When Julieta’s name popped up, cold dread washed across my skin. I had to answer this. She had to know that I would never ever do that. Taking a deep breath, I pressed the answer button. “Julieta? I swear its all fucking lies. I would never—”

“I’m going to stop you right there, Nova. Of course you fucking wouldn’t. Clint wouldn’t, either. I know that. Hell, the whole world knows that, if they’d actually think with their brains. I’m not ringing because I believe that fucking drivel they’re spewing. I’m ringing to see how my friend is.”

I let out a choked sob. Fuck being stoic. “I’m so sorry you guys got dragged into this.”

“Enough, stop apologizing for shit that clearly isn’t your fault. Now, what can I do? Do you want me to babysit Huey for the day while you guys put out fires?”

The wave of thankfulness I had for this woman—who was still a new friend, who could have easily stayed away and I wouldn’t have blamed her one bit—was monumental. “Thanks, Julieta. I don’t know what we’re doing about this yet, but I might take you up on that soon.”

“Girl, you can come and hide in my bunker, eat cheese and watch romcoms until this whole thing blows over if you want.” We laughed together, mine edged with tears. “I mean it, though. If you and Huey need a place to stay, for whatever reason, you’re always welcome here. If this whole thing—whatever it is you’ve got going on over there in Hotel Hunks-A-Plenty—goes pear-shaped, you’ve got me and Muss. No questions asked.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Thank you.”

“Anytime. You’re a good person. Don’t let this bullshit get you down. Now tell me what's going on with your roommates, because I’m dying to know.”

I laughed again and spilled the whole story. From the night we left her house until now. It was therapeutic to get it off my chest. Even though it wasn’t really a secret, we’d still kind of kept it under wraps. Obviously for good reason.

I spoke to Julieta for close to forty-five minutes, and by the time I hung up, I felt somewhat better about the fact the world thought I was a fame whore. I emerged from the bedroom and found Devan in the media room, amongst all the mattresses where we’d been so happy not twelve hours earlier. Huey was with him.

He saw me and straightened into a sitting position. “Are you okay?”

I shook my head, because no, I wasn’t. He stood, keeping one eye on Huey as he walked over to me. He stopped a foot away, holding his arms out, offering me solace but not forcing me to take it. His eyes were guarded, his whole body tense.