Chapter 26
Ryleigh
The numbers in front of me make me do a double-take and I rub my eyes.
I just woke up and am checking engagement on last night’s post about Angus.
It’s beyond my wildest dreams.
I’ve never had this kind of engagement, or this many likes.
“Angus, wake up!” I nudge his shoulder and he rolls over sleepily.
“What’s wrong?” he asks in a sleep-addled voice.
“Look at this!” I thrust my phone in front of his face and he winces.
“Babe.” He gently pushes the phone a few inches away and squints at it. “What am I looking at?”
“Look at the clicks—and the number of comments.”
It takes a few seconds for him to recognize what I’m talking about. Then his brows rise an inch or so.
“Is that… did you get half a million likes since last night?”
“Yup. It’s gone viral!” I sit up, my heart pounding. I don’t know what this could mean, but I’m excited. The most likes I ever got before was two hundred and seventy-four thousand. This is big.
“What do you do now?” Angus asks, sitting up.
“I want to put out another video, but I have to come up with a gimmick.” I’m scrolling through the comments.
How hot is Angus Jeffries?!
I’m going to need a cold shower now…
Damn, bro has Neil Peart vibes. Just with water.
Definitely need to see these guys live!
“The comments are pretty flattering,” I tell him.
“No one bringing up who my family is?”
“Not so far. In fact, one guy compared you to Neil Peart.”
That makes him smile. “He’s one of my idols.”
“I know. I’ve never been a huge Rush fan, but I’ve been paying more attention to their music now, and I hear a similarity in styles.”
“That’s a huge compliment. Thank you.”
“Now I just have to figure out which one of you I’m going to do next.”
He arches a brow, and I laugh.
“Girls really dig bass players… I’m trying to figure out an angle to feature Mick on Rockin’ with Ryleigh.”
“Tate’s heart will be broken,” he says solemnly.
“I’m going to feature Tate last,” I tease, “just to torture him.”
“You’re a real ball buster, you know that?”
“That’s what you love about me.”
He leans over and gently kisses me. “Congratulations, babe.”
“Thank you. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“I’m glad I could help.”
“Do you really think the other guys would be willing?”
“Why not?”
“Tate seemed to be giving you shit last night.” I hesitate. “About us.”
“He wasn’t giving me shit. He was warning me.”
“Warning you?”
“Not to break your heart. I guess I’ve already brought enough drama to the band—he’s worried that you might write a revenge piece if things go south.”
That makes sense, unfortunately.
“Look, I’m a lot of things,” I say slowly, “but unprofessional isn’t one of them. Well, I guess, other than sleeping with someone in the band I’m covering.” I make a face. “Okay, so maybe I am unprofessional.” Suddenly I’m a little frustrated.
“Hey. Stop.” He tugs me closer. “Babe—this isn’t unprofessional. It’s life. People who work at the same bank date. People at the same law firm. It’s human nature. You date people you meet, and we often meet people at work.”
“Yeah, but this is my first assignment. And Rich is already doing me a favor because of my dad.”
“But your dad isn’t here—this is your life and your career. You did an amazing job with the piece you did on Lexi—and look at how excited people are about Rockin’ with Ryleigh. And you’ve been doing that for how long? Three, four years? You’ve accomplished a lot without any help from anyone.”
“I guess that’s true.”
“Look, life can be complicated, but we’re not doing anything wrong.”
I want to remind him that it’s easier for him. Not only does he not have to worry about his reputation—he’s a rock star, for fuck’s sake—but he’s also independently wealthy. If Crimson Edge doesn’t work out, he’s still going to be able to pay his bills.
It’s different for me.
But I don’t want to fight with him, not when things are still so new between us.
I start to get out of bed, but he tugs me back.
“Where are you going?”
“To shower and get ready for the day?”
“I was thinking we’d have breakfast… in bed .” His eyes darken meaningfully.
“Is that so?” I lie back down and playfully run a hand down his chest. “What’s on the menu?”
“You.” He dips his head and kisses me, and I forget all about clicks and likes and social media.
* * *
The next few days are exciting. Not only has my video gone viral, it’s been shared hundreds of times and it looks like it’s still gaining traction. I don’t know what that will mean for me financially, but the guys in the band have all agreed to do videos for me, and Sasha even called to thank me for being so good to the band.
Angus and I are navigating unfamiliar territory as a couple, and I can’t complain. He’s attentive, thoughtful, and protective. He doesn’t look at other women and makes me feel special every moment we’re together. We have interesting conversations, the sex is out of this world, and my life would be pretty damn great—if not for Rich.
He calls me just before soundcheck in Oklahoma City, and I reluctantly answer.
“Hi, Rich.”
“What’s happening?” he demands.
“We’re in Oklahoma,” I say. “I think?—”
“Good for you. What’s going on with the band?” He seems to have the patience of a two-year-old.
“Same shit, different day.”
“Are you even paying attention? The rumor about them potentially breaking up after this tour is everywhere—and you’re fucking on tour with them. What are you seeing?”
“I haven’t seen or heard anything like that,” I reply honestly, giving him just enough information to hopefully shut him up. “Yes, Jonny is still annoyed with Angus, and they’re not as close as before, but everyone is civil. Their shows have been better than ever, and Sasha thinks the album is going to hit gold.”
He’s quiet for a minute. “Then I guess I need to do your job for you by upping the stakes.”
“What does that mean?”
“Don’t worry about it. Just keep digging and start writing. I’ve made room in the next issue.”
He disconnects, and I stare at the phone for a minute.
He never gives in this easily. Usually, he threatens to take me off the tour, so for him to just hang up, he’s up to something. And that makes me nervous.
And putting the story in the next issue means… next month? I don’t even know how that’s possible since there’s usually a two-month turnaround time.
I need to tell him about Angus and me, but I’m not sure how.
Now I truly understand what Angus must have gone through keeping his identity from the band. It’s hard to admit you’ve been hiding something. Technically, my personal life is none of Rich’s business, but since I work for him and he expects me to write an intimate and personal story about the band, it’s becoming a conflict of interest.
I wasn’t supposed to fall in love with anyone, much less Angus.
But now we’re dating, and I’m literally caught between a rock and a hard place.
If I don’t write the story, it could sabotage my career.
If I do write the story, it could sabotage my new relationship.
Do I betray Angus so I can have the financial security I crave, or do I betray myself so I can get the guy I’m falling for?
I don’t like either of those choices.
“You okay, Ryleigh?”
I’ve been so lost in thought I didn’t hear Kirsten come up behind me.
“Oh. Hey. Yeah.” I hesitate.
I desperately need someone to talk to, but I can’t tell her about the article I’m supposed to be writing.
“You look like someone with a lot on her mind.”
“My editor is an ass,” I mutter. “That’s all. I get the feeling he wants me to be done with the tour for now. I guess he expected me to spend a week with the band and write this phenomenal exposé on what life is like on the road for a new band.”
“It’s a lot more complicated than that, huh?”
“It really is. And now that Angus and I are together…” I cut myself off. I don’t know how to explain how afraid I am.
“You’re scared it’s going to make you look like some kind of groupie.”
Well, that’s part of it.
“Yeah. And whether or not it will be a conflict of interest when I’m done with the article.”
“Are you writing it?”
“I’ve been making notes, and I think I know where I’m going with it, but…”
“You’re not sure that writing the kind of story you’re writing is going to make your boss happy. He wants the guys to all hate each other or something, right?”
I sigh with relief since that’s close enough to the truth for us to have a conversation. “Something like that. There’s a rumor that the band is breaking up once the tour is over.”
She waves a dismissive hand. “Oh, that. Whatever. You know who started that, right? Callum Yates. He’s such a douche. You want to dig up dirt, dig into him.”
“I wish I could. My editor doesn’t seem interested in anything but Crimson Edge.”
“Your friend is dating Callum, right?”
“Yes, but hopefully not for too much longer.”
“Then why don’t you take advantage of that connection while you have it? I mean, if she’s not invested in the relationship, and you think she’s going to leave him anyway, get the scoop. I think Mick could tell you some stories, too.”
I don’t mention that Angus inadvertently slept with Callum’s ex.
There’s obviously a story there, but whether or not I can convince Rich that it’s better than what he thinks he’s going to get with Crimson Edge is another thing altogether.
“That’s a good idea,” I say thoughtfully. “I’m going to call her and see if I can get anything that will whet Rich’s appetite.”
“That’s a good idea.”
“Sometimes I wonder if I’m cut out for this,” I admit softly.
She squeezes my arm. “Then maybe this article, and this tour, is your chance to find out, you know?”
The problem, of course, is what I’ll do if I’m not cut out to be a journalist.