He raises a brow. “Not going home with peaches?” he snarks.
“What? No, she has a boyfriend.”
“So if she didn’t, you would have?”
“No, Danger, give mesomecredit.”
He sighs, slumping his shoulders. “Okay, sorry. Yeah, let’s go home.”
“Right! I need my bed. I feel like shit.”
“You look like shit.”
“Thanks.”
“Anytime, brother.”
I roll my eyes as we walk with Declan toward Matt and Nate to give them the bad news that we’re leaving. This should go over as well as a turd in a punch bowl.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
RYAN
Last night was a good time, but I do feel off as we head into the office. I know I’ll be seeing Tillie today, but that doesn’t help my unsettled stomach.
We got a text from Oliver this morning about a meeting first thing. So Danger, Lunar, and I are headed straight for the boardroom. As we walk the hall toward the boardroom, Danger and Lunar are lost in each other as always, while I stew in my own thoughts of seeing Tillie in mere seconds. I feel sick and hate that I still have to work with her. In a way, it would have been easier if she had left, but then I’d never see her again, and that would have been unbearable.
This is a lose-lose situation.
No matter which way I look at it.
The familiar sensation travels my spine, causing my hair to stand to attention, and just like that, I know I’m near her. I grit my teeth as we round the corner and walk through the door into the boardroom. Tillie’s working aggressively on her MacBook, tapping the keys like they’re her worst enemy, and I furrow my brows at the stern look on her face. She doesn’t even look up when we enter. Matt and Nate are already seated as Oliver gives a curt nod.
“Sit down, please, guys,” he says in a firm voice, like he’s more than a little pissed off.
Danger and Lunar sit next to Tillie, and I sit at the end of the table.
“Okay, I’ve called you all in here because there’s currently a media uproar regarding Ryan’s healthy living. His followers, of course, knew he was in the hospital two days ago being checkedover for liver problems, and then last night, Miss Texas uploaded a Snapchat of her and Ryan to her followers, and they’re both holding glasses of what appears to be whiskey.”
I tense as I look up and see Tillie. Her eyes beneath her glasses are watery and stern, like she’s mad as hell but too upset to say anything.
I sigh and shrug. “I had one drink with Lilah. Is that a crime?”
“When your liver is recovering…yes!”Tillie yells, and we all look at her as she takes a deep breath, composing herself again, and goes back to her MacBook.
“Is this about the alcohol or the girl?” I ask.
Her head snaps up as an awkward silence fills the room. “The alcohol, you idiot. How could you be so stupid? Not only for your health and well-being, but also for your fans? They’re invested in your recovery, too, Ryan. They want to see you get to your optimum health and fitness level, not throw it all away on a one-night bender.”
I roll my eyes. “Relax, it was one drink.”
“Fine, kill yourself. You obviously don’t care. It’s just me that has to clean up your fucking mess!”
“If you don’t want the job…then leave!”I yell, and everyone shifts uneasily.
Tillie purses her lips, shutting her MacBook. “I won’t let you push me out of my job as well as your life… go fuck yourself, Ryan,” she chides before she stands and dashes out of the boardroom. My heart races fast at the pure hatred that was in her eyes and in her words. But it had to be done.
“Well, that was useful,” Nate says.
