Page 36 of Perfectly Imperfect Us
My eyes glazed over at all the accounts posting today about the spotting of Ryder Steele and Kyly Stone in some map-dot town in northern California. Picture after picture of them together, her hands all over my boyfriend—ugh, ex-boyfriend. Another ding and a picture of them kissing, Kyly’s hand in that long hair of his. My eyes glazed over with tears as my heart clenched.
“What are you—” Kadee leaned over and took a look at my phone. “Oh, no, you don’t!” She snatched my phone out of my hands and threw it to Skylar who bobbed it and almost dropped her wine to catch it.
“Hey!” I yelped, scrambling to my knees to try to get it back.
Another ping sounded in the room like a death knell and I made a grab for my phone. Skylar held it out of reach, viewing whatever new article or picture came up. I didn’t like it, but there was no denying the unhealthy, desperate need to see everything that was going on with my own two eyes. Like if I saw them together enough times, I might be able to finally believe Ryder and I were over.
“Oh no,” Skylar murmured, her eyes widening.
My hand went to cover my mouth as I felt a wave of nausea roll through my stomach. If Skylar was freaked out, it had to be bad. Really bad.
“What?” Kadee hopped up and looked at the phone, her own eyes widening before darting to look at me.
I couldn’t move my legs. I was all out of steam for today. Couldn’t take any more punches standing up, so I plopped down hard on the floor of blankets and waited for them to tell me the horrible news.
All three of my best friends turned to me in silence, sympathy painted across their faces with a broad brush.
“Just put me out of my misery, guys. Is he going to marry her or something? Surprise baby? What?” I lifted a hand and let it fall.
Skylar stepped forward, the unofficial spokesperson of our little group. Lacey and Kadee sat down on either side of me, their quick support meaning it had to be very bad indeed.
“So, it looks like Kyly Stone posted a picture to her stories on social media. The good news is it will disappear in twenty-four hours.”
I waited, but she didn’t keep going. “And? The bad news?”
She winced. “The picture is one of you in a bed wearing a man’s shirt without any makeup on. Looks like it was taken recently? Maybe in the morning because there’s lots of soft light?” She bit her lip and handed me the phone. “Bright side is you look gorgeous.”
A loud roaring sound filled my ears and I saw dark spots on the edges of my vision. A picture of me on her social media? Without makeup on? My vitiligo on display for every single person in the world to see?
I glanced down at the phone. My own image stared back at me, the overnight date I’d spent with Ryder now made a mockery in the hands of a mean girl who never grew up. It wasn’t enough the man I’d loved dumped me for a supermodel without even telling me. He had to shout to the world the secret I’d told him in confidence.
The fog cleared in an instant and all my thoughts crystalized. I sat up and rolled my shoulders back. The time for being sad was over. Or maybe it would come later. Right now though? I was angry. Livid. More mad than I’d ever been in my entire life.
“I’m going to kill him.”
15
Ryder
The doorbell at my parents’ house woke me up out of a dead sleep. I shoved my hair out of my face and checked the clock. Seven in the morning was a bit early for a social call on a Saturday, even in Nickel Bay. Yesterday’s events flooded my brain as I tossed off the covers and scrounged around for a pair of pants.
What a nightmare.
Kyly Stone had shown up out of nowhere, charging through my parents’ front door like a hurricane, hell-bent on destruction. My mother had been over the moon to meet a celebrity and invited her in for coffee. When I finally got a moment alone with her, Kyly told me the producer of the movie she was in was back on her case and she needed my help. My first thought was to tell her no. But then I thought about how no woman deserved to be sexually assaulted or deal with unwelcome advances in the workplace and I couldn’t turn her down.
What harm could come from one little photo of us leaked to the press? I’d talk to Ava about it before it ever hit the internet and I was sure she’d support my decision.
Rushing out of my bedroom, I blinked the sleep out of my eyes and hoped I could get things back on track today. Everything had gone horribly wrong.
I swung the door open and Skylar stood there on the welcome mat, hands on her hips. If looks could kill, I would have been incinerated on the spot.
“I can explain,” I told her before she could even say a word.
She took one step through the doorway and then shoved me in the chest as hard as she could. I stumbled back and hit the door, nearly going down. Physical therapists were always stronger than they looked.
I opened my mouth to defend myself and then remembered all the crap that went down yesterday. She had every right to push me. I probably deserved a lot more than that, to be honest.
“I need coffee for this conversation.” I turned and walked away, assuming she’d follow.
