Page 119 of Illicit Education

“Rylan! Is that you? Hello? Oh, it betternotbe you because you better be fuckingdead.” I pulled the phone away from my ear. “Do you hear me?” Greer yelled. “Dead!” She paused, then, in a lower voice, said, “Wait. Ry? Are you there? Say something.”

“Hey–”

“You motherfucker!”

I winced.

“Do you know what time it is? Where are you? I’ve been worried sick!”

“I’m fine, I’m–”

“You’refine?” she shrieked. “Did he kidnap you? Brainwash you?” She huffed. “Did you see the newspaper? Oh my God, Rylan, you arealloverevery freakingmagazine! Are you crazy? Are you freaking out? Are you okay?”

Nodding, I closed my eyes. “Yeah, G, I’m okay.”

“You sound really calm.”

“I just found out.”

“I don’t understand. Like, what happened? I hardly ever see you anymore and now this? I don’t know what to think. You were tied to a chair, Rylan.”

“It’s not…” I shook my head. “It’s not a big deal.” Or, well, it hadn’t been. Until Mina freaked out and now…

I traced the crisscrossing red marks running up my calves–

“Not a big deal,” Greer shrieked!” She huffed. “I talked to Lacey, but she’s no help.” Greer gasped. “Oh my God, Ry, did you know she used to be hissub?”

My gulp was audible in the quiet bedroom. I’d forgotten all about that.

Lacey.

Stella.

I sighed. “I did. Yeah. I just found out last night.” I slumped down the side of the bed and leaned my head back. We hadn’t even had a chance to discuss Lacey yet and now something way bigger was going to take over our conversations.

This was certainly not the way to start a relationship, but then… we hadn’t really gone by the books so far. Why start now?

“Are you okay, Ry?”

“Yes. No.” I sighed again as the tears started to push against my eyes. “I don’t know, G.”

“Where are you? Want me to come to you?”

“No, I couldn’t ask you–”

“Rylan Janine. Don't try to be strong enough for everybody right now, okay? This is a big deal. You’ve been… violated.” She paused and that word hung in the air, seeping into my bones.

I had beenviolated.

Someone had taken very private, very intimate photos of me and leaked them to the press.

I couldn’t even begin to know what that meant for me. For my future. The internship was obviously over. No one would hire me. Isleptwith theboss.

A sob slipped past my lips and I slapped my hand over my mouth. “Oh my God, Greer.”

“Drop a pin and I’ll come to you.”

I nodded, squeezing my eyes shut as a rush of anguish tore through my chest. Another sob racked my body.

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