The Game Changer (The Perfect Game 2)

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What the hell?

I looked around anxiously with the sudden wish that she were here for a visit and simply hiding from me. I typed out a response:

What are you talking about?

You’re on that Spotted website again. Spotted: Jack Carter’s girlfriend dining alone near her apartment in Sutton Place.

Immediately, I was lightheaded.

You’re joking.

Before I typed anything else, my phone beeped again. Melissa sent a screenshot of the website to my phone, complete with a picture of me staring out of the window I was actually looking out of.

Damn it.

I grabbed my purse, dropping more than enough cash on the table to cover the bill, and looked around for Roman. “Roman, can I get it to go? I need to get home. Something came up. Sorry. ”

“Sure, Cassie. No problem. Tell Jack I said hello. ” He transferred my food from the plate he carried into a box before handing it to me.

“I will. I left the money on the table. Thank you. ” I smiled before rushing out the door.

I looked over my shoulder the entire walk back to my apartment. I couldn’t get there fast enough. Every step reminded me how exposed my life had become. From behind my sunglasses, I glanced at the passersby, wondering if the cell phones they held were actually being used to help splash my life across computer screens all over the country. Every tourist with a camera now seemed a potential accomplice in my media hazing.

Once inside the safety and security of our apartment building, I allowed myself to crumple.

“Are you OK, Miss Andrews?” the doorman asked, his big bushy moustache bouncing as he spoke.

“Sorry, Antonio. I’m just a little freaked out by all the online posts and stuff. They can’t come in here, right?”

“No, ma’am. They can’t come in here. ” He straightened his back. “I won’t let them. ”

“Thank you,” I muttered, averting my gaze outside, thankful that no one stood gawking or staring.

Insisting that my every step was tracked, I’d become paranoid. The press, the fans, the pictures; it never seemed to stop. There was little reprieve. Little sanctuary. I tried to pretend it didn’t matter, but the constant pressure was getting to me. Pieces of me were being chipped away at daily. Why was I up for public consumption? I wasn’t even the celebrity in the relationship.

I called Melissa from the elevator as soon as the doors closed. “Are you OK?” she answered instead of saying hello.

“No. I’m freaking out. How the hell does this whole town know who I am? And more importantly, why do they care?”

“Because you’re Jack’s girlfriend. And he’s the number one pitcher for the team right now. You know how people get with stuff like this. They’re obsessed with celebrities’ personal lives. ”

I exhaled, unlocking my apartment door and walking inside. “But I can’t even get dinner without someone posting it online. Even you know I’m not that interesting. ” I tried to laugh.

“But they don’t know that. All they see is the girl who has the hot and awesome Jack Carter’s heart. They don’t know what you guys have been through. ”

“But they act like they do. ” I sprawled across the couch. “They post all sorts of shit claiming to know everything about us. ”

Melissa laughed. “Yeah, and we both know how accurate those postings are. They’re almost as good as the ones on that hot wives website. ”

My heart beat in double time. “What hot wives website?”

“Shit. ” She paused. “I’m sorry, Cass. It’s just a stupid website. ”

“What’s on it?” I asked, before sitting up to grab my laptop from the coffee table.

She hesitated and I knew she was keeping something from me. “Pictures. ”