“Taylor, trust me when I say that as much as they love me now, it’s only a matter of time before they turn nasty. I can’t get caught up in this stuff.” I wave my hand. “None of the online bullshit matters.”
“Except it does.”
“I learned years ago in avery hard lesson. I even did the time in therapy. I care about my friends, maybe too much, but I don’t get caught up worrying about what strangers think. Life is too short.”
Taylor sets his phone on the coffee table with a dramatic flourish. “You’re right. No more gossip.”
“Well, don’t betoohasty. Just no more online gossip,” I say with a laugh.
My phone buzzes, and I look at the number that pops up. “Hekeeps calling,” I hiss.
“You’re going to have to face Ryder sometime, my scandalous friend.”
“Hmm. Maybe. But I’d like to avoid that as long as possible.”
I look down at Archie and Louis cuddled next to each other underneath an air conditioner vent. “They look so cute together,” I comment, changing the subject.
My phone buzzes again.
“If you don’t answer that phone, I will,” Taylor cries. “Just get it over with. Like ripping off a Band-Aid.”
I know I can’t keep avoiding Ryder. I thought when I overheard him say those things to Emma, it was bad. But I wish I could go back in time to when that’s all I had to be upset about. By now he’s probably seen the video. And all the embarrassing things I said.
I try to talk myself down from the ledge. He’s Ryder Black. Girls declare their eternal love for him all the time. It happensdaily, hourly, every few seconds if he goes on the internet. It’s no big deal.
I can do this.
“Yep.” I square my shoulders and answer the phone.
“Daisy. Thank fuck. I’ve been calling all night. I’ve been worried.”
“Worried? What could happen to me? I’m in Rockhaven. Did you think I’d been abducted and forced to wear linen?”
I turn to Taylor. “No offense. I like linen. It has its place. It’s just incredibly popular here.”
“None taken,” Taylor says.
“I—” Ryder draws my attention back to the phone. He blows out a breath. “I don’t know. But you need to answer your phone when I call.”
I suspect I know exactly what he was afraid of. That I would freak out and do something stupid because of going viral. And that pisses me off as well.
“I’m fine.” I pause. “Did you see the videos?” My words are hushed.
“I did,” he admits after a minute.
“That video of me was taken out of context. I was talking about how I felt a long time ago. It’s not how I feel now.” It’s a blatant lie.
“I know. Don’t worry,” he says.
“And even if I were silly enough to still feel that way, I don’t. I wouldn’t. Not after today.”
“Daisy, I’m sorr—”
“Don’t say it. It’s fine,” I say tightly.
“It’s not fine,” he forces out. “Nothing about any of this is fine. There’s never anything fine about you hurting. But I’m going to make it right. I’ll take care of everything. I’ll sort out the publicity. But you and Archie need to come home.”
“First, that’s not my home. I’m your pet sitter, and Archie is safe and happy with me here tonight.”
