Page 149 of The Twisted Beats

“I sent a media release to all my contacts stating you were not pregnant and it was all a misunderstanding.” She fakes a laugh. “That backfired fast.”

“How?” my dad asks.

“They’re going to run a TV special report on one of the entertainment channels. They have footage of the four of you leaving a women’s clinic this morning.” She sucks in a cry. “They’re saying you were pregnant and had an abortion, and that’s why you need the medication.”

My dad’s shoulders slump. “When are they airing it?”

“As soon as they get it edited.” She ambles to the window and peers out. “I wouldn’t be surprised if some version of it is up on the internet by dinner.”

“You have to stop them.” I rush to my dad and drop to my knees before him. “They can’t do that. It’s not true.”

My mom turns around. “They can and will. They want to brand you as a villain and a killer.”

Her words ricochet through me like a bladed boomerang and tear my insides apart. The room distorts as spots cover my vision.

My biggest secret is about to be broadcast all over America. My life as I know it is over.

Chapter Thirty-One

CALLUM/CASH

Then

Charcoal Curtains & The Scars They Hide

Every cheer is static when all I hear is the crack of betrayal splitting me wide open.

It’s been a month of hell. The paparazzi chase Livianna and me around wherever we go. We’re not allowed out much anymore, but occasionally her parents let us go out to dinner after they’ve set up all security precautions.

Bren and I are in the Hemingses’ band area in their basement.

He slips his guitar off and hangs it on the wall. “Have you thought about how you’re gonna deal with touring while Liv is always working?”

“Yeah. It’ll be fine.” I slide off the piano bench. “We’ll just text and FaceTime when we can.”

“Cash, you’re like the most wanted dude right now. Chicks are gonna be throwing themselves at you.” He strides over to the bar area.

“You can have them all.” I follow and sit on one of thestools on the other side. “None of that matters to me. I’ll never cheat on your sister.”

“It’s gonna be tough, bro. Don’t fool yourself.”

“I’m not, but I know it won’t be hard to ignore girls I have no interest in.” I gaze over at an article that’s open on a laptop that’s sitting on the bar near the wall. “Why am I painted as a hero in this story and she’s the wild child ruining her life?”

“It’s a tale as old as time.” Bren grabs two beers out of the fridge. “They’ve cast you as the good guy and her as the chaos. It’s garbage, but it’ll pass. Right now, Livianna’s the enemy and you’re a knight in shining armor.”

“It’s bullshit.”

“True.” He pops the tops off the bottles and slides one to me. “Once someone new comes along, you two will fade out of the headlines.”

“Why are they obsessed with us?”

“Livianna’s a major teenage star. Everyone has an opinion about her. They either love her or hate her.” He throws back a mouthful of beer. “You’re her first love.”

“And the last.” I take a drink and twist on my stool. “They seem out to destroy her. It’s cruel.”

“There’s no proof of anything. Stick to the story that it’s all conspiracy theories and it’ll die down.”

“It should’ve by now, but in the meantime, I have to worry about her.” My stomach hardens. “You know she’s had more panic attacks in the last few days.”