Page 79 of Unguarded

The photo depicts me clearly getting it on with Cash. My face is thrown back, eyes closed. His face is pressed up against my chest, my nipple only concealed because it’s sucked between his teeth.

“This was taken from the driveway. Who sent it to her?” Cash is pacing.

“It’s on a random internet site. Are you okay? Honey, talk to me.” Katherine’s voice sounds far away.

I keep my head down, trying to talk myself out of a panic attack.

“What does this mean?” Cash says, pacing away from me so I can’t hear Katherine.

Who would do this? Someone in his family?

Surely not …

“Whatever she needs,” he grits out.

After several deep inhales and exhales, I reach up and grab the phone from him, tapping the speaker button.

“… for the boyfriend narrative. You and she fell in love while on tour. It’s been the rumor for over a month. It’s the only way out. We’ll say she was already over with Zade when this started. The photo is unfortunate, but after a few days, we can use it to our advantage.”

“Nothing has started. This is just … I was already over with Zade.”

I glance up at him. His face is unreadable.

We’re at an impasse, neither of us willing to compromise the life we’ve built or our egos to communicate with each other that this could work and that, somehow, we could make it happen.

He’s an ex-military Texas rancher who hates people.

I’m an A-list celebrity with millions of fans, a dangerous stalker, and a house in Los Angeles.

He has a family who adores him.

I have no one, unless my staff counts.

He wants a simple life, riding bulls and hunting for his food.

I want to reach the top, to be the best I can be. I want to prove to myself that I’m more than the girl who was raised ina run-down neighborhood with a mom who would rather send me off to Hollywood with a stranger than be a parent.

I shrivel up as small as I can on the sofa. Numbness begins to spread over my limbs. It’s me against this world, against this new scandal in the media. What we did with our bodies doesn’t mean he’s on my side or committed to me. He hasn’t said as much—that’s for damn sure.

“We don’t really have a choice, now do we, love? I know he wasn’t a fan of the narrative before, but now that there’s evidence, we can’t exactly deny?—”

“Then, don’t deny it,” I spit out.

Cash’s jaw clenches. I look away from him. If he doesn’t want people to know there’s beensomethinggoing on with us, he shouldn’t have brought me here.

“Do what you need to do. I’ll find out who took the picture.” He turns around and leaves, shutting the front door behind him.

My stomach plummets.We’re both getting screwed here, and he’s just going to walk out like that?

Katherine exhales, “Sweetheart, I don’t know what’s going on with you two, but do you have someone to talk to? Ember, Fidel, your therapist?”

A lonely tear materializes from my eye. I feel it roll down my cheek, leaving a cool stream of moisture in its wake. I could call Ember, but for some reason, I don’t feel like I can even voice everything I’m feeling to her. I can’t explain it. I haven’t gone to therapy since the tour started because I don’t have the emotional energy to spare right now. It’s easier to shove everything down and ignore it.

“Kat, I’m fine. Let’s talk about what this meansfor me.”

She sighs. The sound of rustling paper fills the background. “Well, it’s not complicated. We’re not going to deny anything. After a few days, you will post a photo that indicates you and he are actually dating, a real-life couple. If you could get someone out there to get one of you and him on a horse or a bull, that would be helpful, something thematic.”

I scoff. “You want me toridea bull? They’re wild animals!”

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