Page 54 of Game Changer

Chapter21

Buckie

The L.A. sunrise bathes my room in a muted orange glow. I stretch out in my bed finally feeling rested and able to function. As soon as I set foot back here yesterday, I wanted nothing more than to be back in Scotland with Zara.

I grab my phone and see a dozen missed calls from Shelly and some texts from her. None from Zara but I know she’ll be waiting until late afternoon her time to call or text. The time difference between us is big. It only allows a short window for proper communication. Her eight in the morning is my midnight.

I check Shelly’s messages and sit bolt upright as I see the picture she’s sent me fill the screen.

“Fuck,” I shout, my voice echoing in the room.

My mind is whirring as I call Shelly back and I realise my hands are shaking. This explains the radio silence from Zara. She’s bound to have seen this by now.

“Buckie thank goodness you called. Did you get my texts?”

“I only saw the first one with the picture then I called. What the fuck man? I didn’t see any paps at the airport yesterday. How did they get that photo? And oh my God does it look bad.”

“You’re not kidding Buckie. The bloody gossip columns have gone into meltdown. There’s even new Instagram and Twitter pages dedicated to you both. The fans are going nuts thinking about you being an item. I sure hope you’ve got your explanation ready for Zara because the fallout from this is going to be epic.”

I sigh, running my hand down my face. “I don’t know what to do Shelly. I know what happened when that photo was taken but it doesn’t show what went before and after.”

“Enlighten me then. Give me as much info as possible and let me do what I’m paid for.”

“We were on the same flight back to L.A. In fact, somehow, she ended up in the two seats across the aisle from me. We chatted for a while, and she apologised to me for being such a diva throughout all this. She said she’s had a lot of stress and she was taking it out on everyone else. We let it rest and I accepted her apology. When we landed and had made it through arrivals she asked for a goodbye hug. I agreed because the last thing I want to do is have enemies in this business. Am I right? That’s what you’ve always told me. Make friends even if you don’t like them.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

“Well, that was it. I gave her a friendly goodbye hug and then we parted ways. Nothing else is going on with us and we certainly weren’t canoodling. This is terrible Shelly. I need to call Zara.”

“Yes, you do. Tell her everything you’ve told me. I’m sure she trusts you Buckie. You’ve been close for too long to let something like this ruin everything. But I need to give you a word of advice. Be very careful what you do when you are anywhere near Annalise. If her track record is anything to go by, she’s not to be trusted. She’ll use your name to help further her own career and she won’t care that she could ruin your life in the process.”

“Thanks Shelly. I really hope she didn’t have anything to do with this. I hate to think the worst of people.”

“That’s your problem Buckie. You’re too nice. I hope Zara realises this isn’t on you. You guys are great together, I’d hate to see you part ways over something so stupid.”

“I know. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I can’t let her down again. I’ll call you later Shelly. Thanks for always having my back.”

“My pleasure. Now go. You’ve got major damage control to do, and so do I.”

We hang up and I call Zara, desperate to talk to her but not quite sure what to say.

“Hello.” Her answer is short and filled with the heartbreak I know she must be feeling. I’m certain now that she’s seen the photo.

“Zara I’m sorry.”

“Mhm,” she mumbles down the line.

“I’m just off the phone with Shelly. I didn’t even know what had happened until barely ten minutes ago. It really isn’t what it looks like.”

“And what does it look like Buckie? Because from where I’m sitting, oh I don’t know, five thousand miles away, it looks exactly how it looks.”

“I know how it looks but you have to let me explain what happened. Will you please give me that?”

“Fine,” she says sounding defeated.

“She apologised for the way she had been acting. We were on the same flight and had a chat about it. At the airport she asked for a goodbye hug, and I was only trying to be nice, so I agreed. I didn’t know there were paps there, but in all honesty, even if I had, I don’t know that I would have done anything differently. I hate holding a grudge and I know how cutthroat this business is. You have to keep everyone onside, or you run the risk of being badmouthed. It’s an occupational hazard that there’s always someone lurking in the shadows to throw a spanner in the works. Celebrity gossip is a massive business. And we’re perfect fodder for their cameras and their mouths.”

“Nessa said that’s probably what it was. Innocent. Doesn’t take away the sting though Buckie. Imagine how that looked to me? And right before Nessa showed it to me, I’d been bigging you up to Joe. He was really happy we’d finally decided to have a real relationship. He likes you Buckie, but I’ll tell you right now, he isn’t pleased with you. I felt like a fool.”

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