“Shit.” She looked down at her phone and tapped furiously. “There. I’ve told my publicist to sort it out. It’s not right for the younger kids. The comments are so interactive and that’s where I ask them to give me opinions and ideas.”
“Well, yeah. I just had to explain to Ari roughly what a sex tape is and why you have one.”
“No. Fuck. I’m really sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. You shouldn’t feel guilty about what you can’t control.”
Elle stood up, leaving her phone on the sofa, and paced. “No, I can feel guilty, and I will. Kids need to be protected. My channel has always been a safe space for them. Now it’s not. That’s on me.”
“No.” I walked up the stairs and grabbed her shoulders, making her stop and look at me. “Elle, it’s on your ex. Not you. He made that video. He released that video. He did this. Not you.”
She swallowed. “He didn’t release the tape.”
“What?”
“He sold it.” Her voice cracked, and she cleared her throat, looking away for a moment before she met my gaze again. “He sold it to a low-rent, piece of shit tabloid who paid him thirty thousand dollars for the privilege of ruining my life.”
My stomach dropped—bolted right to my feet and kept going down. And then—anger. Anger that someone would do that. To her. To someone who was… well, a good person. A genuinely good person who probably never even considered hurting anyone else.
“I’m sorry. When did you find out?”
“Half an hour ago.” She shook her head and the towel worked loose. It fell to the floor, leaving her long, dark hair to fall around her shoulders in a wet, knotty mess. “I spoke to my private investigator. My lawyer has their report now to make sure the tabloid doesn’t sell it on, and I should have proof they paid his account by the end of the day. Then I can report it to the police.”
My jaw clenched.
She peered up at me, a slight hint of amusement in her eyes. “Why do you look so angry?”
“Because I am. You don’t deserve that, Elle.”
“Aw. And here I’d convinced myself you didn’t like me.”
I looked her dead in the eye, dipped my face closer to hers, and said, “I didn’t think I did, either.”
Her cheeks flushed a light pink.
“Anyway, before she comes out and starts a riot, Ari wants to know if you’d join us for a walk on the beach. She also wants you to build a sandcastle with her.”
Elle dipped her head, laughing gently. “She’s sweet. I’d love to. But maybe later when it’s not so hot… and my hangover has disappeared.”
“Now there’s a plan I agree with.” I dropped my hands from her shoulders. “All right. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, honestly. I just want answers, then I can have my say.”
“Your say?”
“I have to address the situation sooner or later. If people are leaving comments and my younger viewers are seeing it, that’s a problem.” She turned when her phone buzzed, and she grabbed it. “Good.”
“What?”
“My publicist is going through and shutting comments off on my videos. That won’t be a problem for now. And now I’m wondering why that wasn’t done before.” Her jaw ticked with frustration before she sighed. “Well, it’s done now. It can’t be changed.”
I cupped the side of her face, gently brushing my thumb over the soft skin of her cheek. “You’ll get this under control.”
“Why are you being so nice to me? You didn’t like me three days ago. Now you’re kissing me and cupping my cheek.”
“Well, there was a lot of alcohol involved in the kissing. Believe me, I don’t go around kissing people just for the sake of kissing.”
“That makes me feel so good,” she said sarcastically. “Thanks.”
“I didn’t mean it like—oh, bugger. It came out totally wrong.” I rubbed my hand down my face. “I kissed you on an impulse, one that was likely helped along by all the beer. But I kissed you because I wanted to, Elle.”
“Oh.”
“You have to realize I don’t really date. At all. Ari is my sole responsibility, and sometimes, being Dad is entirely who I am. Last night, you reminded me what it was like to be Theo. Dad me wouldn’t have kissed you, but I’m glad that I did.”
She smiled, pushing her wet hair away from her face. “Well, I have to admit, you’re not so bad. As Dad or Theo.”
I returned her smile and stepped forward. “Now, talking of being dad, I’ve left my child home alone while I came to do her dirty work. Come over when you’re ready to go for that walk.”
Elle wrapped her arms around her body and nodded, her eyes shining. “I will.”
“See you later.” I left her on the deck and jogged back to my house. Ari was still sitting on the sofa, her face covered in Nutella.
I had no idea how this child got in such a mess eating something as simple as a chocolate spread sandwich.
She looked up the moment I walked in. “What did she say? Is she coming?”
Grinning, I nodded. “She’s going to come over when she’s ready, so just be a little patient, okay?”
She sighed dramatically. “I suppose I can try.”
“Oh, go and wash that mess off your face, will you?”
***
“She’s here! She’s here!”
I winced as Arielle’s shriek pierced my skull. “All right, all right, calm down.”
“But she’s here!”
“I know she’s here. Aliens on Mars knows she’s here.” I ruffled her hair as I headed for the back door where she was waiting.
“Are there aliens on Mars?”
“No idea. Ask Aunt Elsie. She’ll know.” I opened the sliding door. “Come on then!”
Elle raised her eyebrows. “Oh, God. She’s not obsessed with aliens either, is she?”
“No. Not yet, at least.”
“Elle!” Ari rushed across the room with a bucket and spade in each hand. “I brought you a bucket!”
Elle pressed a hand to her chest, pretending to be delighted. “Oh, my gosh! Thank you so much. I was just thinking that I didn’t have a bucket to make a sandcastle.”
Ari grinned and held it out to her. “Here you go. You can borrow my spare one.”
“You are so lovely. Thank you. It’s perfect.” She dutifully took the bucket and spade. “Shall we go? Where’s the best spot for sandcastles?”
“It’s the sand! Not too wet, not too dry. C’mon!” She snatched up Elle’s hand and all but dragged the poor woman down the deck.
“Ari! Let her walk!” I called, closing the door behind me.
“It’s fine!” Elle yelled back with laughter in her voice. “It’s fine!”
It was not fine.
Elle, in keeping with everything I learned about her last night, tripped on the dry sand after a particularly insistent tug by Ari and landed on her knees.
At least it was sand. Not even Elle could hurt herself on sand.