Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 81401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81401 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
I can feel Darian’s eyes on me as I leave the room. The only time we have security is when we’re on tour, and that is because the promoters are trying to protect their investments. When we’re home, we like to live like normal people. Come and go as we please, go grocery shopping, and eat at In-N-Out. Of course, people ask for autographs, but it hasn’t been anything I can’t handle.
After locating my cell phone, I groan at the amount of missed calls. Van, Laura, and my mom are the ones that appear the most. I didn’t forget to call my mom. I was waiting, thinking I had more time until the media caught wind of what’s going on. As much as I want to talk to my mom, she has to wait, and as mad as I am at Laura I need her to take care of getting some security sent over to my house, or at least give me a number to call and I’ll set it up myself.
“Zara, are you calling to tell me you’ve changed your mind about Van?” Laura says only seconds after I pressed her name.
“Not even close, but it seems that the media has caught wind and I need security.”
Laura’s quiet for a few seconds before I hear her sigh heavily. “You know all of this will vanish if Van comes home.”
“He’s not welcome, Laura. I don’t understand why you can’t understand that.”
“Because this is bigger than your feelings, Zara. He’s an integral part of Reverend Sister, and you need him.”
I roll my eyes and try to think of a rebuttal, but nothing comes to mind. She’s not saying anything that Darian and I hadn’t already discussed. “Listen, Laura, Reverend Sister was mine long before Van Phillips walked into my garage. I’m not the one who cheated, he was. I didn’t violate the trust of the band. He did. And until I figure out what I’m going to do, band business happens as usual. As of right now, Van can stay, but not in my house.”
“Zara—”
“No, you listen, Laura. If you want to stay on as our publicist, you will remember who you work for. You know, you’re starting to make me think you’re sleeping with my husband too.”
There’s a long silence that falls between us, making my stomach drop to the floor. “That’s fucking wonderful,” I say as I hang up. Fuck her and Van, and every other bitch he’s slept with. I’m tempted to break my phone, but I can’t bring myself to let it fly out of my hand although the crunching sound it would make as it hits the wall would be somewhat soothing, but then I’d be pissed that I broke my phone and have to buy a new one.
“Darian,” I yell as I turn my phone off and put it in the drawer.
“What’s up?” he asks, running into the kitchen.
“Can you call Mom? I just can’t look at my phone anymore.” Tears fall quickly, and I find myself being pressed against Darian’s chest.
“I’m going to beat his ass,” he says. This time I don’t tell him no because maybe that is what Van needs. I don’t think I can bring myself to tell Darian that Van has slept with our publicist. The thought makes me ill and hits me like a ton of bricks. I have to get myself to the doctors to be tested for whatever disease he could’ve given me. As much as I don’t want to think about catching him yesterday, I don’t remember seeing a condom.
I close my eyes and continue to cry while my brother holds me. In the blink of an eye, everything that I knew my life to be has been nothing but a lie. I have devoted my life to that man since I was seventeen and this is how he shows me what I mean to him, by destroying my trust in him.
I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do now. How do I proceed knowing I can’t trust my publicist? Her betrayal is just as bad as Van’s. We pay her to work for us and if she’s sleeping with Van that makes her a whore.
It all makes sense now, her pushing me to just brush this all under the rug. If Van isn’t married, the likelihood that they continue their affair is out the window. That’s my logic at least. If he were single, why would he choose to be with someone like her? He wouldn’t. He’ll have so many women falling at his feet that Laura and her assistant will be nothing but a blip on his radar.
I’m tempted to tell Darian about Laura, but hold back. I need to tell the group as a whole and save myself from having to repeat the same story over and over. Darian lets me go but keeps his hands on my shoulders.