7. Ryn
Chapter seven
Ryn
The whole world owns my hate, but you created an oasis, turning me into someone new- Ryn Raines.
It doesn’t matter how many attempts I came up with to escape this tour from hell, no amount of bargaining, threatening, or screaming internally at my dad swayed his mind. I sit down at the desk and stare at my diary showing three weeks of red crosses and one more empty uncrossed day before I need to go.
I could quit.
I put my head in my hands. “No, I can’t quit. Hell, if I quit, I’m nothing but useless, and then the only good thing I can do for this family is to be sold off.”
I need to be useful.
“Ryn?”
I glance up and realise I’ve drifted off in the middle of my video call with Kelly.
“Sorry, Kelly.”
“What’s going on? And if you say nothing, I’m packing up the guys, and we’re coming back.”
I open my mouth to say the word but stop myself, deciding to be honest instead. “I have to go on tour with Fate’s Choice and assess their marketing plan and possibly rework it completely.”
Kelly frowns. “You’ve done that before. It’s never left you this stressed. What’s different? ”
I stare at him wordlessly. “Have you ever met someone and everything just clicked, and you thought it was going to be happily ever after, only to realise that you are so firmly in the friend zone that they didn’t even notice you had feelings?”
Kelly stares at me. “No.”
“Ah,” I say with disappointment. “Just me, then.”
“Why not just tell them?”
My face burns, and I put it in my hands and moan. “I did. I mean, no, I didn’t. Well, I tried to kiss, and then he, and I, and we’re just friends. And I couldn’t, so I just kinda ran away, and they are furious and demanding an explanation.”
“Wait, wait, wait. You tried to kiss someone, and they rejected you?”
I nod my head and let out another pathetic moan. “We were drunk. I never, ever would have if I were sober.”
“And this guy said you’re just friends.”
I nod again miserably.
“So, you ghosted them?”
I inhale and jerk my head. “Yeah, I did that.”
“But they have you cornered and want to know why? They didn’t just walk away and let it all go? They are actually demanding your presence?”
I sniff. “Yes.”
“Well, the easiest thing would be to tell them the truth, and you know it. Tell them you have feelings and you left to get over them.” Kelly pauses. “You did get over them?”
I squint at the screen and wince. “Not entirely.”
Kelly shakes his head. “Cousin, I know you have more brains than that. It’s a long time to pine. Have you tried moving on?”
“So I should tell them I’m that pathetic?” I joke.
“No, you should tell them how you feel, though, so they know why you ghosted them. Ghosting is seriously not cool, Ryn.”
“I know! Jeez, Kelly!” I shout and then lower my voice. “Look, I know. I didn’t mean for it to happen, but I couldn’t just continue. I just panicked. That night and then the next morning, all I could think was they are going to ruin me.”
“Will this pack help-” He trails off as he sees me frantically shaking my head. Kelly rubs his forehead. “I can ask if anyone is looking for a beta to join their packs? Maybe we can find someone who can take you away from your dad’s clutches.”
“Someone bigger and stronger than Alpha Labels? What, has Silas Hastings suddenly become available?”
Kelly laughs. “No, I was thinking more like a combined force. Mirakill MC. My friends and I, Raider. Erin Bradley and those country brats. ”
We both snicker. Brayson, Shane, and Finn are a force to be reckoned with, but they aren’t up to the task of saving me from my father.
“Raider won’t help me,” I mutter grumpily.
“You’re wrong. Raider would come in a heartbeat.”
I sniff and look down. “Not without losing his career, and he loves that team so much. I don’t want to get anyone else involved in this drama between my father and I. But I’m running out of time. So if I turn up on your doorstep, I hope you have an island you can hide me on.”
“Cuz, I have about three hundred. And you’re welcome anytime. Just get your butt down here, and I’ll teach you to surf.”
I shudder. “Ew, pass.”
He laughs, but it dies quickly. “Let me call Aunt Chile. Let her know your dad’s plans.”
I hesitate, torn. “She doesn’t care about me, Kelly. She’s not Aunt Auggie. My mother loves my dad only as much as she hates him.”
“There has to be something we can do. Marrying you off in six months to one of his cronies is archaic.”
“I have six months of freedom, and then I either run or I submit to the merger,” I say quietly. “But you can’t tell the others. Not yet.”
“What about the band? Can they help you?”
“They belong to my father. The only thing that could save me now is a pack bond, and they have made it clear that we are just friends. I have no one else to ask.”
“I’ll see if I can find you a pack.”
I stare at him, the offer he’s giving me, the lifeline.
“You’d do that?”
“Absolutely. I will find you a pack. I’m not going to let you end up in that nightmare, cousin.”
My eyes burn, and I rapidly blink. “Thank you, Kelly.”
“No worries. Now, my suggestion is to go on tour. Tell them the truth and pretend like everything is fine.”
“I can do that.” I scoff.
“Good. I’ll find you a pack.”
“Kelly?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you so much. Really, thank you.”
Kelly smiles and closes the call. I sit back in my chair, trying to get my head around what’s happening. What’s going to happen? I have six months of freedom left, and then I will either achieve all my dreams or become some pack’s beta .
I turn on my computer and stare at the itinerary. We’ll be traveling for months together. I put my head down and groan.
“I can do this.”
“Uh, yes you can.”
I jerk, almost knocking my coffee over and find my assistant pumping the air with a huge grin on her face.
“You scared the crap out of me, Molly.”
“Um, sorry?”
Molly is one of the strangest beta’s I’ve ever met. She’s forgetful, distressingly so, except for when it comes to work. She’ll ring me in the middle of the night to remind me about a memo I wrote twelve months ago but forget to put shoes on.
It’s going to be hard not to have her around.
“Did you get James and Hodges up to date with the campaign?”
“I did.”
“And do you know where-”
“Yes, I know where we keep the backup hard drives, the alternate plans, the coffee cups, and where Amy likes to go for dinner. We will be fine without you.”
I stare at her, unable to say the words out loud that are ringing in my head.
“My father may come and check on how it’s going. Make sure he doesn’t touch my files.”
Molly nods, her copper ringlets flying around her face. She’s got freckles sprinkled across her nose and looks far too young and innocent.
“Are you ready?”
I inhale as if I’m being tortured. “I guess.”
She lets out a squeal that instantly makes my ears ring. “I can’t wait. Let's go shopping.”
I growl at her but snatch up my bag and follow her downstairs.
My father has commanded that I dress as the band dresses. That I fit in and don’t stand out. So I’m going to get a whole new wardrobe on him.
Molly drags me down the street, unaware of the turmoil inside me. The stress is going to make me sick one of these days.
I order a lot of clothes and organise for them to be delivered tomorrow morning. We get luggage, toiletries, and finally end up at a hair salon.
I glance back at Molly, who is talking quietly with the hairdresser. I trust her, and I don’t care. So I leave everything to them.
An hour later, I walk out with a much shorter haircut that leaves my layered hair sitting just beneath my shoulders. It’s now streaked with thin lines of teal and turquoise highlights .
I look younger and less stressed for all of five minutes until I remember my life.
Molly takes my hand and drags me out of the store where we go and sit down at a café. She hands me my favourite cake and a coffee and picks up a spoon. Except she doesn’t eat, she just turns the spoon over and over.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’ll never find a boss as good as you.” Molly sniffles and reaches out, putting her hand on mine. “I know you took a chance on me. I know what everyone says. But thank you for letting me prove everyone wrong.”
“It was my pleasure.” I say those words, and I mean them. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
“I hope not. I hope you go out there and find something that makes you happy.”
“I’m happy.”
“You’re the most unhappy person I know, Ryn.”
“I, no, I’m happy.”
Molly smiles. “Liar.” She leans close. “I just think while you’re out there exploring the world that you should try to have some fun. Just really let go and enjoy yourself.”
“I enjoy myself.”
“When was the last time you went out and did something fun?”
I open my mouth, but words fail me as I suddenly come up blank.
“You’re going to be around gorgeous rock stars, security, men who have skills and talents and know how to party. I’m just strongly suggesting you have a good time.”
I stare at her. I want to tell her I couldn’t possibly, too much is riding on my plans working out, but what if I did meet someone? What if I had some fun? I could at least be open to it.
“I’ll see.”
“That’s all I need to hear.” Molly grins. “Now, we have a few hours and your father’s credit card. Let’s go get our nails done.”
I snicker and take a sip of my coffee. “I think you need a new bag, Molly. Yours has a hole.”
Molly looks down at her bag. “Oh, that is so sad. Yes, I need a new bag. I can’t possibly exist without one.”
I raise my cup and clink it with hers.
“To my boss having some fun!” Molly shouts, drawing eyes towards us.
But I can’t be mad. Molly is like a drip of fun into life, and she’s infected me.
I have to protect her as best I can.