KIARA

The video went viral.

Going to Angel was the problem—she already had over two hundred thousand regular subscribers, and since the video spread wide on social media, her subscriber count has jumped tremendously.

“I don’t appreciate the most viewed video on my channel not having me in it,” she told me at some point with a pout in her voice. “But I guess since I have a lot more eyes all of a sudden, I can live with it. I just hope they don’t expect me to start dropping love scoops every now and then.”

The entertainment news media outlets had a field day with it too.

There wasn’t a whole lot to speculate since the identities of all involved were easy to figure out—I mean, Liam called me by my name—but other types of speculation have been running wild.

Is there a proposal in the near future? A baby on the way? 

Even crude talk that I must have a magic pussy to have this hot young billionaire put it all out there for me like that.

It’s all still pretty awkward, but the scandalous attention makes me smile this time since it’s for a pretty good reason.

And yeah, I know the tides can turn at any moment, that there will be times public sentiment is not in my favor and people will happily pass around hurtful rumors instead, but for now, I’ll bask in all the positivity.

And with the love of my life at my side, what does it matter what others might think or spread anyway? The only people whose opinions truly matter are those closest to me.

Liam pretends to be tortured by the whole thing but doesn’t really seem to care about his new exposure to the world.

“I’m glad I don’t have board meetings and shit to attend,” he said at some point. “Don’t need to go around punching people for making snide comments about you.”

Liam and I eventually agreed to request the video be taken down, which Angel graciously granted.

The hullabaloo had died off anyway—not much stays juicy news for long.

LIAM

I’m in the audience this time for Kiara’s interview with talk show host Helen.

She wanted company on this trip and I was happy to oblige her, knowing we’d get to explore in a new city together and hang out in a hotel suite.

But for now, she’s hanging out backstage, waiting for her segment to begin.

I keep hoping no one recognizes me, and so far, so good; I’m blending in.

In any case, no one would get very far if they tried to approach me—my bodyguards are well disguised but surrounding me.

When Helen announces Kiara, she walks out looking like a doll, decked out in a flattering pink dress and kitten heels.

It’s still kind of weird to see her all dressed up.

It’s nice, and I definitely appreciate seeing her in all her feminine glory, but I also love when we’re just hanging out in my place or hers and she’s got her hair pulled back in a ponytail, wearing casual hanging-out-at-home clothes.

It always feels more intimate for some reason—I guess because it’s a side of her not many get to see these days.

But I know that girl—the one happy to be in jogging pants and free of makeup—and I love that girl.

“I’m pretty sure the astronauts can see this thing from space,” Helen says when Kiki sits down, taking her hand gently and examining the rock on her ring finger then presenting it toward the audience and a camera for a close-up. “And when are the upcoming nuptials?”

“We haven’t decided yet but within a year.”

I can tell Kiara is fighting not to look at me and bring attention to me; she has definitely spotted me.

She knows how much I wanted to be here for her but also that I don’t want to be bothered with excessive attention.

We’ll see how it works out.

Helen’s also doing her best not to acknowledge my presence, but she’s known for blindsiding people. Always good-naturedly, but still.

“You guys plan to have kids?” she asks, indirectly addressing the rumors that Kiara is pregnant.

“No kids in the immediate future,” Kiara replies patiently, “but in the near future, absolutely. Although I’ll definitely wait for marriage this time.”

The audience laughs.

The two chat a bit about career-related stuff, and then it happens—a sudden shift.

Helen is definitely up to something.

My senses go on high alert.

“I hope you don’t get mad at me, but we’ve got a surprise for you,” Helen says to Kiki with a twinkle in her blue eyes. “We got a tip and the producers thought it would be great to... well, I won’t want to spoil the surprise so let’s just bring him out!”

Kiara frowns deeply, turning in the indicated direction.

Her mouth drops open as an older male walks out and heads toward them.

I see what’s going on here, but she misses it, recognizing the guy only for his music industry career.

“We wanted to offer up a candidate to walk you down the aisle,” Helen says with a careless shrug, and it takes a second, but understanding finally registers on Kiara’s face.

“Wait...”

“That’s right! Your mom got ahold of us, we checked out her story, and lucky for everyone, I think, it all checked out! And your dad’s been dying to meet you!”

Fuck—I hope Kiki can handle this.

I prepare myself just in case, watching her carefully.

She gets emotional, of course, but when the man smiles warmly and opens his arms, she goes right into them, dissolving into tears while he embraces her.

“I had no idea,” he says quietly, “but I’m glad I do now.”

Kiara and I maintained separate residences until the wedding, and in the past several months, she sorted out what she wants to do with her career.

She never liked the idea of getting locked into a major recording contract, and signing with a smaller label has allowed her more freedom.

She figured out how to skip doing tours—the thought of which horrified her.

She gets contacted for voice work on commercials, movies, and TV shows.

She even thinks she might start posting song covers on her old YouTube channel again for fun.

Most of all, she gets to spend more time building her charity while getting to do what she loves on her own terms.

As for everything else, her mom thinks I’m tolerable now, and Kiara and her dad are getting along just fine; in fact, he’s teaching her how to play the guitar.

He can’t wait to meet his new grandchild, and every time I look at my wife’s round belly, neither can I.

Check out Kiara’s friend Angel’s love story in .

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JAMES - When Angel McDaniels contacts me for help with a stalker situation, I jump at the task, not intending to jump her bones immediately. But harboring a secret crush for her while she dated a friend of mine makes me a bit reckless with this opportunity, and now it looks like she’ll need protection from me too…

ANGEL - With my newfound internet fame, I thought the biggest threat to me was a stranger sending me sick messages online. Turns out my new bodyguard—a special forces type who happens to be my ex-boyfriend’s close friend—could be the biggest threat to me of all!

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