Page 118 of The Song We Lost

They laugh again. I stand a few feet away watching them, arms folded against the cold air.

Jackson looks completely at ease here. Like a man who wandered onto a mountain property and decided to stay a while.

Today he is in a worn jean button up. Faded jeans. Boots planted in the gravel like he’s been wearing them his whole life.

Rhett, on the other hand, looks like trouble. He’s leaning against the hood of the SUV beside Jackson, sunglasses hooked into the collar of a worn black t-shirt.

Cowboy hat tilted low, jeans ripped at the knee.

His smile is the same platinum grin that’s sold out arenas for the last decade. The kind of grin that says he’s used to cameras. Used to chaos. Used to the world looking directly at him. But right now he’s just another guy standing in the dirt beside a half-built house.

Rachel glances at me and I want to squirm, terrified of the look on her face.

“Bailey,” she says quietly. “I need to show you something.”

I turn toward her. Before she can continue, the door of Sadie and Cole’s place swings open.

Sadie rushes outside.

Crying.

My stomach clenches so fast it almost takes the air with it.

I’m moving before I even think.

“Sadie…” I grab her shoulders. “Are you okay? Is it the baby?”

Her head shakes quickly.

“No. No, the baby’s fine.” Her voice breaks. “Someone hacked my private social media.”

Rachel exhales beside me. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

Sadie’s hands twist the hem of her sweater. “I know everyone on that account,” she says, panicked. “Every single person.” Her eyes are glassy. “I don’t understand how this happened.” She wipes her cheeks quickly. “I just wanted to have some pictures from Thanksgiving. From the bonfire. I didn’t mean…”

Cole steps in behind her and pulls her into his arms. “Hey,” he murmurs softly. “It’s okay.”

She presses her face into his chest. “I didn’t mean for it to get out.”

I step closer, touching her arm. “Sadie.” She looks up, as I say, “This isn’t your fault.” I keep my voice calm even though my chest feels tight. “There is nothing wrong with those pictures. Someone violated your privacy.”

Rachel tilts her phone toward me. “They still don’t know where here is,” she says quietly. “But they know Jackson is somewhere with you.”

I scroll through the comments.

Speculation threads.

Screenshots.

Fans dissecting every shadow in the photos.

People are feral.

Sadie sniffles and Jackson steps forward slightly. He studies the phone for about three seconds, then shrugs.

“We have two options really… But I think we lean into it.”

Rachel looks up. “Explain.”