“You didn’t answer the real question.” San gives me a wry look. “Are you ready to see Rhyson?”
There are things we need to get straight. Things we need to fix. Our last conversation wasn’t great. I’ve been angry at him. He’s been frustrated with me. But I know we still love each other. That chain still linking our hearts tells me that. But what do I want to do about it? I’ve spent the last two months sorting through this pile of hurt, seeing if I can get past it and back to him. And even if I can, how am I going to be with him and keep that tape from coming out?
“Kai?” San presses.
“Yeah, I heard you,” I answer. “Even if we can work things out, there’s still the tape.”
My eyes wander to the gorgeous ocean view alongside this narrow, curving road, not really seeing it. Too caught up in what, or rather who, waits for me at Grady’s wedding.
“I still have no idea who’s behind that video. I assume Drex is connected to it, but why the anonymous text?” I clamp the inside of my jaw between my teeth. “Until we get to the bottom of it, find that video, convince them to destroy it if I can, I need everyone to at least believe that Rhyson and I are done.”
San opens his mouth, and I can already tell by the look in his eyes what he’ll say. He wants me to tell Rhyson. We’ve gone back and forth about this, but I won’t budge. God, how can I? Before he gets to make his case again, my phone comes to life in my lap with a text from an unknown number. I swipe to see the full message. A gasp rushes past my lips, and my fingers tremble around the phone. I drop it like it’s on fire and it falls by my feet.
“Oh my God,” I whisper, my hand covering my mouth to catch the words. “He released the tape.”
“What?” San’s eyes swing away from the twisting road to search my face. The truck swings dangerously close to the edge. “Shit.”
He pulls off to the narrow shoulder, kills the engine and unsnaps his seat belt, reaching to the floor to retrieve my phone.
If you can be numb and electrified all at once, I am. Every cell of my body buzzes with shock even as shame numbs me piece by piece, a slow, steady creep until I can’t feel my fingers or toes. But I feel my heart, and it throbs as if it’s suffered a blow. I don’t even think about the millions of people who will now see that tape. I can only think of one. I can only think of Rhyson.
“Kai, I don’t think . . .” San’s forehead furrows as he considers the phone screen. Irritation presses his lips together. “He’s fucking with you. It’s not real.”
“What?” The question dies on my lips when he turns the phone for me to look again.
The picture hasn’t changed. It’s a still of the tape, my face clearly visible, Drex leering over my back and shoulders. There’s a post accompanying it, the headline proclaiming “Rising Star, Rhyson’s Ex, Caught In The Act!”
Seeing it, reading it a second time only turns my stomach more, and I reach for the door handle because I think I need to puke. I’ll dump what little is in my stomach right here in the dirt of this oceanside road.
“Look closer.” San tosses the phone to my lap. “Actually read it.”
I cautiously pick up the phone and scan the graphic and post again. The picture is exactly what I thought it was—me and Drex in the most compromising position imaginable. But the post, when I read it, is just gibberish. Letters thrown together and making no actual words. I’m still processing what this means when a second text comes over.
Unknown: This could so easily be real. Remember that when you see Rhyson at the wedding today. Remember what I said. It’s over between you two, or this goes LIVE.
Before I think better of it, my fingers zoom over the keys.
Me: Drex, is this you? Why are you doing this? I need to talk to you. Please.
I call the number, but it just rings. No voice mail. No answer. Nothing.
I hold the phone, waiting for it to vibrate in my hand with a response, an explanation, anything that will help this make sense and show me how to make it all go away. San and I sit there on the side of the road for minutes, quiet and waiting, but apparently my blackmailer is done tormenting me for now.
“Just tell Rhys.” Concern weights the look San gives me. “That takes all the power away from this son of a bitch.”
“Are you out of your ever-loving mind?” I turn as far as my seat belt will allow me to face him, back pressed to the door. “This isn’t some game, San. This is my life. My relationship, if I can still salvage it. My reputation. Rhyson can’t ever see that video. No one can. I only told you because I knew you were the only one I could trust to help me.”