“I don’t know why you’re wasting your time with him,” the shrieker yelled as I started to walk away, not wanting to be part of this conversation. “He’ll never leave Alyssa. She’s much better than you’ll ever be.”
Even though I shouldn’t have let it bother me, her comment still cut deep. She didn’t even know me, yet she was already judging me.
I hurried to the checkout, not daring to stay in the store longer than necessary, in case the shrieker decided to pelt me with cans of vegetables—the jumbo cans, which would do more than just bruise.
What I didn’t get was why the girl blamed me for trying to steal Tyler away from Alyssa. Didn’t it take two to cheat?
Or had the photo portrayed Nolan as the innocent party in the kiss? Had it made it seem as though I’d attacked him with my lips?
I knew I shouldn’t look, but I couldn’t help it. As soon as I got into my car, I Googled Tyler’s name on my phone and found the picture the shrieker must have seen. All I could tell from the photo was that a woman was kissing him. You couldn’t tell if he was kissing back or if he’d been surprised by the kiss—and you couldn’t tell it was me.
I searched through the other photos. None were of us in the cemetery, although I expected they would surface soon. The other leaked pictures had been taken at the sports center. You could see us clearly in them, and you could see I was the same woman who was kissing him in the other photo.
The entire trip home I debated whether or not I should check what exactly had been said about me and Tyler. At least then I’d be prepared for the next person who brought up the article.
Kayla’s song played on my phone. I let it go to voicemail. A moment later it played again. And as I pulled into my parking spot outside the apartment building, it played a third time.
Knowing that Kayla wouldn’t quit phoning me until I answered, I accepted the call.
“Finally!” she practically screamed, forcing me to pull the phone away from my ear. “I’ve been trying to get hold of you.”
“Sorry, I was driving.”
“Have you seen the article and pictures yet? The ones of you and Nolan? They’re all over the Internet.”
“I saw two photos of us,” I said, opening the car door. “But I haven’t read anything yet. Is it as bad as I think it is?” I winced. Of course it was, if the shrieker’s reaction had been any indication.
“Depends on what you consider bad. The article claims you’ve been spotted getting cozy with Tyler.”
I told her what had happened in the store.
“You’re kidding,” Kayla exclaimed, and once again I pulled the phone a safe distance from my ear. “Nolan’s caught cheating on his supposed girlfriend and you’re the guilty party? What about Tyler? Why didn’t she attack him for cheating on his girlfriend?” She practically spat the last word.
I opened the trunk of my car. The cold wind slapped my cheeks and nose as if it too was angry at me. “Welcome to the wonderful world of double standards. But I’m not so sure everyone will react the same way. The only one who will get everyone’s pity is Alyssa, and she’s not even dating him.” That was the most frustrating part of all of it. Meanwhile, Nolan and I would suffer the fallout.
It was no wonder the record label wanted to fuel the perception that Tyler and Alyssa were still an item. Anything to save the band and their upcoming album. Never mind that Nolan was a gifted singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Those should’ve been enough to stand on their own.
“So what are you going to do?” Kayla asked.
“About what?”
“About you and Nolan?”
“There is no me and Nolan.” I grabbed a couple of grocery bags from the car with one hand and, with the phone sandwiched between my ear and shoulder, closed the trunk.
“Right. That’s not what it looks like from the photos.”
“It was no big deal. We just kissed.” And had sex. Several times. Great sex. Several times. “He’s returning to L.A. next week anyway. So whatever we had between us will be over.” Being his heart and soul will be over.
“Are you sure about that?”
“Positive.”
Kayla believed everyone deserved a happily-ever-after. And maybe it was true. But Nolan and I wouldn’t be getting ours. Not together, at least.
Not if it put his music career in jeopardy.
Chapter 32
Nolan
After Hailey left to go shopping, I sat on the couch and began phoning around. I needed to find a space to rent for when the guys showed up next week. We couldn’t stay here. There wasn’t enough space and the walls were too thin. The last thing Hailey needed was for us to piss off her neighbors with our loud music.
Forty minutes later, and no closer to finding us a place to work in, I hit speed dial on my phone.
“Hey, what’s up?” Brandon asked.
I told him what I needed. “Any suggestions?”
“Sorry, can’t help you there. I mean other than…” His final words faded away, his unspoken suggestion all too clear.
“No! No way in hell I’m going back there. I’ve already told you that.”
“I know, but you have to admit it’s perfect.”
I shook my head. Visiting the cemetery had been hard enough. Returning to the house where it all happened would be a thousand times worse.