Finished with his batch, he got to his feet, stretching out the kinks in his body. He’d been sitting in the same position for too long.

“I’ll go see if they need any help with the food.” A ploy to score some eats. His stomach was protesting.

He’d almost walked right in through the open door when he heard his name.

“Why are you making Keiran and I do this? It would be so much easier if you had separate parties so I could do my thing without seeing his face.”

Well, okay, Cherisse, tell us how you really feel, he thought.

Ava sighed. “It’s what we want. We want everyone to celebrate together.”

“That’s what the wedding is for,” Cherisse huffed. Keiran bit his lip to keep his chuckle at bay. He could imagine the frown that creased her forehead and that wrinkled nose.

“Come on, he’s not that terrible. Not like I forced you to work with Sean or some shit.”

“You may as well have.”

Ouch. That one struck a nerve. Her ex was a piece of shit, cheating asshole. Keiran had run into the guy before; it was hard not to when he was one of his father’s artistes. He’d never had to work with the man professionally, thank God.

“Keiran messed up with that joke, yes, but he’s nothing like Sean.”

“You’re really defending him right now? Knocking someone up and acting like she doesn’t exist sounds pretty shitty to me. These music guys think the world revolves around them.”

What the fuck? That goddamn rumor was still getting traction? And Cherisse bought into that bullshit? Keiran told himself to turn around, go back to the living room.

Do not engage with this nonsense.

But he was tired of being dragged over shit that was so far from the truth. He stalked into the kitchen. Ava’s eyes grew wide.

“You don’t know a damn thing about anything.”

Cherisse cocked a brow, unperturbed that she’d just been discussing him like that. “Why don’t you clear the air, then? Silence is pretty damning.”

“Because it’s no one’s damn business what happens in my private life!”

“So, it’s not true?” Cherisse persisted.

Ava placed a hand on Cherisse’s shoulder, but she ignored it, continuing to face off with him. Keiran had never addressed the rumors because it was easier to let everyone think whatever they wanted of him than address some foolish talk. He didn’t have time for media speculation. Opening that door to even comment on the gossip that reared up every so often was not something he was willing to do, but hearing Cherisse talk like this was pissing him off.

“You believe everything you hear? I hear some people say you used Sean to boost your business, but that doesn’t make it true, does it?”

“What you’ve heard, or what you think?”

“I don’t think that, Cherisse. Sure, I think this whole sweet act is just that, an act, but I also think you’re quick to judge me based on nothing. I’m nothing like Sean.”