Page 99 of Gabriel's Album

We haven’t even sat down before there’s another knock on the door, and I go to let my other friends in. Harrison has his arm around Heather, who looks pale again. She’s got a tired and drawn look on her face.

Hayden gives me a tight smile and says, “Morning, dude.”

“Hey, guys,” I reply and lead them to the sitting area. We all sit down, and I ask, “So, have you all watched it?”

“Hayden hasn’t,” Harrison tells me. “We were about to show him when you called.”

I pull out my phone and go back to YouTube, where the video is still open. Hayden moves to sit next to me on the sofa, and I pick it up where I left off, with the host explaining who Stacey is.

“—in the midst of all of the news about Cruise Control has been one woman. She’s kindly agreed to come talk to us tonight, and we’re very happy to have her here. Please welcome, Stacey Baker.”

He stands, and the crowd claps as Stacey walks out from backstage, smiling brightly at the cameras. She’s wearing a short, shiny green dress that shows plenty of her creamy white skin. She’s got sky-high black stiletto heels on, and her blonde hair is hanging in loose waves. If I didn’t hate her for what she’s done to us, I’d begrudgingly admit that she looks stunning.

Stacey blows the audience a kiss, and Sebastian, who’s moved to stand behind me at the back of the sofa, makes a disgusted noise. “Ugh. I hate the way she acts as though she’s worth caring about.”

“Stacey, it’s so lovely to meet you,” the host says.

“Thanks for having me, Dane,” she purrs at him with a big grin on her face.

“Well, speaking of having you…” Dane trails off with a suggestive look at Stacey, and Sebastian scoffs behind me.

She giggles and says, “Who do you think you are? Sebastian Fox?”

“Well, I certainly don’t claim to be. What canyoutell us about him, though?”

Stacey gives a furtive look at the camera, and her whisper to him is easily caught by the microphone clipped to her dress. “I don’t know if it’s appropriate for television.”

“This show starts at midnight; you’re fine. Give us the tea,” Dane winks at her.

“Oh, well, in that case.” Stacey giggles again. “Probably the worst sex of my life, if I’m honest.”

“Fucking liar,” Sebastian growls. “I didn’t fuck her, and if I did, it sure as shit wouldn’t have been the worst sex of her life.”

I missed whatever the host’s response was while Sebastian was talking, but Stacey grins and says, “He’s definitely overcompensating.”

Sebastian snorts. “I’m really not.”

“So, why do so many women fall for him, do you think?” Dane looks thoughtful.

“I mean, he’s very attractive, obviously. I think that most women, like me, don’t know what a letdown he’s going to be…in more ways than one.” Stacey smirks as she says it.

“What about Gabriel’s girlfriend?” I feel a stabbing pain in my chest and cringe at the look of curiosity on his face, knowing that this was exactly what Ariana never wanted to happen.

“Ariel was, seriously, the most annoying girl I’ve ever met. She just kept crying and demanding he do anything she wanted.” Stacey rolls her eyes. “I don’t know about anyone else, but if I wanted a puppy dog, I’d get one. I want a boyfriend who’s aman, you know?”

I feel shame and embarrassment wash over me. True or not, the entire world will be hearing this, and that’s upsetting to think about. They’ll all be judging my friends and me based on what Stacey has told them about us.

“Do you have any idea who she is, though?” Dane presses her.

“Not a clue, sorry. I couldn’t stand her, so I didn’t talk to her,” Stacey shrugs.

My jaw tightens and I glance up at Hayden, who’s watching the screen with a frown on his face.

I look down at the screen again as Dane says, “You certainly had a few things to say about Harrison’s girlfriend too.” Stacey’s expression clouds over as soon as he mentions Heather. “I’ve seen a lot of comments online about how nice she is, but you say that’s all an act?”

“Definitely. That woman was almost as bad as the Ariel chick. Honestly, I think she was actually jealous of me because I was with Sebastian.”

Heather snorts from where she’s sitting curled up next to Harrison on another sofa, but she doesn’t make any comment.

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