Page 9 of Homecoming

Some of the storm raging in my brain must’ve transferred itself onto my face, because the glint in Rylee’s eyes was gone. Her face was gentle, and she was looking at me like she knew my pain.

Letting go of the door, she took a step towards me, blocking the bright sun and heat as the door shut behind her. “ You can tell me anything, Lols,” she murmured. “I would listen, and not judge. You know that, right?”.

“There’s not much to tell,'' I said, and raised my hand when Rylee opened her mouth. I needed to get it out and do it quickly. “We grew up together. Well, we did until he turned sixteen and moved away. He changed his last name, and I followed his life once he started showing up in magazines and on blogs. After he signed his first contract, I became his biggest fan.” I watched as Rylee’s face went from soft, to confused, to showing signs of concern. But the words were rushing out of me, and there was no stopping now. “He was my everything, Ry,” I half-moaned, begging her silently to understand. “He hung the stars, and made the sun shine every day, just for me. I was just a little girl, but even back then I had a crush on him. Over the years, you know how it goes…” I felt my cheeks heating up. Saying all of this out loud sounded ridiculous, but it was my truth. “I dreamed him up to be some kind of a perfect man, who would come and sweep me off my feet, and be my best friend again.”

“Just your friend?” She asked quietly, watching me intently.

“Yes. No.” I shook my head, not sure of the answer. “I don’t know!” I balled my hands into fists so tightly that my nails were biting into my palms. I hadn’t done that since high school, since Jennifer was standing in the middle of the hallway, mocking my new backpack. “It doesn't matter now, anyway.”

“I think it does, honey.” She was still speaking softly, walking slowly towards me.

“No, it doesn’t, because he broke his promise.”

“What promise?”

“That he would never forget me.” the first tear fell down my cheek, quickly followed by another one, until I couldn’t see Rylee anymore. I felt her arms around me, her heat seeping into my body, but it was almost like I wasn’t there. I was back at the steps of my former home, begging a boy to remember me, and hoping with everything in me that he would come back.

He had no idea. No idea at all that he was my only friend.

I had no one except him, and he left me behind just like he left his mother.

I’d meant nothing more to him than a woman who had abused him.

“Are you ready?” The teasing glint was back in Rylee’s eyes.

We were in Saudi Arabia. It was the second race weekend of the season, and no matter how much Rylee tried to warn me, nothing could prepare me for the assault on my senses every time I stepped out and into the pit.

We were in a different country, only five days after the last race, and everything was in full force. There were so many people milling around—working, talking, or just soaking up the atmosphere and the sun. It was as if a small town had uprooted itself and relocated overnight.

“Yeah, I'm ready,” I mumbled, looking around in awe and trying to figure out how all of this was possible.

I’d met Rylee when she came to the offices of Starr Media, where I worked as a PR specialist engaging primarily in the social media sphere. We’d hit it off instantly, and she’d hired me to take care of hers and Colton’s profiles, as well as the profiles for the charity she ran. Only then I’d managed to steady my nerves and ask her for an interview for my blog.

Hearing the name of my blog, which I have to admit wasn't too creative, she’d mumbled, looking at me like I came from another planet, “Everything Under the Sun? That’s you? Jesus.”

I didn’t know what to make of it at first, but she’d requested that I come along this season to trail her. She wanted me to learn what went into “heralding” (as she put it) all the drivers to take part in this prestigious gala and auctions. I couldn’t say no.

What I didn’t expect was for her to become my closest friend.

“Are you sure? You are going to see him.” She stopped at the first bay, ready to go in and find her husband. They had a photo op today and an interview that had been scheduled months before. I knew if I gave even the slightest hint I wasn’t ready, she would blow off the interview to stay with me and make sure I was okay.

Once my blog took off, I knew I was probably going to cross paths with Ian Williams again. It was not a vain hope. It was a fact. To my utter disbelief at first, a cautious surprise, and later ecstatic happiness, my little blog had turned out to be one of the most sought-after sources on everything and anything under the sun. Hence the name.

I didn’t just cover celebrities. I blogged about whatever interested me. Books, travel, food, sports, drinks… Well, you get the picture. And once it did take off, thanks to my job, the world of opulence and stardom was within reach.

“Not really,” I sighed, opting for honesty. I knew she could see through my mask. “But I have to get over it. It’s been years, and I have no right harboring any feelings about it, or him.”

Rylee looked at me like she didn’t agree, but before she could voice her opinion, a shout came from inside. “Ry, you coming?”

“Summoned by Ace,” she muttered, a smile betraying her fake annoyance.

“God, you two are sickening sometimes.” I laughed and pushed her gently toward the garage. “Go be with your husband, do the photo op and the interview, and after that, both of you can get a reward that you want.” I winked, but then said seriously, “I’ll be fine, I promise.”

It was an empty promise since I didn’t know how it would go when I saw Ian again, but I knew, one way or the other, I would survive if he decided he didn’t want me around him.

I’d already done it once.

When Rylee was inside and nearing Colton, I took my phone out of my back pocket and opened the notes app. I had my next blog post planned, several in fact.