A Hollywood Deal (Ryder & Paige 1)
“Oh my gosh, Paige. I’m so sorry. Come on in!”
Renni’s in a night tee and a pair of cotton shorts. I’m in my old t-shirt—not the one Josephine bought me with Ryder’s money—and frayed jeans.
My best friend shuts the door. “Gary’s out. He has a late shift, although he did text me during his break to ask what the hell is going on and why you aren’t responding.”
“Tell him I’m sorry. My phone’s been going off non-stop.”
I don’t mention all the horrible social media alerts. It seems like thousands of people are saying crap about me. A few have even threatened my life, vowing to run my fat ass over—or worse—because I’m a dirty slut who deserves to die horribly. They were already spewing hatred and bile, and it’s like the sex tape has poured gas on the fire. The intensity is breathtaking. I can’t help but wonder how many of them would be able to say those horrible things to my face.
We go to the living room. A sleeping bag is bunched up over to one side, and clothes lie haphazardly on the back of an old, black couch. Neither Gary nor Renni is neat. “Want something to drink?”
“No. I’m fine.” I don’t think I can take even a sip without puking it back up. My stomach’s knotted tighter than a sailor’s half-hitch.
We sit on a spot uncluttered with stuff.
“It’s gotta be Shaun. I’m going to kill him,” Renni says.
“He’s not worth jail time.”
“Ryder’s going to sue him, right?”
“I…don’t think so.”
Renni gasps. “Why not?”
“He doesn’t want to, and even if he does, I won’t let him. It’s just going to draw attention to the tape, which will only make Shaun happy by giving him the publicity he wants.”
She rests her chin in her hand. “So what’s the option? Are Ryder and Mira going to blackball Shaun?”
That would just about kill him, but I doubt that. Both of them looked like they wanted to strangle me. “They haven’t said anything like that.” I sigh. “I’m sure the wedding’s called off.”
“That’s bullshit!”
“Even if he doesn’t call it off, I don’t know if I want to go on with the whole thing.”
“Oh come on. So you had sex. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Shaun’s the asshole for going public with private stuff, not you.”
“Yeah, but Mira has it right. She told me when a man has sex, he’s a stud, but when a woman does, she’s a slut. Nobody cares about the fact that Shaun violated my trust…or my privacy. The only thing that’s important is that I’m on that tape, naked and getting screwed.” I rest my elbows on my knees and place my forehead in my hands. “How am I going to face Mom and Simon? They’re still in town. And Bethany and Oliver?” I squeeze my eyes shut. I want to disappear into a hole and never come out.
Renni puts an arm over my shoulder. “Your family is sensible, and they love you. I’m sure they’ll support you.”
“I don’t know, Renni. It’s pretty bad.”
“So what are you going to do? Just sit here moaning about the situation? You’re tougher than Shaun or a hundred snide assholes on Twitter and Facebook. You’ll get through this and come out of it stronger.”
Tears well in my eyes. This is the kind of talk I wanted from Ryder. But he’s too wrapped up in his past, thinking about Lauren. I brush them away, but more keep falling, streaking my face.
Renni plucks a Kleenex and hands it to me. “Avoid the Internet for a while. Just turn it off. And if you want, we can have ice cream and you can spend the night here. I just got your favorite. Gary’s casa es tu casa.”
That earns her a watery choked up laugh from me. The offer’s so tempting. If I stay at Renni’s brother’s place, nobody’s goin
g to bother me.
At the same time, I don’t want to run. I haven’t done anything shameful, and I shouldn’t have to hide like I did something wrong. “It’s okay. I’ll go back. I need to anyway, to see my parents off.”
Renni nods, her expression stoic.
“But I’ll take you up on the ice cream.”