“I don’t want to talk about it,” I mutter.
Her face softens immediately, like she realizes this isn’t normal sibling drama. So she squeezes my arm gently. “Okay. Just come to me if you need to, alright?”
I smile a little despite myself, because that’s exactly what Mom said. “Yeah. Thanks.”
She lifts her phone. “I’ll try to stop that stupid video from spreading all over town… if I’m not already too late.”
Another weak smile pulls at my mouth. “Yeah. Probably too late.”
She shrugs. “Well, they don’t know they’re dealing withtheBailey Drayton.”
That actually gets a small laugh out of me.
She smiles back, then leans closer, whispering, “I’ll leave you alone tonight… but tomorrow? I expect every single piece of gossip.”
I huff out another quiet laugh. “Night, Bailey.”
“Night, Officer Disaster,” she murmurs, tiptoeing back into her room. I slip into mine and close the door softly behind me. I sit on the edge of my bed and pull out my phone when I feel it buzz in my pocket.
Ten missed calls and a flood of messages.
KIARA: DUDE!!! What the hell happened?!
MEL: Ry, are you okay? Are you hurt?
LIAM: man r u good? where are you
A few unknown numbers with videos attached, but I don’t open them. I already know what they show.
The last message is from Noah.
NOAH: you okay?
NOAH: is Mads okay?
NOAH: do I need to come over?
My chest tightens at that.
ME: I’m okay. At home. I’ll explain tomorrow.
Send. Not even a minute later, the screen lights up again.
MEL: okay, just take care of yourself
LIAM: put some ice on your ribs if it hurts okay?
NOAH: alright
KIARA: YOU BETTER because Jacob looked like a neglected houseplant
A quiet breath leaves me and I fall back onto the bed. I stare at the ceiling.
This is going to be a sleepless night. And it has nothing to do with my ribs.
46
MADDY
