I put my face in my hands and sigh. I feel Cole’s hand resting on my leg, his way of showing comfort. I wipe away an errant tear and look at Ian. “That was a wake-up call. I’m not going to apologize for Ryan. I’m in love with him, but I’m not healthy for him.”
“He’s a distraction.” I don’t agree or disagree with Ian. He’s right. At least that's what I’m going to tell myself. It’s not going to matter how bad it hurts or how much my heart is breaking. Ian’s right. “Can you promise me he won’t be a distraction during the tour?”
As much as I hate it, I nod. “I promise.”
“Last night a reporter called and is giving me until the end of today to give him something juicy on you. Your rental car was reported in the parking lot. He heard it on his scanner and he started digging. He knows you were arrested, but doesn’t know why. I can make this go away or we can let him run with the article, your choice.”
I lean back, preparing myself for the inevitable. “What do I have to do to make it go away?”
“You’re going to go public with Cole. This reporter will get an exclusive and he’ll be happy.” Cole’s hand tenses on my leg. He didn’t know about this. Something like this will surely ruin his bachelor status. He’ll have to play nice as well. He can’t afford another cheating scandal.
“Cole and I aren’t together.”
“You’ll act it each time you leave the tour bus or hotel. I’m not saying you need to kiss him in public, but you’ll hold hands, feed each other ice cream – hell, you’ll even allow him to put sunscreen on your back. I don’t care what it is, you’re together.”
“How does that help Hadley’s image?” I’m so thankful my dad speaks up, because I don’t know if I can get the words out.
Ian leans back in the chair, looking at my dad. “She needs someone the media likes and that’s Cole. They’ve been together before and with them being on tour, it’s expected. The tour is short, so they only have to act for a while.”
“I don’t like it,” Mom adds. “I don’t see how it helps.”
“See, Liberty, that is why this is my job. This reporter is going to write an article about your daughter being arrested. Along with that article, he’ll dig and find out why. Would you rather her pretend to be with Cole, a man she knows, or would you rather her be disgraced for screwing around with a seventeen year old? Because if it’s the latter, I can guarantee you this will be her last tour for a long time. No one will want her around.”
My mom gets up from the table and walks into the kitchen and starts slamming cupboards. I can’t imagine what it was like to grow up with Ian as your brother. He’s entirely too bossy for my liking.
“What about you, Austin? Are you willing to go along with this sham so I can get your daughter on the straight and narrow?”
“I’m with Libby, but I also don’t want Hadley’s name dragged through the mud. I’ll support whatever Hadley decides to do.”
Cole leans into me, his scruff tickling my cheek. “I’ll do whatever you want,” he whispers in my ear. I nod and move away slightly. I can’t have him this close.
“Fine,” I say, looking away from Ian.
“You know things could be worse, Hadley.”
“I know.” I can’t take any more of this intervention. I get up, grab my hoodie and head outside. I need fresh air. I sit in the rocking chair on the back deck and watch a bird look for food. Doesn’t he know he should be south by now? The door opens and closes. I can tell by the overwhelming scent of his cologne that it's Cole. He sits down and starts swinging us back and forth. I hate that he can do that and I can’t. It sucks being short.
“You screwed up, Hadley Girl.”
“Shut up, Coleman, I don’t need to hear it from you, too.”
“What’s this guy got?”
I look away so he doesn’t see my tears. I’m not sure I can explain it to Cole without hurting his feelings. Cole and I were in love once and I thought that was enough, but with Ryan, it’s so different, I can’t explain it.
“You can tell me, ya know.”
I shake my head. “I can’t.”
“Do you love him?”
I nod.
“More than you loved me?”
“That’s not fair.”
He reaches over and pulls my chin toward him. He wipes my tears away. “Hadley, it’s okay to love someone else. What we had was great and I screwed that up. I was young and stupid, but if I could change it, I would. I never wanted to hurt you. If you’re in love with this guy, then he’s the luckiest guy I know.” His voice is so quiet and soft. I know why I loved him so much. He pulls me into his arms and holds me. The sad thing is, this isn’t acting. He’s being genuine.
“I can’t be with him. I’m not good for him and it was stupid for me to even think I could have something with someone who isn’t part of my crazy life.”
“You’re life isn’t crazy; it’s normal.”
“It’s anything but normal, Cole.”
Cole leans away so he can see my face. “Don’t worry, I’ll make everything better.”
Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of. If Ryan was an error in judgment, Cole is a colossal mistake.
CHAPTER 33
Ryan