“Shut up, Taryn.” Cary stiffens and pulls away from her. It’s obvious he’s irritated with her. Who could blame him? I guess I could pretend it doesn’t bother me that she’s here, but Iwon’t.
Artie licks his lips, the smell of controversy and fresh blood hardening what’s most likely a normally limp dick. “And who areyou?”
“I’m Cary’s girlfriend.” The fuck-you look she shoots me doesn’t go unnoticed. However, I still smile because she’s in over her head. The paparazzi will eat her alive and spit out thebones.
You’re playing in my sandbox now,bitch.
He raises an eyebrow. “The plot thickens—a love triangle.” Artie’s eyes flash dollar signs, and I swear he’s about to either crap himself or come in his pants. Maybeboth.
“The hell it is!” Taryn hisses. Realizing her ugly is showing, she clears her throat and breaks out into a freakishly wide smile. “He has no interest in her whatsoever.” Camera flashes light up her face, highlighting the slight quiver on the right corner of hermouth.
Cary waves his hands in front of him as he watches at least half a dozen more paparazzi swarm the field. “No, look, if you’ll just listen tome…”
Only, they won’t listen to him. They smell scandal, so they’ll wreck careers and uproot lives until they find it or create one themselves. However, I know their game better than they do. If there’s one thing I do well, it’s pull these fuckers’ strings and make them dance like puppets. Stepping forward, I do what has always comesnatural.
Be the center ofattention.
I don’t give myself time to reconsider as I brush my hair over the left side of my face. Thinking on my feet as fast as I can, I toss Artie a self-indulgent wink and go for it. “If I could have just a moment of everyone’s time, I’m sure I could clear all of this up foryou.”
I make sure to flash them one of my red carpet-worthy smiles. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Cary glaring at me, but it doesn’t matter. Sealing my fate is worth sparing him from a media shitstorm.
“Yes, I’ve donated two million dollars to the Elizabeth Kincaid Center, partially in memory of a former classmate of mine, Ellie Kincaid. However, the donation encompasses so much more than one person’s legacy. It’s about giving back to mycommunity.”
I pause and look around to see if they’re buying any of it. Noting that all eyes are on me, I proceed to word-vomit a string of shit I can’t believe is coming out of my mouth. “It’s about supporting an organization that serves the at-risk youth of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It’s my way of thanking the citizens of my home town for letting me serve and disrupt their lives with my presence. Ladies and gentlemen, what I’ve done isn’t about past friendships or showing off a bank account. It’s about me wanting to be a part of something bigger than myself. Something that will benefit this community for generations tocome.”
Holy shit, is this what an out-of-body experience feels like? Because it feels like I’m watching all of this happen from the sidelines, unable to shut myself up. I blink, fighting to hold my smile as the cameras go off in rapid succession. The paparazzi are shocked. The crowd is shocked. Cary is shocked. Hell, I’mshocked.
Because I think I meantit.
After that, every one of the media wolves leave, happy with their sensationalized story and thinking I’m the secondcoming.
…of Satan,maybe.
For the second time in less than fifteen minutes, I remind myself that I should probably get in Malcolm’s limo and go home. For the second time in less than fifteen minutes, I ignore my inner voice and walk towardCary.
Again, Taryn’s voice hits my ears, and I freeze. “Don’t make this mistake, Cary. If you publicly humiliate me, you know what willhappen.”
They’re arguing. Thank God the paparazzi left because they aren’t doing it quietly either. Taryn has both hands fisted by her side and Cary has his hands locked behind his neck, staring up at thesky.
“I don’t need this shit,” he growls, trying to keep his voicelow.
“She’s making your sister’s memorial event about herself again,” she screams, not giving a shit who hears. “Just like she alwaysdoes.”
Cary’s eyes blaze fast and hot. Dropping his arms, he moves toward her. “You think this is her fault? Fuck you, Taryn. She gave her money anonymously. In case you’re not familiar with that word, it means she didn’t want any recognition. She wanted to avoid allthis.”
When I realize my mouth is hanging open, I quickly close it. He knows. He gets me. Someone finally gets me. I wish this moment had a rewind button, so I could press it and listen to that speech all overagain.
“You’re defendingher?”
“Yeah. I suppose Iam.”
She stares at him for an uncomfortably long time, then steps forward with a ruthless smirk on her lips. “Refuse the money. Tell her to go to hell in front of thecameras.”
No!
Cary takes his own step forward, wearing his own ruthless smirk. It’s arrogant. Lethal. Sexy. “How about I tell youto go to hell in front of thecameras?”
Taryn gasps. With every step he takes, she takes one backward. They move in a perfect choreographed dance, and I can’t wait for the grandfinale.
