“Hmm. . . That could work. We can spin that. He slept with someone else. Lexi threatened to leave him. Trent groveled with flowers. Thank you.”
Hold up. “But that’s not the truth.”
“The truth is in the eye of the beholder.”
I shake my head, and my temples thrum with tension at his blasé attitude. “If you’re going to make up lies, why ask for my help?”
“Because every bit of gossip you read holds at least an ounce of truth.”
“What about Trent and Lexi?” These are people’s lives he’s fucking with.
“They can handle it. Believe me, if a rumor comes between them, their relationship wasn’t built to survive.”
I can’t believe his heartlessness. And yet I can. For the first time in forever I want to be nothing like my Uncle Bedo when I grow up. “That all? I need to go.”
“What’s the deal with Lexi and Opal? They know each other?”
My spine prickles. I have to protect her secret. I can’t let on about any of it. “How do you mean?”
“Just a rumor. You’re not my only intel. Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed how close those two are.”
“Yeah. I mean, I guess I just assumed it’s because they have to get along, what with Trent being Opal’s boss and Lexi being his girlfriend.” I pray I lie well enough that he lets it go.
He lets loose a long whistle and when he speaks his voice is full of interest. “You don’t think the three of them aretogether?”
I know for certain they are not. Yet, I successfully hold in my laugh. Before I can speak he continues rambling.
“Never mind. That’s absurd. I’ve seen the hotties Trent fucked before Lexi, and Opal doesn’t come close. She’s waif-like. No boobs. Too young, for him anyway. Doesn’t have the curves he goes for.”
I clench my jaw at his assessment of her, and my impulse to defend her. To explain how fucking gorgeous she is, not to mention her heart of gold. Instead I go for indifference with a touch of sarcasm. “Yeah, if they were sleeping together it’d be pretty obvious, what with us all sharing a bus.”
“Right. I just can’t figure it out. She seems so oblivious to the industry, but it’s got to be an act.”
“Was there anything else?”
“Don’t enjoy shooting the shit with your uncle?”
I don’t answer him.
“Fine. Good-bye. We’ll talk soon.”
I end the call without returning his sentiment and consider smashing the goddamn phone. It’s useless. He’ll only send me another.Fuck!I need to find a way out of this mess. I have to. If I don’t, I’ll lose everything I want. Not to mention everything I have.
29
Opal
All boys are the same.They only want one thing, darlin’. It’s your responsibility to make him wait. You hear me? You will not end up like your mama. So help me, I will not let that happen.
Grams’ warning rings true in my ears as I meet my gaze in the bathroom mirror. I run a towel through my hair and use my fingers to brush it out. As much as I don’t want to believe it, I have to consider whether she’s right.Did I move too fast with Leighton? Should we have waited? Now that he got what he wanted, will he lose interest?
No, I shake my head to chase away the thoughts. I refuse to allow my past to get in the way of any future I have with Leighton. “You are brave. You’re strong,” I whisper to my reflection. My lips are full, swollen from all our kissing, but other than that I look exactly the same. I don’t feel the same though. Making love to Leighton, trusting him with my body, it makes me feel powerful. Womanly. “And you’re not a girl anymore.” There’s a tinge of regret that comes with the reality. Even though I chose this and no one forced my decision, the last shred of my youth—my innocence—is gone.
Knock, knock.
I startle at the sound and then wrap my towel around my body. “One second.” If the guys are back, I don’t want to flash anyone.
“It’s me,” Leighton says through the door. “Food’s almost ready.”
