, willing him to be right. “Anyway, Jesse wants things to change in the music
industry, and he thinks the best way to do that is by setting a better example than the other record labels have.
You should talk to him. Between the two of you, you’ll have enough money and star
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