I ignored the pain radiating from that broken, hopeful organ in my chest and stepped to the side so I could face them all. It wasn’t easy extracting myself from their grips and they immediately started to follow me until I held up my hands. “I need to tell you guys something. I’m not who you think I am.”
Cash snorted. “Is this where you admit to being an Olympic athlete or something? Who cares right now? Come here.”
For something that wasn’t supposed to be involved, my heart sure felt like it was cracking. “No, I’m serious. I’m not-”
I hesitated for a moment to enjoy the last time they might ever look at me without hate in their eyes, I'd rather lose them honest than keep them with a lie. I'd already lived through one man not wanting the real me. I wasn't signing up for three more.
“The truth is….”
A catcall distracted me enough that I glanced towards the sound and saw something so strange that I shut up. There was a group of the football guys huddled around their phones, eyes shifting to me and then back again. A sick feeling crawled up my spine, the same one I’d gotten after everyone at USC turned on me.
It wasn’t just that one group of guys, either. All over the field there were groups gathered around their phones. Some were actively pointing at me. There were more catcalls and then the laughter came. My skin rippled with unease and I felt myself shrinking.
I glanced up and saw Weston was glaring around at everyone but Hayes was walking towards his teammates to snatch one of their phones away. For some reason, I knew it was going to be bad. I wanted to scream at him to drop the phone but it was too late. I saw his eyes trace whatever was on the screen and whenthey moved back to me, they were full of doubt and just the start of what was surely going to be a storm of anger.
“What the fuck is it?” Weston snatched the phone away from his brother and held it out so Cash could see it, too. “Who took this fucking picture?”
9
***Cass***
Iwas suddenly a horror movie girl, running upstairs while a killer chased her with a giant knife. I didn’t escape when I should’ve. I lingered, too focused on seeing what had made the scary noise, so to speak. I felt the killer getting closer but I still stood there like a fool. And when Weston turned the phone so I could see the screen I felt the killer slip his knife into my back. Over and over again. I sucked in a choking gasp and felt my stomach drop. There, on the screen, was a crisp and clear picture of me with the Ford brothers wrapped around me.
If the picture wasn’t shocking enough the headline beneath it was a kill hit.Texas Football Royalty Scoring Early in the Season with Ex-USC Cheerleader Connected to The Apex Three.I couldn’t force my eyes to read the rest. I didn’t need to. The picture and that headline said plenty.
Hayes voice was quiet as he read more. “Ex-teammates tell of a jaded ex-lover who couldn’t move on and who bullied Texas sweetheart and sister to the Ford brothers, Savannah Lane Ford.The photo doesn’t read revenge to this reporter, but it’s evident that Cassidy, or Cass as her ex-friends refer to her, is sneakier than a snake in tall grass.”
Panic consumed me. I had to make them understand that it wasn’t what it seemed, not anymore. They were all looking at me, faces twisted in varying degrees of fury, and I struggled to find my words under the heavy glares. I had to try, though.
My voice shook when I found it. “I-it’s not like that. I… I did come here with bad intentions but- I don’t want that anymore. I didn’t dothatwith you all to-”
“You fucking used us.” Weston yanked his hat off and worked the brim between his fingers. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“Are you seriously this fake? You came here and seduced us to get back at our sister? Did you bully her? Did you fucking hurt our little sister?” Cash let out a bitter laugh and I was painfully aware of everyone watching.
“No, I- I don’t know. I didn’t mean to. I thought she was going to hurt Cole and-” I wrapped my arms around myself, something about mentioning Cole’s name just made it all feel even worse. “I did mean to. I wanted to protect my friends.”
“Your friends.” Weston scoffed. “You fuck them, too?”
Hayes growled at his brothers. “Let her fucking talk.”
I shook harder. Everyone was staring at me, judging me for being a horrible person. Worse, they were all seeing the secret I’d hoped to keep buried once I left USC. They were all seeing just how pathetic I was for Cole and the rest of The Apex Three. They were seeing how low I’d gone in my desperation. I was a loser and there was no chance of putting that cat back in the bag.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t… I didn’t plan for us to dothat.” I pointed to the photo. “I was trying to tell you the truth. I didn’t want to continue this with the lie between us. I wanted to explain. I… I’m so sorry.”
“Did you arrange to have this picture taken? Did you send this to our sister as some sort of fucked up revenge? She stole your men so you fuck her brothers?” Cash shook his head and took a step away from me. “You LA fuckers really have no soul.”
“I didn’t! I don’t know who took that picture! I swear. I’m horrified.” I rubbed my face roughly, trying to shake the right words out of my brain. “I can explain, I just need a second. I can’t-”
“You need a second to get more lies straight?” Weston slammed his hat back on. “No fucking thanks. This is done.”
I watched him turn his back to me and felt my words tangle together even more. “No, I-”
Cash waved me off and followed his brother. When it was just Hayes standing in front of me, whatever hope I had that it’d get easier to talk vanished with one look at the hurt and disappointment in his eyes.
“This was fucked up. You need help.”
I watched him walk away and tried to call out for him to stop but no sound came out. I stood there, tears leaking down my cheeks, heart throbbing, and just let them walk away from me. Everyone was still watching me but I couldn’t force my legs to move. I just stood there, mouth opening and closing with words I couldn’t find. Once again something had come crashing down on me and I was a pariah. Rightfully so.
