“Jagger’s manager,” I correct her. “Well, ex-manager now.”
“I never liked her.” Nash drags his palm over his head. “This has Valerie written all over it.”
“What a bitch!” Sabs exclaims. “If I get my hands on her, I’ll…” Sabs looks around for the nearest appliance. “I’ll get that lamp, and?—”
“We’ll do everything we can to get it taken down, Del,” Kady cuts Sabs’s threat short. “But I can’t make any promises.” She grimaces. “It was easier when nothing was printed, but now that the picture is out there, it’ll be a lot more difficult. As soon as one gets taken down, another will pop up, and at the rate that it’sbeing shared… I don’t think we can do much to stop this.” Her face falls. “I’m so sorry.”
“This isn’t your fault,” I rush to reassure her. “Not every situation can be controlled, even by Kady Sinclair.” I know that not being able to have a handle on a narrative is one of Kady’s biggest nightmares. “This is something I knew we’d have to face one day, right?”
Although now that the moment is here, I realize that I was wholly unprepared for it. I had been so angry at Jagger for trying to protect me, yet now, seeing just a few of these comments, I understand exactly what he was trying to protect me from.
“I can at least stop your name from being printed.” Kady’s voice regains its usual confidence. “Leave it to me and Calder.”
“I bet Jagger and Tae probably haven’t seen the photo yet,” Nash muses. “Jagger’s already inundated with so many messages about the split. I should call to let them know.”
“I’ll ring them after you leave,” Kady promises. “The sooner you go, the better.”
The sound of a heavy object bumping down the stairs grows closer. “All packed!” Faye rejoins us, breathless and flushed, wheeling along my bulging suitcase. She wipes her brow. “I think I got everything you’ll need.”
“How did you pack so much in such a short time?” I ask.
Kady eyes the swollen case with approval. “It’s best to be prepared for every situation.”
Nash’s anxiety is rising. “We should go now.”
“Don’t worry about all your classes.” Sabs grabs my hand. “Kady knows all the boring forms to fill out, and Faye’s done it all before.”
Faye nods. “I’ll email you over everything that needs signing for when you get a minute.”
I’d anticipated we’d have more time to catch up, but since arriving, it feels like we’ve been swept up in a whirlwind. And now I’m going to be leaving for god knows how long.
“Will you guys be okay without me?” I look at my friends. “What will you eat? I promised I’d bake for your next practice, Sabs…”
“Looking after yourself is more important than cookies!” Sabs squeezes my hand. “I have Noodles and Chill on speed dial. If I need a cake fix, all I need to do is head to Delilah’s for a free slice—thanks to Jagger.” She pulls me in for a long hug. “Don’t let all the outside bullshit ruin this time for you, okay?”
“Sabs’s right,” Faye agrees, tugging me away from Sabs for another lung-squeezing embrace. “It’s so important that you and Nash make the most of this time together. The adjustment period is pretty special.”
“I’ll keep you updated with everything that you need to know,” Kady looks up from where she’s already working on her laptop. “But my advice? A full-on media blackout. That goes for all of you. Just remember to check in with us so we know that you’re being well taken care of.”
Nash kisses the top of my head. “She will be.” He takes my hand. “Now let’s go home.”
FORTY-TWO
Jagger
“You can’t do this, Jagger!” I wince as Valerie’s hysterical shrieks stab my eardrums. “You’re throwing away your entire career because of some nobodies and an omega you hardly know!”
“My pack aren’t nobodies.” My protective instincts race to the surface to defend my packmates. “And as I’ve already told you, I sent my lawyer the contract to review. He confirmed that I’m no longer obligated to be part ofPack Fire, despite what you’ve been saying over the years.”
“Well… uh…” she huffs down the line. “If you want to get technical?—”
For years, I trusted Valerie to handle my affairs and truly thought she wanted the best for me. It’s infuriating to discover that she’s manipulated me to stay with the record label and tethered me to Brad and Drew in order to make more money.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done over the years.” Even though she doesn’t deserve my thanks after her spreading misinformation, I need to put an end to the conversation. We’ve been going around in circles for ages. “But now is the right time for me to focus on what’s coming next. Away from the band.”
“This is career suicide!”
“Yes, this is the end of my career inPack Fire, but some things are more important,” I tell her.
