31
MyfirstinstinctwithSully was correct, and I shouldn’t have believed anything different. All we are is a fling and nothing more. These past two weeks, I’ve been living in a dreamland.
Seeing Sully and Gigi super cozy tonight and the media frenzy after the music awards with fans buzzing as if they’re already an item hurts on a deep level. One reporter is ballsy enough to ask if they’ve been secretly dating for a while and might already be engaged. I refuse to stand in the way where his people don’t want me anywhere around.
Scarlet Failure will not lose Sully because he chose me over them. It would be to spite them, and he’d grow to hate me for ruining everything he’s worked for. A girl you barely met is not worth throwing away your life. If he wants to leave, I won’t stick around just to be the excuse when it all collapses.
It’s too risky for my career. I’m part of the mermaid community, and no big-time sponsor will take me seriously if I get wrapped up in acelebrity scandal. It was hard enough to recover after “the incident” with my ex that went viral. At least his following was nothing compared to a globally known band.
Sometime after midnight, Sully finally replies.
I’m so sorry! I lost my phone! I didn’t kiss Gigi! I can explain.
A few minutes after that, he sends another text.
Please, I hate these after parties. They create so many rumors.
I leave him unread and go to bed.
When I wake up, he sent me another message, inviting me over for breakfast. I toss my phone onto my bed and follow the scent of coffee into the kitchen. Alice stands slumped over the counter waiting for the coffee machine to finish brewing with her mug in hand.
“How long did you stay dancing in that cage?” I ask, grabbing my mug beside her.
“Shh!” She covers her ears and slowly pulls herself together, standing up mostly straight. “I have a pounding headache.”
“A long time then,” I say, clicking my tongue.
She grabs the coffee pot and pours herself some liquid heaven and then sets it on the counter for me. “Shut up, Miss I-want-to-go-out-but-leave-within-the-hour.”
“Hey, I stayed longer than an hour…I think.” I shrug, grabbing the creamer from the fridge and stirring it into my coffee.
“Not according to Emily, but I’ll take your word for it.”
“Whatever.” I absorb the warmth through my mug before taking a sip and bumping my hipagainst the table.
Alice leans against the opposite chair. “What happened with Sully?”
“He texted me after midnight, but I haven’t replied.” I fall into the chair, resting my arms on the table.
She watches me over the rim of her steaming mug.
“Not planning to either. It’s too much. This push and pull. This should I or shouldn’t I. It’s exhausting.”
Alice squishes her lips to the side but doesn’t say anything. She doesn’t need to. Her watchful eye says it all. She doesn’t believe me.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I say, running my finger along the rim of my cup. “I’m not going to cave. We had a fun fling, but a real relationship is too…messy.”
She raises her hands in mock surrender. “I didn’t say a word.”
“Your face says enough.” I trace the scrape carved into the table’s surface. “You didn’t see how their PR lady looked at me. I felt small and disgusting, a cockroach who they think is riding on his coattails for fame. Sully wanted to invite me as his plus one to the music awards and she nearly bit his head off. Then Gigi stopped by the studio and acted like she already owned the place. Scarlet Failure is going on tour with her. I don’t stand a chance.”
“Did Sully stand up for you or did he sit back and let these people treat you like dirt?”
“What does it matter if he did or not?”
She drags the chair out and sits down, slamming her empty cup onto the table. “I’m asking if he had a spine or not. If he has one then there’s still a chance, he will fight for you, but if he allows them to run his life then I agree, cut your losses and move on.”
“Umm.” I tug on my earring. “He told Amy to back off. At the studio he barely acknowledged Gigi. But…” I gesture toward the TV. “Gigi was on his arm and I was swimming in a tank miles away.”
