Chapter Thirty-Five - Blaire
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Blaire
It’s only when we get back to Solace Springs that I realize I spoke too soon. I spot the man immediately on the side of the road. He has the distinct look of someone who is willing to sell another human’s most intimate moments for money. The biggest telltale sign is the telescope lens hanging heavily off his neck.
As we drive, more and more show up. They’re walking the streets of Solace Springs like the place is their hunting ground. It’s strange to see. I always thought Solace Springs was immune to them.
“I don’t understand.” I say as I duck down low in the front seat. “I get that it’s a big news story, but there have been so many other opportunities for them to come. I mean, Briggs and I practically had sex in a public dressing room and still no paparazzi or photos showed up anywhere.”
“Your she-devil agent must have called them,” Reese says. “Or your mom. Those are the only options.”
I whip around while still ducking and press my head against the gap between the seat and the door to stare at him accusatorily. “And why would those be the only options? ”
“Uh-” Reese stutters.
“Reese Robert Rile, you tell me what you’re hiding from me at this very moment.” I reach back and pinch his thigh.
“There might have been an incident one time that we sorted out,” he scratches the back of his head. “No more problems since then.”
Understanding dawns on me. Solace Springs isn’t some magical place where no one cares that I’m famous. It’s been these three making sure it’s that way. But how?
“Explain yourself,” I say with another pinch.
“Ow!” He pulls his leg away from me. “Fine. Okay. You remember a long time ago there was that picture of you and your Gram shopping that made it into some shitty tabloid?”
I know immediately the photo he’s talking about. It was over ten years ago and it was the one and only picture of me in Solace Springs that has ever been published as far as I know.
“Yeah, well, the guy who sold it was Stan Brentley. He owns a company fixing fences that we contract on the ranch. We made it clear we would make sure he lost twice as much in projects from us for the amount he sold that photo for. And that anyone else in town who would sell out a person like that would get the same treatment.”
Colt laughs from behind the wheel. “People got real moral about it after that. Suddenly there was this big talk about ethics and the right someone has to their privacy. And then when Wyatt and his friends tried again at the bar, it was a good reminder that we’re still serious about it.”
I sit there curled up in a ball, absolutely speechless. They were protecting me this whole time, even before they had any reason to.
“Jeez,” I finally say. “You barely even talked to me back then. Why would you go through all that?”
“Because it’s the right thing to do,” Reese shrugs. “We saw you around the ranch with your Gram. You were a person like everyone else. You didn’t deserve to be treated like some zoo attraction.”
Colt’s truck slows to a stop at a stoplight.
“Shit,” he swears under his breath. “Speaking of, we got company at three o’clock.”
I curl myself tighter in the front seat.
“Hey, Blaire Evans!” A male voice shouts from unnervingly close to the car. “Is that you? We just want to talk. Is it true what Mika Lane claims? That you lied to the public just for your own fame? That you’re willing to sell you soul for good box office numbers?”
I grit my teeth. I’m familiar with these tactics. He wants to get a rise out of me.
Colt doesn’t seem to be so familiar, though.
“Why don’t you fuck off and mind your own business?” He shouts out the window before speeding off.
Yep, I love those cowboy instincts usually, but he might as well have just raised a big red flag and shouted, ‘Blaire Evans is right here and I also happen to be fucking her every single day!’.
I can’t blame him. He hasn’t grown up with this the same way that I have.
I hear tires squealing. Yep, we’ve been noticed.
“Fuck,” Colt swears as he hits the steering wheel with both hands. “I fucked up. They’re following us. I’m sorry. It just makes me so damn mad.”
I get up and straighten myself out in the front seat. There’s no use hiding now.
“It’s not your fault,” I say, resting my hand on his back. “No one should have to know how to act in this situation.”
“But that doesn’t change the fact that we’re fucked,” Reese says, looking behind us. I dare to look and see what he’s talking about. Not only are we being followed by four cars, but motorcycles are speeding to catch up outside in the side of the lane. It’s another familiar tactic. They’ll risk getting a ticket by riding up next to the car. If they can get a particularly in-demand shot, then it’s worth whatever fines they’re slapped with.
“They can’t go past private property, so just get to the Rile Ranch gates safely. No matter what they do while you’re driving, just concentrate on the road.” I say calmly.
Colt nods and keeps his hands gripped on the steering wheel. He speeds up when motorcycle engines sound off on either side of the car. One retreats on the left-hand side just before another car passes, barely making it safely without being hit.
“He almost just risked his damn life,” Briggs exclaims while bringing Sunny in tight against him so she doesn’t get thrown around in the car. “And the life of that other driver.”
Bitter acid fills my throat. This is the nasty reality of my life and it’s invaded the one place I thought I was safe in.
We pass through the Rile Ranch sign and some of the cars pull to a screeching halt. But two blow right through the sign. Colt slams the brakes and throws his door open. Reese follows him while Briggs and Sunny round the car and stand in front of my door.
“This is private property,” Colt yells. “You get the hell out of here or I have the right to do a lot worse than just call the cops.”
I twist my face in a grimace at his insinuation. This isn’t just a fight in a bar with some locals. Everything he does is likely already being recorded and will be online in a matter of hours. Especially if they were able to associate me with him in a photo or video. He’s essentially insinuating that he has the right to defend his property with force. The public might rip him apart. It could affect their business. My stomach drops, a horrible realization dawning on me. It could affect Kaylee.
Tears well up in my eyes. The cruel realization is bitter and hideous.
Because it doesn’t even matter that my one safe space has been taken from me. What actually matters is that it’s been taken away from the Riles. Because that’s already happened to them once. And I won’t let it happen again because of me.