Page 36 of Half Notes and Highlights
RUBY: There’s a media frenzy going on
RUBY: I told you to be discreet
RUBY: I told you flying to LA was a bad idea
RUBY: Check social media
RUBY: I’m coming to your room
RUBY: Now
RUBY: Be up and dressed
“What the fuck is she talking about?” he asked out loud, staring at his phone in confusion. He punched his name into the Google App, and his screen immediately filled with hits. He read some of the headlines.
“Lead Singer of Wolf Pack Cozies up to Mystery Man.”
“Is Ethan Jones Cheating on Longtime Boyfriend with Hairdresser?”
“Who is Stealing Ethan Jones away from Wolf Pack’s Bassist?”
“Trouble in the Wolf Pack? Ethan Jones Takes Hairstylist on Sunset Cruise.”
Loud knocking on the hotel room door made Ethan lift his eyes from his phone. It was, no doubt, Ruby. He threw on a pair of sweats and answered the door.
“Are you reading what the fans are saying?” Ruby waltzed in, without being invited, spun around, and read from her tablet:
“Ethan! How could you do this to Wolf?
Who is that boy toy? Angry face emoji.
Ethan and Wolf forever.
No way would Ethan cheat on Wolf.
Leave Ethan alone, loser hairdresser!
Oh no! If Ethan and Wolf break up will the band break up too?”
She stopped reading and glared at Ethan. “Do I need to go on?”
Ethan dropped his chin into his chest and rubbed his forehead. He hated that he received so much backlash from a simple date. He hated that he had no privacy. He hated the paparazzi for intruding on his personal life. But most of all, he hated that Tyler’s name was dragged into the media circus.
“What do you have to say about all this?” Ruby demanded.
Anger flared in Ethan’s gut. He knew she was only doing her job, but she was so fucking out of line sometimes, and it pissed him off. “It’s my life, Ruby. If I want to date, that’s my business. Stop trying to manipulate my love life. I’m here for the music, not for some scripted reality show. We weren’t even doing anything!” Frustration made him raise his voice. “We weren’t photographed naked or having sex! We weren’t even caught kissing! We were photographed returning from a fucking boat ride!” He threw his hands in the air. “That’s it!”
The hot pink coloring her cheeks slowly faded as she calmed down. “You have a point. Here’s what we’re going to do. We’ll issue a statement—”
“No way.” He shook his head adamantly. He wasn’t explaining anything. “I don’t have to defend who I’m seen walking down the street with. It could have been anybody. And I’m not dragging Tyler into this. He has his own business. Idon’t want the bullshit landing on his doorstep. I’m not saying anything on the subject. And don’t you dare issue a press release or statement on my behalf.”
“I work for the label, Ethan. Not you.”
“I don’t care. I’m not backing down on this one. I’m not hiding that I’m with Tyler. I’ll be discreet. For everyone’s sake. I promise there won’t be any scandalous pictures or anything like that. I’ll keep PDA private for now. But that’s it.” He challenged her with a hard stare while he waited for her reply. He was standing his ground, whether or not it was a smart decision.
She didn’t avert her gaze, but her eyes eventually softened, and she let out a defeated breath. “Alright. But you better be on your best behavior. And I want Tyler Kennedy to sign an NDA.”
Again, she stepped over that fucking line, and he had to remind himself that she didn’t know Tyler. “That’s not necessary.”
