Absolutely Famous(33)
“Jesus, Leah. That’s a huge fucking pitcher.”
She looks at me funny and we both burst out laughing. The hotel employee just stands there, unsure what to do next. I hand him some money and let the poor guy leave.
“Let’s drink,” Leah says.
“To New Sydney,” I say, holding up my glass. “She doesn’t give a shit what the tabloids write.”
We clink glasses and I let the delicious salty-sweet lime flavor fill me up. The only problem is that I do care what the tabloids write… if Drew is going to see it.
I reach into my purse and pull out my iPhone. There’s a text from Jane. Shit! I had my phone on silent for my meeting this morning. I check the time, it was sent at 1:30pm our time, 3:30am in Vancouver. My heart does a slow, tumbling dive into my stomach. That can only mean that Drew saw the tabloid.
I slide my finger across the notification and read the text.
Jane <Call me ASAP>
“Leah, Jane texted me at 3:30am Vancouver time. I think he knows. Leah, he saw the article!” I start panicking. I jump up and hurry over to the window, flinging open the curtains and pressing my forehead to the cool glass. Okay, maybe New Sydney does still need this.
Breathe, Sydney. Breathe.
“Sydney, call Jane. For all you know you could be overreacting. Anyway, you left him to come here, remember? And none of this should matter, he knows damn well that the tabloids exaggerate everything.” The tone of her voice defies her rational words. She knows that it’s indisputable evidence.
“There are photos of me with Adam, Leah. You can say that I wasn’t ‘getting cozy’ or whatever crap they wrote but I can’t deny that I was out at that club with him last night.” Leah doesn’t know how much Drew despises Adam.
“I was there too! He’ll see that. Just make the fucking call Sydney!” She’s assuming Drew is reasonable, and when it comes to me and Adam Reynolds, he’s the exact opposite of reasonable.
I steel myself and pull up Jane’s contact info and press call.
“Sydney!” Jane answers on the first ring.
“Jane,” my voice wavers on the verge of tears yet again. “Did he see it?”
“Not yet.” The breath I had been holding comes out in a huge rush.
“Thank God.” Leah is looking more hopeful than before.
“But he will. I have you as a Google Alert in my phone, and Drew too. It went nuts in the middle of the night. What the heck is going on? I thought I was supposed to be helping you Sydney? But you have to help yourself too.” Shame washes over me as Jane scolds me.
Great, now I feel even worse, as if that were possible.
“I know it looks bad, Jane. But all I did was go out with Leah and her boyfriend Ryker Bancroft. Adam Reynolds is friends with Ryker because he’s writing the soundtrack for the movie that’s being filmed here. I didn’t even know he was going to be there.” I shoot Leah an ugly look and she wilts from my hostility.
I hear Jane sigh on the other end. “I hate to ask this Sydney, but did you hook up with him?”
“No! Never. I would never do that.”
“I know you wouldn’t, but you know I have to ask. He’s going to ask me. Now, what about these men you supposedly knocked out?” she asks, humor in her voice.
“Uhhh, that’s actually true.”
“Get the heck out of here! You took down two men on the dance floor of a London nightclub?”
“Yes.” I proceed to tell her what happened and how I took them down with my brutal moves.
Laughing, she finally catches her breath. “That’s unreal Sydney. You’ve come a long way from the timid little thing I met in New York three months ago.”
“I know. Will Drew still want the new me though?”
“Sydney, he’ll take any you that he can get. But I’d bet he’ll be proud of you standing up for yourself like that.”
“How is he, Jane?”
“He’s been better. He misses you, Syd. He flipped out when he realized you were gone. And you didn’t take Evan or Sal with you.”
“I miss him too. And I don’t want him to worry, Jane. Plus, bringing bodyguards defeats the purpose of learning to live on my own.”
“I know Sydney. I better go. I have to get all of my ducks in a row to talk to him before he gets on set and someone else tells him. Like that horrible Kiera Radcliff.”
Ha! If Jane doesn’t like her, she must be acting horrendous because Jane likes everyone.
“Okay Jane. Keep me updated please. I’ll do whatever I can. I’ve just had my first meeting with the people at the Warren this morning so I have a little more free time now than I will once the renovation starts.”