Page 143 of The Bridges I've Burned

Oh, and we had two more—for a total of five. Five fucking assholes with cameras, all because some other asshole had decided to post a picture of me.

I am not worth all this, I promise.

“Man, it’s all good.” Eli shrugged, giving me a big smile. “But do you mind if we get your picture?”

I rolled my eyes as the two men laughed.

“What? I heard they’re going for a pretty penny online, and that bachelor party wasn’t cheap.” His expression changed as if he realized what he’d said. “Sorry about that, by the way. I guess those douchebags kind of sold you out.”

“Not your fault,” I began to tell him, but then I was interrupted by my cell phone.

“Sorry,” I said to the guys. “I gotta take this.”

They waved me off, and I ducked into a hallway to answer.

“Lance,” I greeted him. “Tell me you’ve got good news for me.”

If he was calling me instead of the band’s manager, I had a feeling it was the opposite of good.

“Define good,” he said, causing me to groan. “Look, I have a solution, but you’re not going to like it.”

“Just tell me.”

“You told me you wanted these guys gone, right?”

“Yeah,” I confirmed.

“Look, the only way they’re gonna go is if you go, Z.”

“But I’m not leaving until?—”

“I know that’s when you were planning on leaving, but if you stay, they stay. You’re big fucking news right now—not like Taylor has a new boyfriend big, but close.”

“Thanks for that comparison.”

“Just keeping you humble.” He laughed. “But seriously, I told you this shit was gonna be crazy, and with you being unknown, everyone’s dying to get the scoop. Those guys outside won’t stop until they get it.”

I stared at the pale beige wall in front of me. “What are you saying?”

“I checked the ferry schedule. You have two options. You can leave tomorrow. That will give you a little more time to spend with your family tonight, but you run the risk of more of those guys showing up on your brother’s big day.”

“Or?”

“Or you can catch the last ferry tonight with the promise that you’ll give interviews to anyone who follows you out of town. This will get them out of town the fastest. Also, you will most likely be photographed on your way to New York, thus stopping anyone from heading to Ocracoke.”

“You want me to talk to these guys?” My voice rose, and I tried to check myself.

“We’ve got to control the narrative here, Z, and that’s only going to happen if you get ahead of these reporters. If you don’t, they’re gonna dig up every damn thing they can about you and spin it however they want. At least if you’re the one talking, you can decide how the story is told.”

“And the band is okay with this? Ridge?”

“We’re going to act as though any and all articles posted about you were our idea and continue with the charity concert announcement as planned.”

“But that’s?—”

“The band is good, Z. Asher, Ridge—all of them get it. This shit happens. It won’t be the first time.”

I looked back down the hall toward the group gathered there. I could hear the laughter. The joy. The anticipation.

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