The next morning felt like the ultimate walk of shame, even though they hadn’t really done anything. It was just a drunken kiss after the guy shared his soul with her, that was all. It didn’t mean anything; it wasn’t like she liked him or anything like that. Did she feel oddly drawn to him? Sure. But that was just…a side effect from the booze. It wasn’t like her entering the kitchen for breakfast to find him and Molly laughing and bonding was weird or anything. The fact that they shared a room last night didn’t bother her at all either.

As Catherine entered the kitchen, the sight of Molly and Phoenix laughing together twisted something deep inside her. She could barely stand the way Molly leaned into him, her bright laughter filling the room. A dull ache pulsed behind her eyes, and she blamed it on the hangover, on the way the room felt too bright and too loud, but she knew it was something else. How had she managed to throw herself at him last night, after everything Molly had said? She felt a warmth rise to her cheeks as the memory of his touch, his voice saying her name, flooded her senses. She fought to hold herself steady as she walked toward them, pulling her own smile into place. Everything was fine. It had to be fine.

“Oh, good morning,” said Phoenix. He was grinning at her. “Come join us. How are you feeling this morning?”

“Like I was hit by a truck,” she groaned, sliding into the chair next to Molly at the breakfast bar and furthest away from Phoenix. “You?”

“I’m fine, I don’t get hangovers.”

“Me neither!” Molly smiled. “Wait.” She looked back at Catherine. “I thought you weren’t drinking last night?”

“After you passed out we had some drinks,” Catherine gestured, though she was mostly focused on staring at the table and rubbing her temples with her other hand.

“One drink,” Phoenix corrected. “Turns out Catherine is a little bit of a lightweight, like some I know….” There was a pause, which was soon filled by Molly’s giggle.

Kill me now, Catherine thought. I mean, I doubt Molly’d be all giggly if she knew his tongue was down my throat last night.

“Molly was telling me some of your teenage stories.” Phoenix teased.

Oh no. Now Catherine looked up, staring at her. “Oh no, you didn’t….”

“Sorry,” Molly’s expression scrunched. “But they’re really funny.”

“Which ones did she tell you?” Catherine looked at Phoenix.

He met her gaze and she swore her heart stopped for a moment. In fact, the entire world stopped for a moment. “I got throwing up on a carnival ride then wearing it all day and laughing so hard you peed.”

Catherine looked at Molly. Mortified.

“Sorry!” Molly repeated. “He was talking about vomit.”

“I was asking her if she wanted to eat breakfast or if she felt too sick and would throw up, then it escalated to story time,” Phoenix told her. “Speaking of breakfast, did you want something? Some plain toast maybe?”

“No, just…coffee,” Catherine grumbled.

“Not sure it’ll help with the hangover, but okay. I’ll go get my barista.”

He has a barista? Catherine felt her expression scrunch as Phoenix dashed off into the next room. She exhaled and rubbed her temples some more, just wanting her headache to subside. She felt like crap and probably looked worse, unlike Molly who undoubtedly got up and did her full face of makeup. She looked like a dream.

“Did you see how much we’re bonding?!” Molly asked her.

Catherine’s stomach churned.

“He even slept in my room! Oh my God, I cannot tell you what it was like waking up and rolling over and seeing his face.”

Catherine almost choked on her own saliva as she turned to look at her. “He slept in your bed?!”

“No! No. Don’t be silly.” Molly waved her off. “He slept in the other bed in the room, but still, it was so nice. I expected to see you—I mean, not that waking up and seeing you isn’t good, but he was shirtless….. Shirtless!”

Catherine’s mind traveled back to their kiss—the way she grabbed at his shirt. She hadn’t pulled it up, it felt like there was no time, but she had definitely rubbed her hand in certain bare places. She’d trailed that skin Molly had been eyeballing.

“I don’t want to get too ahead of myself,” Molly said, “but…I think he likes me. I really think he likes me, and I’m falling so hard for him, too. I can’t believe someone so famous is such a gentleman….” she continued.

Catherine was getting a serious case of dry throat the more Molly talked, so she poured herself a glass of water from a nearby pitcher and took a sip.

Just as she was swallowing, Molly added, “I mean he’s a rock star, I’d have slept with him instantly. That's all I can think about—him railing me, and I looked at his dick bulge in his pants and he totally is a big guy.”

This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

Catherine almost spat, but ended up choking instead.

She forced the water down, but Molly looked at her with concern. “You ok?”

Catherine didn’t know how to tell her, but she knew that she must. She had to. She couldn’t let her carry on thinking this sort of stuff or hoping and praying for more when—if she knew the information Catherine did—she wouldn’t want to touch him or even think of him this way anymore. Catherine didn’t know how to say it, or even where to begin—Molly was going to be so deeply mad and upset with her. She was supposed to be her wingman. She was meant to be setting her up, not tongue wrestling with her crush of over a decade, but she couldn’t help the way she had been drawn to him, even if she was sure it wouldn’t happen again.

“Molly,” Catherine said softly. “I need to tell you something.”

“Oh no.” Molly frowned. “You have that bad news face. What is it? Do I have something on my face? Have I been talking to my future husband this entire time with something in my teeth? Oh gosh! Do I have a pus-filled zit?!”

Catherine smiled gently at Molly. "No, no, you look great. Better than great," she reassured her. "It’s about Phoenix. It’s about—specifically—Phoenix and me..."

Molly’s expression turned curious. "What about you and Phoenix?" she asked. "I know you don’t really like him, but Catherine, he’s…amazing. He’s perfect for me. It’s just like you and your doctor. It’s something unexplainable."

Catherine wasn’t so sure about her and her doctor anymore. Even if she wanted to convince herself that it wasn’t going to happen again—even if she wasn’t going to allow it to happen again—she couldn’t deny the fire she felt when Phoenix kissed her.

"No, it’s nothing like that. Just listen to me... Please. And please don’t be hurt. I swear I didn’t mean for it to happen, but last night... When you were asleep, I..." Her words trailed off as she saw the worry in Molly’s big eyes. Catherine couldn’t say the words she knew she had to tell her. She started to think maybe lying was okay—maybe it was better, even? The kiss was a one-time thing—a mistake—that, despite the fire, definitely would not happen again. But could she keep this from her best friend? "I, uh..."

"Yes? Catherine, spit it out already, you’re going to give me a heart attack," Molly pressed.

"I told Phoenix some embarrassing stories about you," Catherine lied.

"What?!" Molly gasped. "Oh no. Did you tell him the post-Mexican food story? Catherine! Oh my god!"

"No, no, I didn’t tell him you shit your—"

Catherine’s words were cut off as Phoenix reentered the room. "Who shit their pants?"

"What? No. No one. You know eavesdropping is—oh my..." She looked at the coffee he was holding, noticing how extravagant it looked. "Thank you. That looks incredible. Exactly what I needed."

"I also got you a croissant, you know, in case you changed your mind," Phoenix added.

"Thank you," Catherine said with a smile, realizing she was hungry now.

"Just so you know, if Catherine said anything weird... Last night, if she said anything weird or embarrassing, you know, while you two were drinking... it wasn’t true." Molly laughed.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," Phoenix said, casually. "I don’t remember much of last night at all."

He didn’t remember much of last night? Why did that hurt? Catherine didn’t know if he was being honest or lying; she couldn’t tell. But she guessed if he didn’t remember, that was for the best. It also got her off the hook for the date she agreed to while intoxicated.

Worse still, when she checked her emails, she found several messages from her boss. They were short, sweet, and to the point, but apparently, word about her visiting Phoenix’s private island had somehow leaked out. She had no idea how, or if she had been spotted, but still, she read her emails with an eye roll.

TO: [email protected]

SUBJECT: GET A STORY!!

Dear Catherine,

Word on the street is that you’re at Phoenix Astar’s house? If this is true, please get a story!! Anything juicy—snoop around.

Regards,

Mr. Harrington

Majesty Magazine Inc.

TO: [email protected]

SUBJECT: FWD: GET A STORY!!

Dear Catherine,

Just to confirm, when I say get a story and snoop around, I don’t mean steal anything—another reporter stole something and got fired. Just take photo evidence, please. Good photos, and you will get promoted!!!

Regards,

Mr. Harrington

Majesty Magazine Inc.

Catherine rolled her eyes. She had no idea how the word got out—literally none—unless Molly went blabbing, but she doubted even Molly would risk something like this over bragging rights. Sure, sometimes she had a big mouth, but she also knew when to keep a secret. And this was certainly one of those special occasions.

Nonetheless, Catherine emailed her boss back.

TO: [email protected]

SUBJECT: RE: FWD: GET A STORY!!

Dear Mr. Harrington,

I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I have no clue what you’re on about. I’m not with Mr. Astar, though whatever you speak of sounds lovely. I am away for the weekend with my best friend Molly, but I will try and get you a story regardless.

Regards,

Catherine

Majesty Magazine Inc.

Normally, Catherine wouldn’t think it was okay to lie, but now that she had just lied to her best friend it somehow came easier.