by M. A. Foster
Ashton kicks the back of my chair. “Does the rock princess make you shine her combat boots?” She sneers.
Turning in my seat, I fire back. “Oh, she’s the rock princess now?” My gaze shifts to Hannah. “What happened to music nerd? Imagine if someone posted on social media that Ashton Grant and Hannah Scott of Heritage Bay Academy are responsible for fracturing the rock princess’s hand.” Ashton looks over at Hannah, who looks the other way. I curl my lip in disgust. “That’s what I thought. You two don’t deserve to breathe the same air as her.”
ZACH WALKS INTO the dining room looking completely perplexed and slightly crestfallen. Grabbing a chair, he spins it around and straddles the seat, propping his forearms on the back. Unlike the rest of my family, I have a Google alert set on my phone for Jay and Liam. They prefer to keep their heads buried in the sand, but I want to know what people are saying about my family.
This morning, several alerts on Jay popped up on my phone. I figured once she came out of hiding and introduced herself to the world, it was only a matter of time before the media would start picking her life apart like vultures, trying to destroy the innocent, sweetheart image she so rightly deserves.
One of the alerts was a photo of Ace Matthews, the drummer from LAW, kissing Jay. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but in this particular one, nine hundred and ninety-five of them are worthless. I know this because I happened to be standing there when that so-called kiss went down. That picture is just another example that things aren’t always as they seem.
“I saw it,” I inform Zach. “You know they’re friends. You met the guy at her birthday party. That picture was taken last year at the Mayhem Foundation charity dinner. I was there. Of course, there’s no picture of what happened afterward, when she pushed him away and called him a dick.”
I chuckle, remembering how it all went down. Ace was on his way to being drunk when Jay and I walked up to the bar. Without any warning, he grabbed Jay’s face and said, “Lucas is gonna kick my ass.” Then he kissed her. Jay shoved him and called him an asshole. Ace’s face lit up like a football stadium. He chuckled and said, “Totally worth it.”
I shake my head. “Gotta love the media.”
PULLING INTO MY parking spot for my shift at Mac’s, I grab my purse and climb out of my car. I hope it’s slow so Max will let me off early. I want to be home when Jay gets there. I can’t wait to tell her what I said to Ashton and Hannah. I feel like a total badass.
“Harper,” a male voice calls out, and I go still.
“Josh? What the hell are you doing here?”
“I needed to see you. To talk to you,” he replies, taking a step toward me. I take one back. “I’ve missed you so much, baby.”
“I’m not your baby, Josh. You need to leave. Go home to your wife.”
“We’re divorced,” he continues. “I filed the day Melanie confronted you. She fought me, but it’s finally over. I wanted to wait until it was final before I came to you.”
“I don’t care.” I shake my head. “I’ve moved on. I have a boyfriend and I’m happy. He loves me, and I love him.”
“Answer one question?”
“What?”
“You told me that morning before I left that you would think about giving me another chance. Before Melanie showed up and ruined everything, were you really going to give me one?”
Tears pool in my eyes. “No.”
“You’re lying.” He reaches out, pulls me to his chest, and grabs the back of my neck. “I love you, baby. I know you still love me.” And before I can say another word, his lips are on mine.
I jerk my head to the side. “What are you doing, Josh? Let me go.”
“Yo, you wanna take your fuckin’ hands off my girlfriend,” a deep, angry voice sounds from behind us.
Josh blows out a puff of air through his nose before he untangles his arms and takes a step back. His expression is a mixture of anger and defeat, and I feel a small flicker of guilt.
I shouldn’t.
He was married.
And he divorced her for you.
Bullshit. It’s not my fault.
I’d already made the decision to leave.
I turn around to see Cole standing there, fists at his sides, and Carter with his arms locked around Cole’s middle, holding him back.
Josh’s eyes flick between Cole and me. Recognition reflects in his eyes. “How long did it take her to spread her legs for you after she left me?”
I gasp.
Cole lunges forward, but Carter digs his heels into the pavement.
That’s it.
My hand goes flying across Josh’s face. I’m on fire today. “Get out of here, Josh.”
Josh smirks as he runs his hand through his hair. He takes a step backward, his eyes locked on mine as he says to Cole, “She’s all yours.”
“Man, just go before I come over there and fuck you up,” Cole warns.
I believe he would, too.
“He’s not worth it,” I add.
Josh barks out a hollow laugh, reaching for the door of his Mercedes. “She’s a sweet piece of ass. Did she tell you we lived together?” Cole growls. “That I divorced my wife for her?” Josh jerks his chin at me. “Ask her how we met.” He winks before slipping inside his car and driving off.
I stand there stunned.
What a jerk.
After everything we went through, how could he be so horrible?
After a few moments, I look over at Cole.
He’s glaring at me.
“I didn’t kiss him back.”
Cole shakes his head slowly, his expression detached as if he’s looking at a total stranger.
“Let me go.” He shakes from Carter’s hold and heads for his Tahoe.
“Cole!” I follow him. “Please.” I grab his arm.
He yanks from my grip. “Don’t.”
“Really?” I let out a shaky breath. “You’re just gonna leave.” Please don’t leave me. “You don’t walk away from someone if you truly love them.”
Cole yanks open the driver door and climbs behind the wheel. “Sometimes love isn’t enough.”
“Our love is,” I plead.
He drags his hands down his face. “Just… let me go. I need to think.” He reaches for the door and I step out of the way, allowing him to slam it shut and start his SUV.
“He’ll come around after he calms down,” Carter reassures me as he rounds the Tahoe and climbs into the passenger seat.
Cole Mackenzie just broke my heart.
“YOU OKAY?” CARTER asks.
I look over at him. “Not even a little bit. I should go after that fucker and beat his ass.”
“Not a smart move. Think about Willow. Think about your future.”
“I’m sick of thinking. Let’s get drunk.”
“You think that’s a good idea?”
“I think it’s a fucking great idea. I need an hour. Two tops. I just want to be Cole. Not Cole Mackenzie. Not the football player. Not Willow’s dad. And sure as fuck not Harper’s boyfriend.”
DROPPING OFF SOME empty glasses to the bar, my attention moves to the television screen overhead, broadcasting one of those celebrity gossip shows. The paparazzi are surrounding a celebrity at LAX, my heart dropping when Jay’s disgruntled face appears on the screen. Her lips are moving, and then suddenly she throws her head back and laughs.
“Hey.” I snap my fingers at the bartender and point to the television. “Turn that up, please.”
“My name is Jayla Mackenzie King. Liam Mackenzie is my uncle. You obviously haven’t been doing your research, you ignorant orange—” Bleeeeep.
I snort, wishing I had half the backbone she does.
“Oh no,” Dylan says, leaning with his forearms on the bar.
“Although I appreciate your concern for my love life, I don’t appreciate you painting me as some cleat-chasing tramp sexing my way through the MLB. I suggest you find a new source and do your research. Until then, you need
to get out of my face.”
“So, you’re single, then?” the female reporter hedges.
“Why?” Eva steps in front of Jay. “Are you asking her out?”
I can’t help but laugh at that.
“Miss Cuntinger—” Eva sneers.
“It’s Cunninger.”
“My mistake.” Eva’s grin says otherwise. “Your interest in my friend’s love life sounds more like an obsession. I’m aware of your little blog, too, and I think you’re behaving like an overzealous fangirl.” She smirks. “Or a stalker.”
The reporter ignores Evangeline’s jab and continues, “Miss King, is it true that you were admitted to a mental health facility just three weeks after your father passed?”
Shit.
How did this lady find out? Jay told me how she’d unintentionally made herself sick after her dad died and spent six weeks in a wellness center. That information was confidential.
Jay’s shoulders drop in defeat, but Evangeline grows another two inches, and I can picture her eyes as wide as dinner plates behind her sunglasses as she towers over the reporter. “Are you kidding me?”
“Shit,” Max mumbles beside me. “I need to call Em.” He takes off to his office with Dylan following.
“I’m just doing my job, Evangeline.”
“No, you’re not just doing your job. You’re harassing her. It’s because of people like you that’s kept her from the public eye. People like you who ruin it for other reporters”—she waves her hand around, gesturing to the others—“who really are just doing their jobs. Here’s a little piece of advice, Ms. Cuntinger. Stop. She answered all your ridiculous questions, and if you don’t like what you hear, that’s your problem. If you really want to do your job, then round up your little camera crew and get back to the chocolate factory before Willy Wonka realizes he’s missing an Oompa Loompa.”
Oh my God.
I snort as laughter rings out around the bar. Go, Evangeline.
“Turn that off.” I wave a dismissive hand toward the TV. I’m not going to stand here and listen to those assholes tear my best friend’s life apart.
AFTER MY SHIFT, I make my way to the employee lounge to grab my things from my locker before heading home to check on Jay. I pull my phone from my purse, intending to call her, and notice a text from an unknown number. Probably from Josh.
Frowning, I slide my finger across the text notification on the home screen and gasp when a picture of Cole appears. But it’s not just Cole. Ashton is smiling on his lap, and his arms are wrapped around her waist. Both seem to be focused on someone standing over them. The text reads: I told you he’d come back to me.
The sting of betrayal from Josh is nothing compared to the hurt I feel right now. My heart cracks. I suck in a deep breath as my body goes into protective mode and my walls go up.
Cole and I are done.
“HEY, GRACE,” I say as I enter the kitchen. “Is Jay still up?”
Grace gives a slight shake of her head and offers me a sad smile. “No. Miss Jayla had a bad day, so I made her some tea to help her relax.” She winks.
“I saw some of it on TV. That reporter was brutal. Why was she picking on her?”
“Because people love good gossip.” True.
“I’d offer to kick her ass, but I think Evangeline handled her just fine.” We both laugh.
“You okay?” she asks after a moment.
“Cole and I had a fight earlier,” I admit. “I think he cheated on me with Ashton, the same girl who did this to my chin.” I point to the small scar under my chin, then pull out my phone and show her the text.
Grace shakes her head in disappointment. “What is wrong with these boys?”
“They’re idiots,” Emerson says as she walks into the room wearing a long silk robe, her black hair piled on top of her head. She wraps her arms around me from the side and stares down at the picture. “Sweetie, if you learn anything from me, it’s that pictures aren’t always what they seem. Have you seen the ones of Jay online? It didn’t take those assholes long to try and dig up dirt on my kid, but all they found was a picture of Ace kissing her. I’m pretty sure I know who leaked that picture, and as soon as I confirm it, I’m going to destroy that little bitch.” Emerson releases me and makes her way over to the other side of the kitchen. “Cole’s a cocky little asshole, and right now, he and Zach are on my shit list for the way they treated Jay tonight. But neither of them is dumb enough to cheat.”
“What did they do to Jay?” I ask as she pulls three mugs from the cabinet.
“I’m not really sure,” she replies as she sets the mugs on the island and drops a tea bag in each one. “She won’t talk to me.”
Grace moves to her side and begins pouring hot water into each cup. “Mr. Z was upset with her over the pictures.”
“Of Ace?” I remember Zach was pissed off at lunch about a picture of Jay and Lucas’s bandmate, but I thought Cole already explained it to him.
“The ones from this afternoon with Tyge Reynolds,” Grace explains.
I frown. “I didn’t see those.”
Emerson brings the mug to her lips and blows before taking a sip. “Tyge’s father, Jack, is our lawyer. Tyge and Jay both just happened to be in the same place at the same time.” She tilts her head as if to say, ‘Do you see where this is going?’
I wrinkle my nose. “That’s so messed up.”
Emerson nods. “It is. And it’s why I do what I do. This is the shit her father and I tried to protect her from for the last eighteen years. Her skin isn’t thick enough to handle the bullshit stories or the criticism. That bitch reporter, Kelly Cuntinger”—I laugh out loud and Grace giggles. Emerson smiles and waves dismissively—“Cunninger, whatever, went too far this time harassing my daughter. If it had been five minutes later, I would’ve been arrested for knocking that orange bitch on her ass.”
I laugh. “Is Jay okay?” That’s really all that matters.
“She will be.” Emerson sighs, staring down at the counter. “I hope.”
My gaze moves to Grace, who gives a slight shake of her head.
“So what are you and Cole fighting about?” Em asks, and I’m actually grateful for the change in subject, even if it’s a sore one. “Did you tell him the truth?”
“No. Believe me, I’ve wanted to tell him the truth many times, but things between us are—were just so… intense. I’m afraid.” Especially after the way he reacted today.
Emerson frowns. “Afraid of what?”
“That I’ll lose him. But I don’t think it matters now.” I nod toward my phone, the screen now dark. “My ex showed up at Mac’s this afternoon before my shift. He said he divorced his wife.” I roll my eyes. “Then he kissed me. I didn’t kiss him back, but Cole saw the whole thing. Josh threw out some shady insults and made things worse before he took off. Cole wouldn’t even let me talk. He just left.” I nod to the phone again. “And ran straight into the arms of the enemy.”
“Harper, I know it looks bad, but just like I’ve told Jay, don’t assume,” Emerson gently chastises. “I think it’s time for you both to have the talk. Lay it all out for him.”
“Yeah.” I swipe my fingers below my eyes. “I think so, too.”
THE DARK ROOM illuminates as my phone vibrates for the hundredth time. Cole. If I didn’t need my alarm, I’d shut the damn thing off. I reach over to the nightstand and grab it just as a text pops up on the home screen. I tap on the notification.
Ansewer you ducking phone.
Asshole.
Rolling my eyes, I set the phone facedown and turn the other way. It’s gonna be a long night.
“CO, GET HOME!” Willow’s demand carries over the marching band currently stomping through my skull.
Rolling my head to the side, I peel my eyes open to see my dad standing in the doorway with Willow perched on his hip. Neither of them looks very happy. Actually, my dad looks pretty fucking pissed.
Furrowing my brow, I force myself to pull my thoughts togeth
er, my eyes scanning the room. It’s not my room.
Where the fuck am I?
“You’re at my house, jackass,” Carter says from somewhere in the room. I wince, unaware I’d said that out loud.
“Jackass,” Willow mimics, and points a tiny finger at me.
Turning my head in her direction, I narrow my eyes and point to her, silently telling her to watch her mouth and her attitude.
“Let’s go,” my dad says in a deep, firm tone, leaving no room for argument.
“Wes go, Co!” Willow yells, once again jabbing her finger in my direction.
THE SHORT WALK to my house feels like I’m walking across the country through desert sand. Now I remember why I don’t drink.
Actually, that’s not true. I quit drinking to avoid making bad decisions, like knocking up a stranger in the back of a Honda Civic.
“You wanna tell me what you were thinking?” my dad asks in a calm voice. Maybe the walk and the cool—although damp—February air is good for his temper.
“I’m sorry for being irresponsible. Some sh—crap went down with Harper yesterday, and it messed with my head. I was feeling reckless. It won’t happen again.”
“I appreciate your honesty. But I’m talking about Jay.”
I frown, trying to recollect the events from last night.
I’ve got nothing.
Absolutely. Nothing.
Did I really drink that much?
I run a hand through my hair and blow out a breath. “What did I do?”
My dad huffs out a disbelieving sound through his nose. “You hurt her.”
I jerk my head to look at him and nearly tumble over from the sudden movement. “What do you mean I hurt her?”
“Co hurt JJ?” Willow asks my dad.
He presses a kiss to her head. “Just with his words, baby.”
Willow eyes me with a look I don’t particularly appreciate. “Co, you a meanie-face.”
