“It’s all over campus. And online. This chick showed up looking for Savannah after you guys left, Donovan ‘didn’t believe her’ when she brought up Sav’s brothers, which I was really impressed with, because who knew Donovan could act, but we all did what you said and pretended it wasn’t true, until someone pulled up the game footage and it spread like wildfire. My phone had blown up by the time I got up this morning, which is saying something, because the post only said she was dating one of the hockey players, it didn’t even say which one.”
“Shit.”
“Were you still trying to keep it a secret?”
I wasn’t. Not last night when I kissed her in the middle of a crowded bar with everyone I know watching, or this morning when I insisted she use my lap as a chair. All I could think was that she was finally mine, and it wasn’t so scary, it was nice to not have to pretend she wasn’t anymore. But now that I’m reminded exactly why this shouldn’t have happened…having people know about us just feels like rubbing salt into an open wound; needlessly cruel. Because I’m not even sure if we’re friends after the way she ran out. The things I said to her.
But the last thing I want to do is deny her and make it seem like she was reaching.
“Whatever we are, she’s still ours to protect, and things are about to get fucking insane for her.”
“So we do whatever is best for Sav?” Owen looks at me with pity, and I want to tell him not to, but I also know that as soon as Izzie is taken care of, all I’ll be is crushed.
“Just make it clear the hockey team has her back, no matter what she needs.”
“Done.”
“Is the football team back yet?”
“Bus got in at two am,” he agrees.
“Good. Parker will take care of her.”
He looks at me like he knows I wish I was the one doing that, but even if she wanted me to, I have somewhere else I need to be, and Savannah deserves someone who can drop everything to be there for her.
An SUV is waiting at the end of our driveway when Owen pulls up, and my chest aches at the brown curls inside I immediately wish were Savannah’s.
“You sure you’re good?” Owen tries, looking like he doesn’t want to leave me.
“I will be,” I assure him, but it feels like a lie.
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Savannah
Hurt People Hurt People
“Do you even know a hacker?” I ask Dallas as I pull into our driveway. He wants to hire one to take down Kinsey’s post, and possibly delete her entire digital footprint, which makes no sense. I’ve already had to convince both my brothers not to fly home to make sure I’m okay, so I’m picking my battles.
“The site says they can’t remove it.” Clay curses, and I can hear him angrily typing a response.
“Of course they can’t. Kinsey posted a picture of herself with an honest caption that doesn’t violate any community guidelines.” I dreaded this happening for so long, but now that the truth is out there, it feels insignificant to the pain in my chest every time I think of Noah. Which is a lot.
“What do you want us to do?” Dallas asks. I almost want to switch to a FaceTime call now I’m sitting in a parked car, but I know the look they’d give me, and I don’t want to walk into the house already crying. “It’ll blow over as soon as a bigger story comes along. I can ask Conor if he’ll go public with Willow?”
I smile at the offer and am overwhelmed with love for my brothers.
“I didn’t want to be known as Baby James, but you know I’ve always been proud of being your sister.” I sigh. “I just wish she’d used a better picture.” And that I’d told Noah sooner. That he’d told me.
“Beth got the PR team to untag us and recommends I do my own post if we’re choosing to confirm it, without liking, commenting, or referring to Kinsey’s, so we don’t feed her algorithm.”
He’s paraphrasing a much longer plan I can partially make out, that includes legal jargon, but it makes sense.
“Sounds like a plan,” I assure him.
“You sure you’re okay, Banana?” Clay asks for what must be the twelfth time between the two of them.
“I’ll be fine.” I try to sound convincing. “I’m home now, so I’ll just go inside, let mom take me in her arms, and wait for it to blow over.” I believe almost none of that statement, but my brothers do me a solid and pretend they do before hanging up.
