Page 112 of Darn Knit All
Annie
I’m calling a Linc. Let me know when the flights are booked
I closed the chat and navigated to a news app, scanning the damaging article.
“Oh God.”
It laid it all out. There were times and dates, examples of Theo’s past “transgressions.” They painted him as a cheater, and me as a naive little girl at best, and a cunning fraudster at worst.
The worst part was, they weren’t too far off the truth for that second one.
How could this have happened? Theo and I had been so careful to keep up our façade. Everyone had believed we were the real deal. And now it was all crashing down around us.
Erike cleared his throat, drawing my attention. “Is everything alright, Mai?” His brow furrowed with concern as he and the other intern stared at me.
I swallowed hard, debating how much to tell him. “It’s... there’s some bad press. About me and Theo. Someone is saying our relationship was fake, that we deceived everyone.”
Erike’s eyes widened slightly. “I see.”
Did he? Cause I didn’t.
He gestured at my phone. “Perhaps you should call him. No doubt the network will be in touch shortly.”
“Of course.” I stepped away from my table. “Excuse me.”
Power walking out into the late afternoon sunlight, I took a deep breath of the warm air, trying to find my center.
I found a quiet spot in a nearby courtyard and, with shaking hands, dialed Theo’s number. It rang once, twice, three times before he finally picked up.
“Mai.” He sounded exhausted.
“Theo, have you seen the news? How did this happen?”
“Fuck, Mai. I’m sorry.” He sighed heavily. “I’m pretty sure it was Jude. He confronted me in the bathroom during the finale and threatened to expose us. I guess he made good on that threat.”
My blood ran cold.
“What are you talking about?”
Theo didn’t answer.
I pulled the phone away from my ear, checking the connection. “Hello?”
“I’m here. I just…. He tried to blackmail me into throwing the competition.”
“He didwhat?” I began to pace, trying to comprehend the shit show Theo had just admitted to. “How?”
“He said he’d leak those texts. That he knew people who could ruin us. Ruin you.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? Is that why you were so off in the final round? Wait.” I stilled. “Were you going to do it?”
“Yeah,” Theo admitted.
“Why?”
“I wanted to protect you. The idea of you being hurt—of you being exposed to hate—it makes me fucking livid.”
I could hear the rage simmering in his tone.
