Total pages in book: 156
Estimated words: 151044 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151044 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
I frowned at my outfit. “This is from weeks ago.” Words jumped off the page. Brother. Fiancée. Scandal. Warning Signs. “Those vultures!”
Tyler pulled the magazine from my hands. “You know you can tell me anything, Ray. I’m on your side. Always.”
My brows pinched. “There’s nothing to tell.”
“You’re sure?”
“Tyler, yes. I’m with Hale. Just Hale. There’s absolutely nothing going on between me and his brother.”
“Does Barrett feel the same way?”
“Yes! The only reason we started hanging out was because he’s been so banged up about Elle.”
“Are you sure? I mean, maybe there’s more to it and that’s why Elle’s been so distant.”
“No—” I covered my mouth. “Oh, my God. No. No! She doesn’t think that. She can’t.” Then a worse thought occurred. Could Hale? “Oh, my God, everyone probably saw these!”
“Okay, relax. I didn’t bring this up to stress you out. I just wanted to see if you needed to talk about this. Obviously, this is just a case of shitty pop culture and toxic media coverage.” He blew out a breath. “Who knew you’d one day qualify for celebrity status news?”
I covered my face and groaned, falling forward on the bed. “This is not my life.”
“It doesn’t mean anything.” Tyler rubbed my back. “We all know everything in the media’s staged. And these magazines are trash. They thrive on rumors. This is just a gross misrepresentation of the truth.”
“But it’s hurting real people, Ty.” I fisted the glossy pages and shook them violently. “They’re dangerous!” This explained so much. “Hale probably saw this when it was published and that probably planted a seed of doubt. He’s been so weird about me spending any time with Barrett and now I get it.”
“Rayne, are you interested in Barrett romantically?”
“Not even a little bit!”
“Do you love Hale?”
“With all of my heart.”
“And you still want to marry him?”
“Yes!”
“And you’ve told him this?”
“Yes!”
He shoved the magazines on the floor. “Then none of this matters. Your words have to mean more than theirs. If they don’t, you two don’t stand a chance, because this is the world we live in and you’re not marrying into a low-profile family.” He reached for my hand. “You have to stop doubting yourself, Ray.”
My gaze dropped. “It’s hard not to.”
“I know. But that man loves you. Last night, after you disappeared, he lost his mind trying to find you. Nothing else mattered to him other than making sure that you were safe.”
“I fucked up, Tyler.”
“It happens.”
“I don’t know if we can put things back the way they were.”
“Who says you have to? Ray, life is about moving forward. You’re getting married tomorrow. It’s a whole new chapter. You can’t bring everyone with you. Maybe that means it’s time to let go of some people and stop crucifying yourself over the past.”
I met his stare. “You mean Elle, don’t you?”
He smiled sadly. “I never thought you two would grow apart.”
“Me neither.” I sighed, actual acceptance finally creeping in. “Somehow, no matter how much I tried not to, I just…lost her.”
“I think Elle lost herself. Sometimes people we love change and it has nothing to do with us. We can only be grateful for the time we had and treasure the memories we get to take into the next stage.”
I sniffled and wiped my nose. “When did you get so wise?”
“You bitches left me. I’ve had nothing to occupy my time but self-help books for the last six months.”
I laughed. “Have they helped?”
“Not really, but I sound smarter.” He handed me a tissue. “You have a booger.”
I blew my nose and tossed the tissue aside. “If I haven’t already told you a million times, I’m really glad you’re here.”
“Me too. And not just because I love a good wedding.”
“That’s if Hale still wants to marry me.”
He shoved my shoulder. “Of course he does. You’re great.”
“This is not great.” I fanned my hands down my body, encompassing my disheveled appearance. “And I still have to talk to Hale about something that I’m pretty sure is only going to make matters worse.”
Tyler frowned. “What is it?”
I drew in a breath and let out a long sigh. “I know who hacked his credit card.”
“You do? Who?”
This was good practice. If I could say it to Tyler, then maybe I could say it to Hale. “My dear old dad.”
He stilled then rasped, “Oh, Rayne.”
I wasn’t going to cry. “I know.” I helplessly tossed my hands in the air as my voice broke despite my effort to keep it together. “I should have expected…”
“Hey, hey, hey… No. It is not your job to anticipate other people’s shitty behavior, do you hear me? You are not going to feel guilty for giving people the benefit of the doubt.”
“But if it wasn’t for me, he never would have gotten close enough—”
“He’s your father, Rayne. You waited your whole damn life to meet him. Whatever financial damage he did, that’s on him. Even if there was a way to know that might have happened, Hale would have still told you to go through with meeting him.”