The next week was hell for Calem. Working remotely was not ideal. Arranging virtual meetings was difficult. Most of his job required him to be on hand. He needed to inspect images and copy, to make last-minute decisions on what they would use in order to make the magazine perfect, and now, thanks to that kiss, he was M.I.A. at work.

Calem stretched back in his home-office chair and closed his eyes. One stupid kiss.

One perfect kiss–his brain corrected him. One amazing kiss that felt like no other. A kiss that turned his world upside down. A kiss his mind refused to forget.

"Gah!" Calem exclaimed, running his fingers through his hair. 

Fennick was right. Rumors spread like wildfire. Calem had people snapping his picture at the grocery store or the coffee shop. Posts were popping up all over social media with the hashtag loser or home-wrecker. He caught Jackson Brewer multiple times. Having an affair with several women meant nothing. Somehow Calem became public enemy number one.

Frustrated, Calem ventured outdoors again and went on a run. He stopped going to the gym because every woman glared at him for being the heartless bastard that broke up their favorite couple and every guy approached him, wanting to know what it was like sleeping with someone as beautiful as Evelyn.

Central Park was a great place to disappear. It was the only place Calem didn't have to bother concealing his identity. The people milling about were either tourists taking in the sites or New Yorkers looking to escape. Neither cared about Calem or his troubles. 

He was nearly at the end of his run when he heard someone call out. He never thought he'd see the day he'd become sick of hearing his own name. He picked up his pace. 

"Calem! Calem Decker!"

Wait. He knew that voice. His distraction caused him to trip over his own feet as he slowed his pace to look behind him. He stumbled but recovered.

"Evelyn?"

She was wearing that brilliant smile of hers. "Hey, I thought that was you."

Calem bent over, hands on his knees. A sudden stitch developed in his side or maybe it was a panic attack over Evelyn being here right now. Over 19 million people live in New York State. Over 8 million of them live in this city. What Calem couldn't figure out was, why out of those odds, did he have to face this situation now?

"It's me," Calem said lamely, trying to catch his breath.

"The eye is looking better."

Within a few days, the swelling had gone down and the dark colors of his bruise had faded from a deep purple to a yellowish-green. It still wasn't pleasant looking but it was an improvement.

"I'm a quick healer." Calem had to wonder why he was still standing here. He kept looking around Evelyn and behind him. If he gets caught talking to her again...

"Are you okay? You look nervous?"

"Look, no offense. It is nice to see you again but the last two times you and I... interacted, it sort of turned my life upside down and I think it is better if..."

"You don't want to be caught talking to me? Wow! Okay."

Evelyn looked so hurt by his words. Calem immediately relented as she turned to walk away. He didn't even hesitate and reached out to grab Evelyn's wrist, stopping her.

"What I said... I didn't mean to hurt you."

Evelyn turned to look at Calem. Her chin thrust out and she swallowed hard. She tried her best to act unaffected by his words.

"It's fine. I get it. I really didn't mean to make your life difficult."

"It's not you, it's that article in Know Now."

"Article?"

Calem was surprised she hadn't read it. "Yeah, it came out the same time as the one in the World Star."

"The World Star? That's the only tabloid I'll read. All those other scandal sheets don't care about the truth, they just want a juicy story, and someone to exploit." Evelyn pulled her wrist away. Her hands flew up to her lips when she realized what Calem was saying.

"Oh my God! What did they say?"

Calem was smiling at the fact that she thought so highly of the World Star and that she read his column, so it took him a second to process that she asked him a question.

"Oh, that. You know the usual. I'm the bastard that is coming between you and your fiancé, but no worries by his quote it would seem Jackson is trudging along with a broken heart only to pull it all together for his next movie. He really is one hell of a guy." Calem's words oozed with sarcasm.

"His quote?"

"Yeah, supposedly we are having an affair he was unaware of. You know the kiss was amazing but it kind of sucks to have your entire life ruined over an act you've never actually done."

"Act?"

"Us," Calem said pointing a finger at her and then himself, "sleeping together."

"Jackson said we were sleeping together?"

"No, he didn't. He said he had no idea you were having an affair and he was heartbroken to discover this now, right before he was due to shoot "Kill 'Em All 3". The rest was implied by Kaylee Bardot, the article's writer."

Evelyn put her hand on Calem's arm. "I'm so sorry I've dragged you into this nightmare. I can't believe he..." Evelyn shook her head. Calem could see she was struggling. He knew he shouldn't be talking to her but he couldn't bring himself to walk away.

"Is there someplace we could talk, you know, in private?" he asked.

"Absolutely, I work at Raphael's," Evelyn offered. "I'll be there after 3:00 pm to help prep for the dinner rush. Come around back to the service doors. I'll let you in."

"No one you work with would spill that we're together?"

"At that time, it's just me and my boss Raphael and I'd trust him with my life."

"Okay. We'll talk more then. I really got to go."

"Until then." Evelyn watched Calem run off with a heavy heart. She really didn't mean for him to get hurt by all this. Why did she let her anger get the better of her? What point did she prove anyway?

Evelyn grabbed a copy of Know Now from the rack at a corner newsstand and flipped to the article. Her anger rose with each word she read.

"Son of a ..." Evelyn shelved the magazine there was no way she'd spend a dime on that garbage. She called Dina.

"Hey, girlfriend. What's up?"

"Did you read the article in Know Now?" Silence greeted her on the other line.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I know you don't read that crap and I know none of its true. So, what was the point in ruining your day?"

"I just ran into Calem." Evelyn figured it was safe to use his name now that Kaylee Bardot called him out in her article.

"You did?" Dina was all ears. "How's the eye?"

"Better but his life is being ruined because I had to be a hothead and go out and kiss the first guy that walked by."

"Who are you trying to fool?"

"What?"

"There is no way you're going to make me believe you kissed the first random guy that walked by. You picked Calem because he's gorgeous and you knew if you were really to get under Jackson's skin you had to pick someone he'd truly be jealous of. Face facts, girl, you chose Calem to be your victim."

The shock at the truth of what Dina said caused Evelyn to park it on the nearest bench. "Oh my God. I am a horrible person."

Dina laughed. "No, you're not. Just a little confused at the moment."

Confused didn't begin to describe the emotions Evelyn felt. Horrified, bewildered, hurt, guilt-ridden those were a few good ones to start with.

"I'm going to meet him at the restaurant today. You don't think that's a bad idea, do you? It's a bad idea, isn't it? I should cancel. He should stay as far from me as possible for his own safety."

"And how exactly do you propose to do that, genius? Did he give you his number? Please tell me, he's slipped you his digits?"

"Shit! No! I can't stop him. I don't have a choice. I have to tell him in person."

"Or maybe, you can look at this in a different way?" Dina offered.

"How is that?"

"Jackson said he couldn't believe you'd have an affair. He hasn't talked to you in a week. You've called and texted. You're chasing after him when he should be chasing after you. Perhaps it's time to call it quits, take a break, and maybe check out a new option?"

"What exactly are you suggesting?"

"I know you'd never have an affair, but maybe it's time to move on. If Calem's life is being ruined because people are saying he had sex with you the least you can do for the guy is fulfill that fantasy so he's actually being blamed for the truth."

"Are you crazy? I need to work on my restaurant. The last thing I need is some side fling and all that comes with it. I'm just going to tell Calem I agree, I think it's best we never see one another again."

"Suit yourself but if a guy that hot kissed me as he kissed you, I wouldn't be so quick to shut the door unless that door was to my bedroom."

"Dina!"

"I'm just saying. It's your life."

"Exactly. And I'm going to do what I think is right."

Thoroughly disappointed, Dina said, "Of course, you are."