“No comment.” I hang up, but my phone rings again.
Noli side-eyes me. “Probably best to let all those go to voicemail.”
I scrub my hands over my face. “How did they even get my number?”
“My guess is the person who the article cites as an ‘individual close to the couple’ who told Ashlyn about our arrangement also had no problem sharing your contact information.”
“Who would do this to me, though? It doesn’t make any sense.”
Noli bites her bottom lip and glances to her left, away from me. “I have an idea.”
“What? Who?”
She pulls into my parents’ driveway and cuts the engine. “I don’t want to point fingers, and I could be way off base, but your dad was talking to Ashlyn after the wedding. After he walked in on our elevator kiss and then made his big spiel to me about how you weren’t into me.”
“Which is false, for the record,” I say.
A ghost of a smile tickles the corners of Noli’s mouth, but she remains serious. “Not the point.”
I know it isn’t.
As much as I don’t want to believe it, what Noli is saying makes sense. My dad is overly concerned with Noli’s and my relationship taking my attention away from my career. He’s made that point clear on multiple occasions. And for someone who has been overly invested in my campaign—like a borderline weird amount—isn’t it a bit odd that he hasn’t reached out? Correlation isn’t causation, but this merits a conversation.
Noli is staring at me, still worrying her lip.
I hold out my hand, and she takes it. I squeeze her fingers. “You might be right. There’s only one way to find out. Let’s go.”
38
Complicated
Noli
Collin marches toward the front door at his parents’ house, and I have to double-time my pace to keep up with his long stride. I feel like we’re walking the plank and about to jump into infested waters—except I have no clue what they’re infested with. Sharks out for blood? Friendly fish, waiting to support us?
We’ll see.
Collin knocks, and the door swings open. Bev is standing inside.
“Oh, Collin,” she wails, waving us in. “What on earth is going on?”
The worry lines creasing her forehead are enough to make me feel sick to my stomach.
“Hey, Ma.” Collin leans forward and kisses her on the cheek. “I’ll explain everything, but I need to talk to Dad first.”
My gaze goes to Collin’s face. His mouth is set in a hard line, and he’s got his jaw clenched. He doesn’t like anything about this, and I don’t blame him.
“He’s in his office.” Bev points to a room off the foyer.
“Has he seen the news?” Collin asks.
“I showed him the paper the second I saw it. Hasn’t he called you? I figured that’s why you were here.” Bev wrings her hands.
Collin doesn’t answer, just strides toward the office door.
I don’t know if I should follow him or stay put. Before I have any time to waffle and worry, he pivots and rejoins me. Reaching for my hand, he offers me a small smile. “I should take care of this with my dad alone, I think. You don’t mind?”
I shake my head. “Of course not.”
