“Whoa there, don’t worry. I’m not going to spill the beans. Patron-bartender confidentiality. If I told half of what I’ve heard at the bar over the years, then I would be out of a job. And probably have to skip town. You having a secret thing for Golden Boy isn’t as juicy or unusual as you think. In fact, it’s a song I’ve heard on repeat. Fame or not, I just don’t care that much, to be honest.”

Relief, swift and true, looked like it swept through the woman when her shoulders relaxed a fraction.

What if he hadn’t agreed? Had she been planning on jumping him?

Had she been about to Jack Nicholson him like in A Few Good Men right outside the bathrooms?

“You can’t handle the truth!”

“Okay. Thanks,” she said, running a hand across the brim of her blue ball cap. A different look replaced the momentary relief. Brady couldn’t peg it, but he doubted it had anything to do with him. “Now that everyone knows so much about me, they feel like they should know everything. I’ve been over there for five minutes, and they’re already trying to peer pressure the rest out of me.”

She glanced over her shoulder. Brady followed her gaze. Both were met by Carol staring holes into them from the main room.

Sloane whipped back around like she’d been slapped.

“I said I had to ask you about a drink. So, uh, if Carol follows up, it would be amazing if you could not sell me out on that lie.”

She didn’t give him a chance to comment. Instead she pulled a smile out and scurried back to the booth. Carol continued to stare. Brady found himself pitying Sloane. It didn’t matter if he kept her secret or not; Carol was going to eat that woman alive.

A sentiment that Santana the waitress shared when Brady made it back behind the bar.

“Everyone is trying to get famous by proxy,” she said, shaking her head. “Like pretending to be Sloane’s friend is going to score them points with the internet.”

“You know her?”

Santana snorted. “When anything Arbor Bay trends, I take notice. I’ve met her once, and she was nice. I’ve had more convos with her brother, though. I heard even he’s been getting people trying to interview him and had to shut down his social media because of all the attention.” She grabbed the tray she’d just stocked with drinks Dixon had made and shook her head again. “Here we are, racking our brains trying to get more people to take notice of the bar, and the poor girl has everyone knocking down her door with attention she doesn’t even want.”

Brady stepped aside as Santana went to deliver the drinks. He glanced over at Sloane.