“A block from my house, your place.”
“Stay where you’re at,” he orders. “I should be there soon. Everything is going to be okay.”
A black SUV with tinted windows screeches tires right in front of me within seconds of me hanging up. The passenger door opens and Arthur curls his fingers calling me. This reminds me of some crazy action movie. The moment I jump in, the doors are locked, and before I can buckle in, he gives me a tight hug.
“I worried I wouldn’t get to you in time.” He sighs with relief. “Buckle up, sweetheart.”
“Did you see the magazines?” A whimper escapes me as I ask. “Couldn’t they wait until next Monday after I had talked to them?”
“Life is never easy, sweetheart.” He squeezes my hand. “Why weren’t you at the practice?”
I don’t answer; for a few minutes I close my eyes and wish for the day to be over. But they flutter open knowing that avoiding the obvious isn’t smart. I pull out my phone and google Thea Dennis. Nothing comes up. That in itself is a victory. Aggie Levitz isn’t as lucky. The first picture I spot is of the three of us—Matt, Coop, and me—inside Coop’s Malibu home, naked. Tons of pictures of us are invading the Internet, but also old pictures of me. Articles of my old life. My skin prickles with the thoughts of all those naked pictures of myself lurking on the web.
My attention goes back to the top of the page and my finger trembles as I tap on the video tab. Aggie’s sex tapes. Chills run through my body. A sex video? That’s worse than flashing my boobs at a bar when I was seventeen. I tap on one but only a black screen with a sad face that says, “This video has been removed” appears. But how many watched it before they removed it? Who removed it?
“This is bad.” My shaky voice imitates my body. “Matt. His family isn’t going to accept me after this.”
“You’d be surprised.” He stops the car and points forward. I lift my gaze, finding myself in front of AJ’s porch. Matt, Jacob, and Mason stand there, crossed arms with unreadable expressions on their faces. Arthur places a hand on top of mine. “Thea, we’re all with you, you have a family. By the end of this ordeal your life will take another turn, but I hope the changes are for the better.”
His soft grey eyes watch me with tenderness. I take off my seatbelt and hug him. “Thank you for finding me, for being so nice to me.”
“If I’d known, I’d have found you before, Thea.”
Before I can ask what that means, the passenger door opens, redirecting my attention toward it. Matt’s open arms are the first thing I notice and I jump into them.
“I . . . Do you hate me?” He squeezes me hard and doesn’t answer. “Talk to me, Mattie.”
“I never liked him—Martin. Now I hate him,” he says, putting me down. “How are you?”
Hurt, confused, upset, sad . . . scared. I only shrug.
“Really, Thea? Martin Levitz is your father?” AJ’s voice comes from behind Matt. “I just want to know why wouldn’t you trust me with that?”
“She’s crazy and likes to know everything,” Matt whispers, smirking at me. My heart resumes its beating, knowing that he’s not upset, and that maybe she’s not going to punch me in the face.
“So how was it, being the daughter of the Metal Icon?” Jacob steps closer. I point at his father. “Him, nah. He never partied.”
Chris comes closer to me and gives me a tight fatherly hug. “Where was Jessica when all that shit was happening?”
“Drunk, high . . . lost.” I bite my lip, because I’ve asked myself that question several times. Where was my mother? “I’ve tried to help her but . . . she’s back at it again.”
“You can’t help someone who doesn’t want to be helped,” Arthur says, stepping closer. “Jessica has been beyond help since I met her. Martin is a scumbag and no matter what he did to her, she—”
“She only has eyes for him,” I finish his sentence and he nods. “We . . . I wasn’t ready to tell you. Almost, I swear.”
Each one of them has a different face, but neither one looks upset. Angry, but not directing the rage toward me. But I don’t have much time to analyze the scene, as nausea hits the back of my throat. I rush to the bathroom, barely making it on time. This time I’m only dry-heaving, but it takes several minutes for me to calm down. I splash cold water on my face and my neck, and clean my mouth.
“Do you need this?” Matt steps inside the bathroom holding the plastic bag. A huge explosion occurs inside my chest, my hands going to my belly. I wasn’t ready to tell him, or for him to find out.
“Coop?” I take the bag from him. “How bad is this, Mattie? I mean the magazine stands have a lot of trash about it but . . . there were videos. Not sure what kind, but videos. Pictures of us . . .” I close my eyes and he scoops me into his arms.
“The videos have been wiped. They’re sex videos.” I turn around for another round of puking my guts. His hand glides up and down my back. “One of them is of Coop and me, the other of Coop and you in the pool. He’s not taking any of my calls.”
Videos of Coop having sex?
“Are we going to survive this one, Mattie?”
“I hope so, Butterfly. We have to.” He hands me the plastic bag again. “Might as well find out now.”
“If it’s positive?” I mumble the question not knowing my own answer.
“According to the box it means you’re pregnant.” He gives me that playful smirk. “Thea, I swore to you that no matter what happens, you have me. This scandal will only bring us together—you and me. Neither one of us can speak for Coop; he’s his own man.”
A man whose father had a heart attack, and is only now coming to terms with his sexuality. Not sure how he’s handling this. Fuck, I wish we’d gone with him.
After a five-hour flight, and the thirty-minute drive that followed, I arrive at the hospital where they’d rushed my father. He had a heart attack during his drive home. His car crashed against a semi, and he has a few broken ribs, a broken hip, and bruises. Later today, the cardiac surgeon will perform open heart surgery. I didn’t understand the medical terms, but it’s best if they perform the hip surgery at a later date, when they know that his heart will withstand that second surgery.
“This is all your fault,” Fey screams, handing me her tablet.
The frozen image of two men stares back at me. She taps the glass and the motion starts. A dark-haired man kneels in front of . . . Chills run through my body. Matthew. The man standing, grasping onto the hair of his lover is Matt. It is difficult to make out the face of the man with him, but it’s me. I’m the one in a very compromising position with a very intimate part of his body. In my mouth. My eyes move from the screen toward my sister. “What the fuck, Fey?”
She shrugs, taking her seat at a table away from me. “I don’t know, a friend of mine sent me the link. She knows I like Without A Compass.” Tapping the screen, she changes the browser tab, showing me a Google image search of MJ Decker—naked with another man. “You’re famous.”
“Please tell me this isn’t you, Tristan,” Mother pleas, with that insufferable voice I’m starting to hate. “These are men. Men.”
Yes, they’re, we are men.
Fey looks at her nails, then glances at me. “I hope you’re happy. Because this and other filth alike is what sent our father into the predicament he is in right now.”
I swallow hard, worried about what’s going viral, and hoping we can stop it before my girl realizes what’s going on. Searching through my phone’s browser for Matthew Decker, I stumble upon her old name. Aggie Levitz. Articles of her pop up as I google her name—the mention of a hit and run, an OD at a bar. Shivers run through my veins as I remember her fears, that someone will find her and sell her. Former model and child star is back. Pictures of her with Matt and a blurry second man stare back at me. That’s me, my body. Fuck. Fuck.
One picture in particular grabs my attention. It’s of Thea and me at the pool. As I tap on it, an entire article that includes a sex video appe
ars. Matt isn’t with us. Wait, we’re at my pool. My eyes lift toward my sister whose triumphant grin takes over her entire face. That day at my house when she came by with Victoria. Fucking. Bitch. My ears buzz with rage; my entire body vibrates and I’m about to explode.
“You gotta be fucking shitting me,” I yell at Fey. “This! You did this.” I point at the phone. Her smirk grows, the same stupid smirk she’s had since we were little when she would tattletale on Lucas or me. The information she provided would always grant her something: my father’s love and a reward. “What could you possibly win by doing this shit, Fey? You’re not a kid anymore. We’re adults.” I extend my hand, showing her my phone. “This . . . this is playing with the lives of others. Do you realize what you did to her? To my girlfriend?” My heart squeezes as the full force of what Fey has done comes crashing down.
She feigns indifference with the shrug of a shoulder. “It was brilliant really,” is her answer, as if I’m the one missing the point. “First I thought I could blackmail you with those pictures, but then I decided to make a real profit out of them. Do you have any idea how much I made when I sold those? You should thank me that I didn’t use any of the pictures where they could see your face—or release your name.”
“These are human beings, with feelings, Fey.” I step backward before I do something stupid like bash her face in. “What the fuck is wrong with you? My girlfriend is on the cover of magazines, being portrayed as someone . . . Same with my boyfriend. Do you get some kind of sick power trip from hurting me? What did I do to you? Why do you hate me so much?”
Mother gasps. “Please moderate your tone. You’re putting those people before your sister, before your own blood. You have to stop being around those two . . . just stop this.”
“You stop, Mother. I’m tired of your insults and all the drama. The fake suffering. Do you even care about your children?” My hands curl into fists. “I doubt it, because if you did, you’d know that what Fey did is wrong. That I’m hurting. You have no idea who my partners are. You haven’t taken the time to get to know them or know me for that matter. All my life you’ve been trying to mold me into someone I’m not. You’ve been overlooking that your daughter is a cruel bitch who only cares about herself.” My attention goes to my sister. “So what is it, Fey? Why is it that you always try to find ways to fuck me over?”
Her narrowed eyes and petulant expression give me all the answer I need. She’s the same bratty little kid she’s always been; who was always jealous of her brothers, and never grew up. Always the victim.
“Fuck you? Everything is about you, Tristan,” Fey screeches. “My parents only care about you and what you’re going to become. It should’ve been me! Why couldn’t I have been groomed to be the next CEO of Cooperson Corporation? I would’ve done a great job. Ever since we were little, everything was about Tristan. It didn’t matter what I told them about you. They would only discipline you and forget about it.”
All about me? What is wrong with her? My parents only cared about appearances, how we were portrayed in public. They spoiled her rotten, and celebrated every stupid thing she did. Unbelievable. She thinks they only cared about me. Has she not realized that our parents don’t care much about any of us at all? I look at her, then turn to Lucas who is in the corner ignoring the family crisis.
“You want Cooperson Corporation so badly? Ask Father for it. I couldn’t give a rat’s ass. You want their attention? You can have it all,” I say, combing my hair while my mind is focusing on Thea, on how she’s going to respond or what she’ll do next. “Take it all. Just leave the people I care about and me the fuck alone. I am sick of your bullshit-childish-grudge against me.”
“You’re the one who hurt us,” Mother sobs. “Not Fey.”
“Denial, denial, denial. That’s the only thing our family knows how to do well.” I look at Lucas who steps closer. “Please take her away from here before I do something stupid,” I urge him, pointing at Fey.
I feel my mother’s stare on me. “I don’t even recognize you anymore, Tristan,” Mother says, drying her fake tears, and leaving the room behind my siblings.
Fuck, what a mess.
Tristan: Have you heard from Thea?
Matt: How’s your father?
Tristan: In surgery. How’s Thea?
Matt: You know?
Tristan: Of course, it’s all over the news. Is she okay?
Matt: Yes, she’s fine, startled but you know our girl, she’s strong. Right now she’s with AJ, Arthur, and Dad while we’re controlling the information that was leaked.
Tristan: I’ll try to contact her later.
Matt: You do that. She’s worried about your father’s condition. When we’re done with this crisis, we can travel to Hartford if you need us.
Tristan: Thank you, we’ll discuss that later.
“Any news?” My mother steps into the waiting room.
“None other than he’s in the ICU. Why don’t you go and stay with him?”
My mother sits, her shoulders squared. Her posture perfect. Not a hair out of place. The portrait of a perfect wife and mother. She’s looking ahead as if lost in thought. I’m not even sure if she heard me. She finally clears her throat lightly. “I know you want to blame Fey, but you did this, Tristan. God is punishing us for your sins.” She opens her purse, takes out a tissue, and pats her eyes dry.
“Father Andrew is waiting for you. But I doubt anyone can forgive you after what you did. A man, Tristan. A man. I thought we were past this deplorable behavior. Victoria’s parents are threatening to pull out of our agreement. Your father already has enough problems. Their company is important to us.” My mother stands and takes a step toward me. “How dare you.”
“The Hudsons are in the hole, just like the Coopersons, Mother. My private life is just that, mine. For the next few days I’ll stay to see that my father is taken care of and try to fix Cooperson Corporation. I’ll do it because for some fucking reason I love you and Father.”
Mother’s cold stare lands on me for a few beats before she jerks away, wordless.
Setting aside my family, I head outside the hospital, wondering where I’m heading tonight after what I’m about to do. I take out my cellphone and cue up one of my two favorite phone numbers. Unicorns don’t exist, and fantasies don’t last forever. Reality knocked my ass back on the ground and it’s time to lead with reason. I have to protect those I love, even if it rips my heart from my chest.
“Hi.” Her sweet voice answers at the first ring. “How’s your father? How are you?”
“Hi, Butterfly, how are you?” I ask, taking a deep breath. “Did Matt’s family take the news well?”
“About who my father is and who I was? Yes, they did,” she responds with a low voice. “The Deckers are pretty understanding and supportive. We’re all worried about you, and your father.”
“He’s out of surgery, and . . .” I study the pavement, staring at the spot where I’ll stand while I prioritize, putting what really matters first. “Is Matt around? I need to talk to you both.”
“What’s going on, Coop?” she asks. I don’t answer, only wait. “Mattie, Coop wants to talk to us.”
The background noise behind them dies. I know the call is still connected, but I can’t hear them.
“Ready when you are; you’re on speaker. Is everything okay?” Thea asks again. My heart thumps loudly and my limbs feel numb.
“Thea, baby, I’m sorry . . .” I begin. “My sister—”
“We know,” Matt interrupts. “And unless you want us to stop, Mason is going to press charges.”
In the midst of everything, I chuckle at that. “Go ahead. The bitch deserves whatever you decide to do,” I say, not worrying about my sister or her fate.
Gasping for air, I force myself into saying it, letting the words that are clumped inside my throat come out. “The thing is, that I read everything. This is . . . too much for me to handle.” Fuck, my eyes burn as I think of what’ll happen to us after all
is said and done. Just do it, Cooperson. “It’s pushing my hard limit. I can’t continue . . . this.”
“Wait, Coop—what do you mean?” Thea’s voice trembles. “We’re together forever, remember? I’m not that girl anymore. You know that, right? Please, tell me you know that, that I’m not her.”
No, shit, don’t fuck it up, I remind myself. Don’t make it sound that it’s her fault, dumbass. “I know, Thea. That’s not the problem. We’ve talked about my hard limits before. This is one that I’m not willing to push. I’m done.”
I hear Matt’s heavy breath come through the phone. “Fuck you, Tristan,” he growls. “I thought you had changed, but I guess not. You can’t stop being a selfish bastard and fight for the two people who love you?”
“Sorry, I’m done fighting.” I muster up the coldest voice I have. “Thea, I hope you stay strong. The woman I know is nothing like that girl.”
I can hear the sound of her tears coming through the line and it breaks my fucking heart. “Coop, please don’t do this. Don’t leave us,” she begs.
“Goodbye,” I say, ending the call, my heart practically shuddering at the realization of what I've just done. I turn toward the busy street and let the sound of the traffic drown out the voice in my head shouting at me that I just made the biggest mistake of my life.
But Thea comes first. Always Thea.
Cleaning images, articles, and videos from the Internet took us four long days. Pria worked her magic, cleaning my image and spinning Thea’s image. We confirmed being a couple for the past months. Since the videos didn’t have a date or time, we spun the tale about the mysterious man—a former lover and an old video. A guy who happened to look similar to Thea’s ex. The similarity in dark hair and athletic body was a coincidence. We’re thankful that Fey Cooperson has zero video-taking skills.
Mason and I only had a few hours of sleep during those four days. Today I planned on having a break, but I can’t because Pops texted that he needed me in his home-office. The silver lining of said visit is that Thea is staying with them. Away from the city and any leftover reporters trying to snap a picture of her. I’m thankful that neither Pops nor Dad suggested taking her to the compound. That’d be too far away from me. To top the news, Tristan broke up with us. He’s done fighting. Translation: the fun is over and he can’t handle the real shit.
Uncut (Unexpected Book 4) Page 31
