Surviving (Surrender 2)

This seems to calm him down because he changes the subject. Declan comes into the bedroom with two mugs of coffee and I tell my dad I have to go. I recap my conversation with Declan and he agrees with my dad that my anonymity has an expiration date.

I get tired of arguing on the subject so I let Declan drive me to school. When I get to class, Kyle has saved me a seat and gives me a shit-eating grin. The rest of my group comes in and teases me until the professor starts class. She looks at me for a minute and does a small head shake. I didn’t take her for a SCENE reader, but apparently I’m wrong. No one else in the class looks at me differently or tries to talk to me. Maybe nothing is going to change after all.

Chapter 37

Change the Plans

One week, that’s all it took. Only seven days for the first post revealing my name to pop up. There has been rumors floating about me, but none true. A local blogger called MJ Labels and spoke to Jay. He runs a blog that spotlighted the entertainment circuit. Not only music, but also local events, television, film, and celebrity statuses. Jay gave the standard ‘no comment’ and told us all to be watching the internet.

Abbi saw it first and alerted all of us it was live. I was in class but was able to pull it up since we were in group discussions. As soon as I opened the site, I felt sick. This person had not only done their research, but also gone back to my high school years. Mari, Brent, and Kyle leaned over my shoulders to read.

Sayge’s Mystery Woman Revealed!

Journalist Brenda Brown revealed last week that Declan Collins, the lead singer for local rock band Sayge, is engaged to be married. Hearts broke, and curiosity bloomed. People all over the nation started investigating who the mystery woman is that landed the notorious bad boy. After hours of digging, searching, and talking to those close to her, I am able to 100% confirm her name is Ravenel Hayes.

Ravenel, or Raven, to her friends, is a local girl currently attending the MBA program at Vanderbilt University. Her love affair with Declan started strong, and they were engaged five short months after meeting...

The story goes on about my relationship with Declan and Sayge. There’s pictures tagged of me at different functions. These are different pictures than Mike had, and my ring is obvious in them. The most recent one was with Finn outside the building last week. The blogger linked this with the official Sayge Facebook page.

My phone vibrates with a message from Declan wanting me to call him. Luckily my professor lets us go early. I try to rush out, but Brent pulls me back to him until the rest of the class has left the room.

“What are you doing?” I hiss jerking my arm away.

“Your dad told me to be on alert as soon as your name was released. He didn’t know when it would happen, but he made me promise if I was around to be careful. I wanted the room to clear before you walked out.”

“Oh, okay, thanks.” I feel slightly guilty for acting like a bitch.

He walks me out and to my car before leaving me alone. I call Declan and assure him I am on my way straight home. Then I call my parents to let them know the secret’s out. My mom tells me her phone has been ringing off the hook. Friends, acquaintances, business partners, and clients wanting to confirm the story is true.

Declan is on the front porch waiting for me when I get home. He doesn’t even let me get out of the car before he picks me up and carries me inside.

“Baby, what are you doing?”

“I’m carrying the mystery woman who landed the notorious bad boy to bed.”

“Oh my God, are you serious? Put me down!”

“Nope, I want to show you how lucky you are to have the man who broke hearts.”

“Are you really this cocky?” I joke with him. The truth is I’m glad he’s in a good mood. This article could have put him in complete bodyguard mode which would piss me off.

“Not cocky if it’s true. Since it was written, I have to assume it’s true.”

I throw my head back laughing with him when both our phones start ringing. I pull mine out of my purse and see Ember is calling. Declan puts me down and answers his.

“Hey Ember, what’s up?”

“Thank goodness I got you. There’s been several calls today inquiring about whether or not we are providing the formalwear for your wedding. It is our policy to keep confidentiality on our clients, so we didn’t comment. But about five minutes ago a man walked in claiming to be in your wedding party and needs a fitting.” She has panic in her voice.

“Who is it?”

“Says his name is Max Roberts.”

“Max is a family friend but not in the wedding and he lives in North Carolina.”

“I thought this guy was shady.”

“Ember, what would happen if you lied and told this guy him you couldn’t find the Hayes/Collins wedding party in your files?”