The graphic thanking her fans for their support in helping her hit number one was the first thing I saw. I liked it, then put “Congrats!” And because I couldn’t resist, I added three hearts and five stars as well.
I scrolled down to look at the pictures her team had been posting to promote My Fair Molly. I should probably buy a copy to support her, even though I wasn’t sure if I’d ever read it. No matter how much I told myself it was fiction, I couldn’t help picturing the real-life Molly and Ryan, people I knew, in the roles. And that wasn’t going to be good—
I went still. The next photo was of me and Emily at the dining table in my home. It was taken while Dev and his harem were in town, that meal when I’d said Emily’s books were perfect the way they were. The moment was etched into my brain because it felt that special. I was looking at Emily, and she was smiling, her fingers brushing a corner of my mouth. When I’d looked into her eyes, I’d felt a connection so deep, so intimate that the people around us didn’t matter anymore. Maybe that was why I hadn’t noticed anyone taking the picture. It also had her book The Very Bossy Engagement. Although it was in the corner of the shot, you couldn’t miss it.
I stared, then read the caption.
Be a rock star. Read Emma Grant.
A cold feeling started in my gut, tendrils spreading cancer. My fingers grew stiff and numb. I gripped my phone tighter, staring at the photo and the caption, willing them to vanish from the screen. The comment right below the pictures caught my eyes.
Oh my God! Killian Axelrod! I had no idea he read your books or that you guys knew each other! This is so awesome! He’s my favorite, and so are you!!!!
Emily had responded: Thank you so much! I hope you like my new book coming on May 5! Don’t forget to let your friends know!
The commenter had written: Don’t worry! I’m sharing this in his fan group and all my friends!
What the hell was this about? And if Emily was going to use me to promote her book anyway, why had she declined my offer yesterday?
My exes flashed through my mind.
I only wanted an introduction, is it such a big deal?
Smile! I want to put this on my Instagram!
What’s the problem, Killian? I just wanted everyone to share in our happy moment.
The last bitter argument had come from Caitlyn. She hadn’t understood why it wasn’t okay to use me—and our intimate moments—to increase her following and popularity. Why I didn’t want to livestream the proposal so that everyone in the world could be part of something that should’ve remained private.
Emily had made it sound like she didn’t want or need me for that. Like she wanted to build a career on her own. But maybe she was just too slick to be that blatant. Or maybe she was just like others, who hoped to get away with it… Or at least milk our relationship until they got caught.
But unlike my exes, Emily had a team that took care of publicity for her. What if somebody there had used the picture without getting her approval? It was possible.
Give her a chance to explain. It might be nothing. You could be overreacting.
Emily made a growling sound in her throat, then checked something on the screen.
“Emily,” I said, gripping my phone and getting up to move to the couch where she was working. “Who does your social media?”
“Umm…” She hit a few more buttons on her laptop, then looked up. “My mother does almost all of it, but my PR company also helps out.”
“Does she do it independently?”
She looked at me oddly. “No. We talk about what we’re going to say and what pictures we’re going to use—or need to make. I trust Mom, but ultimately I’m the one in charge of my brand.”
So Emily had known what Abby was going to post…and approved it. It felt like a huge betrayal, especially after she’d declined my offer of help. I didn’t understand why she’d done it—or hadn’t come clean about using the picture from the breakfast—and I didn’t trust people whose motives I couldn’t comprehend. And I especially didn’t like people who acted nonchalant about it, like she was doing right now.
“You should’ve asked me before using my picture to promote your book.” The words came out in an ugly, seething tone, but I didn’t care.
“What are you talking about?” Emily said. “You aren’t mentioned in any of the promotions.”
I held the phone up to her face. “What do you call this?”
“What?” She squinted at the screen, then turned red. “I didn’t know anything about that. But I can check and see who posted it.”
“It’s on your page, Emily. And you just said you review what people post there for you! You wanted to use it to sell your book! No wonder it hit number one!”
She went pale. “Are you saying I wouldn’t have if it weren’t for that picture?”