This paucity of journalistic ethics didn’t faze Emrys, but Caitlyn was new to being the target of such tactics, and even though he’d asked her to avoid reading any of them, she seemed to encounter a new one every hour. They were all over Facebook, too, it seemed. Eventually, she gave him her phone and locked herself in the bathroom, sobbing.
“Cait, this is ridiculous. They’re reporting my cheating on you with you!” He sat by the door and laid his head against the wall. “The rest of it—I wasn’t with you then. Many of them I dated to force myself to get over you, and Miranda didn’t mind because she didn’t want to marry me in the first place.”
He leaned his head against the door and listened intently. Her breathing was still shaky, and she didn’t answer him.
“Please be calm, love. Don’t let them spoil our time together. All they want is to sell stories.”
Emrys folded his hands between his knees and stared at them. This could not have come at a worse time. He’d been hoping to cement her affections for him over the course of this trip, and it had been working until now. The last thing he needed was for every news outlet in existence to rub Caitlyn’s nose in his bad behavior.
“My heart broke when I had to leave you,” he said quietly. “I have never made apologies for how I chose to tape it back together, but I would never want you to have to suffer the consequences of my actions. I’m sorry these people are forcing you to dwell on things that are over. Completely over, I promise. Not one of these women has ever meant anything to me.”
Emrys rubbed his hand over his mouth. He was thinking of leaving her alone to deal with this, when she spoke, her voice thick with tears:
“I know this isn’t your fault.”
“I’m still sorry you’re hurting over this.”
Caitlyn began sobbing again. Emrys set her phone on the table.
“Love, I’m going to that bar from last night for a drink, so you can be alone. If you want to talk to me, just call or text and I’ll be here. I think I’m not helping you at all just sitting out here, reminding you of the stupid prince who has let you down once again.”
He stood, hesitated only briefly, and left.
***
When Caitlyn finally managed to calm down a little, she got in the shower and turned on the water as hot as she could stand it. She had been crying so hard that her face was throbbing. The article hadn’t even been that vicious, though not for lack of trying. She had suffered much more hateful language criticizing her every move during high school. Maybe it was the combination of reminders: She wasn’t in fact the most beautiful woman in the world, no matter what Emrys said. And he had been with many, many other women who were far better matches for a prince.
Caitlyn had been trying to keep this affair light. She had wanted to protect her heart from getting too invested in Emrys again, but seeing these reports made it obvious that she was far from indifferent. She was in love with him. She had never stopped being in love with him.
But she didn’t know if she could do this. Did she have the strength to stay with the type of man who considered marriage a business arrangement to get his trust fund? Could she stand being in the tabloids whenever there was a slow news day?
Caitlyn came out of the shower, and true to his word, Emrys had cleared out to give her space. She was grateful. Even if she wanted his arms around her, having him near was too overwhelming. She went to her closet, slipped a dress over her head, and combed through her wet hair as she went over to the table to retrieve her phone.
She was tempted to check where the news cycle had taken this story, but as curious as she was, she didn’t want to start crying again. It felt like she might never stop if she started. Instead she called down to the kitchen to request tea be sent up, took her phone, and went out onto the balcony to try to relax and enjoy the crisp autumn air.
If this thing between her and Emrys could go nowhere, if she could never be good enough for him, then why let the paparazzi ruin her vacation? She could speak with him about arranging a plane home when he left to go film. Better to cut it off now before she found herself in so deep that she couldn’t pry herself away from him.
Her phone rang. She looked to find that Melinda was calling her again.
“Hey,” she answered.
“Hey, girl. Just wanted to check in on you. How has it been?”
“I’m just exhausted, honestly. I don’t know why this hit me so hard.” Caitlyn rubbed one hand over her arm. “I should’ve known he had other girlfriends.”
“Yeah, but nobody expects the paps to be all up in their business. This really does suck.”