Garrett slammed the phone down and the line went dead.
Luke sighed. “Always such a charmer, your right-hand man.”
My heart thundered in my chest. “He’s right.” My voice sounded hollow in my ears. “I just fucked everything up. I did exactly what they all knew I would do. Why did I think I could get out from under him?”
“Who?”
I met Luke’s eye. “My fucking father. Who else?”
CHAPTER 32
LAILA
Lexi tipped her head back on my sofa and pressed at the edges of her face mask. She scrunched up her nose and opened her mouth, trying to get the sheet mask to shift into place so the hole was over her mouth. When she finally lined it up right, she yanked open the bag of chips in her lap, fished one out, and fed it into her mouth, carefully minding the edges of the aloe-soaked brightening mask.
“So how long do we have to wear these stupid things?”
In the kitchen, I shot her a loathing look. What I’d have given for just one of those stupid chips right now. “Up to you. I’m going to leave mine on for thirty minutes, but you can take it off after fifteen if you want. The longer you leave it, the more moisture you get. Then you just massage the excess into your skin. Trust me, you’re going to love it when you’re done.”
“It’s cold.”
“It’s good for you.”
“And wet.”
“The best things are.”
Lexi arched an eyebrow even though I couldn’t see it under the mask. “Naughty Laila, out to play. What’s got you all feisty? Wait, don’t say it. It’s him isn’t it?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Uh huh. Sure you don’t. Your chipper mood and sexual innuendos can’t have anything to do with your little crush on Thornton. Why would I even think such a thing?”
Giggling, I brought a pitcher of cucumber and lemon water into the living room and topped off our glasses. I could smell Lexi’s chips as I settled onto the sofa across from her—sour cream and onion, one of my favorites. Why did she have to pick the most fragrant kind of chip on a night when I couldn’t eat any?
“Storm might have something to do with it, I suppose.”
Lexi set her chip bag aside and sat up straight. “You’re finally admitting it? You like him?”
“Yes.”
“Is there something going on with you two?”
“Maybe.”
Lexi pointed an accusing finger at me and laughed. “I knew it!”
“I wasn’t doing the best job trying to hide it. Stop acting like you’re Sherlock Holmes. This was not some grand old mystery with two dozen moving parts that needed solving.”
“Don’t try to steal my thunder. Are you two dating? Like, officially?”
I shrugged and explained that Storm and I hadn’t had that conversation yet. There was still a lot unknown about us and what we would define ourselves as. The first step was just making it through tomorrow night’s show with no casualties. After that? The world would be our oyster and we could figure things out as we went.
My phone chimed. I reached for it on the coffee table.
Lexi cleared her throat. “Hey, Laila?”
My friend never got serious, but I could tell there was something important she wanted to say, so I left the phone alone. “Yes?”
“I, uh, well, this is kind of off topic, but I wanted to apologize to you.”
“Whatever for?”
“How I treated Casey at the Knight fashion show. I was wrong to behave like that and I only made things worse. I was out of line. I think I spend so much time worrying over you and how to protect you from unknown threats that I perceived Casey as one when she’s just family who’s struggling. It won’t happen again.”
Wow. That was a big step for someone like Lexi, who could hold a grudge like no one’s business.
“Thank you, Lexi. I appreciate that.”
My phone went off again. And again.
And again.
Both of us stared at it.
Lexi looked up at me. “What the hell is going on?”
“I don’t know.” I reached for my phone and checked my notifications. They kept rolling in one after another, but they were all from Instagram, so I decided to click one and see what happened. Someone had tagged me in one of Jennika’s posts. Thinking this would either be something for her non-profit or tomorrow’s show, I clicked without thinking, and all of a sudden my phone screen was filled with a picture of Storm’s face.
And Jennika kissing him.
My mouth went dry.
“What is it?” Lexi’s voice sounded far away and muffled, like ten lanes of traffic were passing between us. “Laila?”
My stomach sank.
Was this the real reason why he didn’t want to keep me company tonight? Maybe there was still something between him and Jennika. Maybe he wanted to spend time with her tonight instead of me, which was why he’d blown me off. Why else would the sort of picture he specifically wanted to avoid being posted online, show up online of the pair of them?
I felt nauseated
Lexi stood up, walked over to my sofa, and took the phone out of my hands. As soon as she saw the picture she made an irritated sound in the back of her throat. “What a shady bitch.”
I shook my head.
That was just the thing. Jennika wasn’t a shady bitch. She wasn’t a steal-your-man-I-don’t-care-about-girl-rules type. She was a good person with a big heart. Why would she suddenly want to be back with Storm? Had she seen us getting closer and gotten jealous? Had she noticed all of his growth and decided she wasn’t through with him yet?
Had he even mentioned that he and I had something going on between us?
“I don’t understand,” I whispered. “Why would he do this?”
“Don’t jump to conclusions. We have no idea what was happening in this moment. Jennika obviously isn’t over him. Maybe she’s jealous? Jealous people do crazy shit sometimes.”
“I don’t think Jennika is the sort of person who gets jealous.”
Lexi shook her head. “Babe, everyone gets jealous. It’s human nature. It’s an ugly emotion, and it ruins everything it touches, but nobody is immune. Don’t trick yourself into thinking this girl is somehow better than you. She’s not.”
I rubbed at my eyes as confusion clouded my mind.
“Oh shit. Here, your sister is calling.” Lexi handed me my phone. Casey’s old graduation photo, which I’d set as her caller ID years and years ago, filled my phone screen.
I took the phone and answered it. “Hey, Casey. What’s up?”
“Why is there a picture of your man with another model’s lips on his face on Instagram?”
Sighing, I slumped back on the sofa. “He’s not my man, Casey.”
“Like hell he isn’t.” Casey scoffed. “I saw the way he looked at you the other night. I felt your chemistry. I just didn’t say anything because I knew you’d deny it. Are you really going to let this bitch swoop in and take your man without a fight?”
“She’s not a bitch.”