Tally shakes her head, laughing. “You know what? Good for you. People are assholes online and your future girlfriend won’t have to worry about you slidin’ into some gussied-up floozy’s DMs.”
DMs? I have no idea what shemeans.
“My future girlfriend won’t have to worry about nothing cause I won’t have one. Unless you’re willing to apply for the position.”
“Nice try.” She gives the phone to me.
I grin. “Alright, then can we get back to you looking me up online?”
“Nope. But I’ve never had anybody be so fiercely and recklessly protective of me over a tabloid.” She rises on her tiptoes and kisses my cheek. “Thank you, Big Guy.”
It feels like I’m gonna vomit butterflies. Wait, wait, wait. That kiss felt caring. Sweet. Nothing like the no-feelings rule she went on about. But maybe it was more of a friendship kiss? She did say we’re friends with benefits, which would imply friendship is part of the arrangement so?—
“Ugh, it’s one ofhispieces,” Tally says, looking down at what’s left of the article on the soggy, scorched page.
“You know the asshole who wrote this? Tell me who he is and I’ll break his fingers at every joint. Then I’ll set him on fire. I have practice now and can confirm it fucking hurts!”
She giggles at my threat of violence. “I appreciate the enthusiastic offer, but no, I don’t know him. Not personally. Everybody in the industry knows his pseudonym, but nobody’s ever seen him or found out his real name. He’s secretive. Guess that’s smart cause he’s made a lot of enemies.”
“No wonder with the blatant lies he writes,” I grumble.
Tally sighs. “Believe it or not, but from what I can see, this article is almost mellow compared to some of his other pieces. And that picture is from three years ago.”
“Then why would he print it again?”
“The press loves to dig this one up. It was taken when some girls from my record label convinced me to go out. Ididn’t drink much, but suddenly I couldn’t even walk straight. The others called Rex and he picked me up. I told him somebody must’ve spiked my drink, but he didn’t believe me.”
Every muscle in my body tenses and I grind my teeth. It’s the only thing I can do to stop myself from punching a wall. At this rate, I’m gonna need anger management therapy and I should have Dalton foot the bill.
What an asshole to not believe a woman when she says her drink was spiked! I would’ve turned that goddamn place inside out until I found the guy who did it.
Tally taps the page with her bare foot. “And of course this Night Wolfe guy was there at the right moment to snap a picture. Just my bad luck. Since then, everybody thinks I have an alcohol problem.”
“For fuck’s sake, Tally. I’m sorry. I should’ve been there to take care of you.”
“That’s sweet, but to be frank: you were dead to me until I killed that drifter. I wouldn’t have wanted you there.”
I grumble, unable to argue with her point but feeling no better. What else has she gone through alone that I should’ve protected her from?
Sorrow creases her face. “Once, Night Wolfe wrote a piece about a rising country star. His accusations of drug abuse and a secret felony charge ruined her career. She tried to end her life.”
My stomach clenches. “Was she a friend?”
“No, we met a few times.”
“It’s still horrible. Somebody needs to stop this weasel!” I start pacing, wet socks squelching in my boots. “Ain’t there something we can do?”
“Your heart is too big for this cruel world.” Tally catches my wrist with a gentle smile. “Ignore thedrivel he calls writing. Readin’ about the great Dolly Parton has taught me many things about fame. One of her most important lessons is that people are always gonna have opinions and criticism. Not everyone gets me. That’s something I had to learn to accept.”
She picks up the soggy magazine and drops it into the waste bin.
“Maybe this world is just too cruel,” I mumble.
“That might well be true, but there’s no point wastin’ our breath on things we can’t change.” She pats my arm. “Now get in the shower. I’m starving.”
26
TALLY
