The people and press loved Zayne, and it wasn’t until me and the horrible photos I had published when the media turned on him.
“This is definitely karma whether Sarina is a snake or not.” I shake my head and clench my eyes closed. “And now the world is going to think I slept with Zayne and Garrick and probably call me a groupie.”
“So what?”
Looking up, I eye Moffie. “What do you mean ‘so what’? I don’t want to be a groupie! I’m not one. The world is going to look at me like I’m some sort of gold digger who’s obsessed with Violet Wonders and pried my way into their inner circle by marrying Garrick.”
Clearly my reaction doesn’t mirror hers, because she sighs and settles on the floor across from me. Our legs are pressed together because of the limited space in the tiny room. “Don’t be mad when I say this, but you technically are the definition of a gold digger in this case. But, like, an honest one. Garrick offered you his money and you accepted. It’s an arrangement. And as long as you guys know the truth, and Zayne knows the truth, and probably the rest of the band, then who cares?”
“I do.” It doesn’t matter that the band knows the truth because hundreds of thousands of others think something else.
“You shouldn’t.”
Just because I shouldn’t doesn’t mean I can turn off what the press is bound to dig up about me—all the things I wore to fit in, the articles I published, the bad things I’ve done for money. I never told my parents about them out of shame, not wanting them to see me as that girl.
I guess I have no option now.
“Sarina wants fifteen minutes of fame,” my best friend reasons, eyes firm to drill it into my head. “That’s all. She’s using you and the position you’re in to gain some traction. She runs a tabloid that only exists to tear other people down, and people won’t let that go unnoticed. Especially those who are in your corner. Like me and Eli. And Garrick.”
Knowing she’ll try to get vengeance for me, I quickly shoot her a warning gaze. “Don’t do anything that feeds this fire. I know you. Garrick and his team have told us multiple times now that we need to let this type of stuff fade.”
“You’re no fun.”
“You know I’m right.”
She grumbles, “Doesn’t mean ‘right’ can’t be a little fun.” I roll my eyes as she leans back against the opposite wall. “If you’re really worried about the world thinking you’re obsessed with Violet Wonders, we could totally dig up some old photos and videos of us in your bedroom in front of those pictures of The Wild.”
Blood drains from my face over the idea that has her cackling. “That’s not even funny.”
Don’t get me started on the awful videos of Moffie and I singing to The Wild’s songs that journalists could probably find if they looked hard enough. We used to dress up and sing along to their biggest hits in high school, pretending we were at one of their concerts. We never got to go to one, and I’m sure if we ever did now the media would make it seem like I was after one of them next.
“People have done far worse things than get together with a couple of sexy men. And considering you didn’t actually get together with them you have nothing to worry about.”
Her reassurance does little for me, so we fall to silence.
It isn’t until a few minutes later when Eli knocks on the door, clearing his throat. “Rylee? Your phone was going off and it was Garrick. I hope it’s okay that I answered. He’s on his way back.”
Closing my eyes, I blow out a breath. “I appreciate it, Eli.”
Moffie and I exchange a look, hers sympathetic. I never liked it when people felt bad for me. Ever since I started feeling sick it was always the same from her and my family, and it became tenfold when the doctor’s figured out what was wrong.
“Please stop looking at me like that,” I whisper, glancing down at the tile floors. They’re a mixture of mint green and white, something Eli says he wants to change. My dad mentioned he’d help since he’s done tile work before, so the men plan to start this summer.
“I’m just looking at my badass friend who’s going to get through this because she’s strong,” Moffie remarks.
I roll my eyes. “That’s not what you were thinking, but I appreciate the lie.”
The corners of her lips tilt upward. “If it’s any consolation, it’s the second thing I thought. The first was me hoping you’d at least get some dick action from that fine ass man you married so people have something really good to talk about. You have an entire fall season of cobwebs to clean out, and he’s perfect for the job.”
“Er…” Eli knocks again and only after the door creaks open do I see his red face, followed by the amused expression painted on the much taller, much toner man beside him. “I just wanted to let you know Garrick’s here.”
Slowly, my eyes go to Moffie, who bites her bottom lip and shrugs, not looking like she feels bad at all that Garrick overheard her little rant.
The man in question stares down at me, lips wavering, but end in a neutral, endearing smile. “Want to head out? We can go back to your parents’ house while I call some people about the bullshit circulating.”
We both know it’s not really bullshit.
But I accept the hand he holds out for me anyway and let him haul me up. Eli does the same for Moffie until we’re all back in the kitchen where I grab my phone, slide it into my pocket and turn to see Garrick holding up an unfamiliar black jacket with fur coating the hood.
“What is that?” I
