Page 19 of Don’t Love the Boy Next Door (Hotties Next Door #2)

Chapter Seventeen

Eric

Sunday morning, I’m swamped with managing The Rock E’s social media.

I take care of it because Ethan doesn’t have the time and Cody doesn’t want to be bothered with it.

He tends to avoid anything social. I smile every time someone tells me our band’s music has healed them in some way.

We’ve gotten some emails from sick people in hospitals, people grieving over a family member or friends’ death, or we just generally lift their spirits.

This is why I like to answer every single email and message, because I never know whose life I might impact.

But I can’t concentrate. My eyes keep flitting to Katie’s window.

Her shade is firmly shut, so I can’t wave hello.

I haven’t been able to get her out of my head since we ran lines yesterday.

She’s so dedicated to the role, so talented with such an amazing voice.

When I perform a scene with her, it’s like I disappear from reality and enter a fantasy world where there’s peace and happiness.

I blink the thoughts away and focus on the email I’m answering.

But it’s not long before my eyes trek to her window again, hoping she’d pull the shade up and offer me a wave or one of her sweet smiles.

With a groan, I push away from my desk and start singing one of Beast’s songs, thinking it might distract me.

But of course it doesn’t—it just reminds me of Katie.

And how good it makes me feel when we sing together at band practice.

It’s no use, no point fighting it. I just can’t get her out of my head. So I sit back down at my computer and search for Phoenix’s channel. Maybe she’s in the middle of doing a live stream and featuring Katie. But no luck.

I search through her videos until I find one with Katie.

They’re in the middle of doing some sort of best friend challenge.

It’s from six months ago, and Katie looks a little…

different. I bend a little closer to the screen, noticing her eyes.

They’re not sad. They’re full of light and energy, because this video was made before her mother died. Before her life changed forever.

Seeing a real smile on her lips, hearing a real laugh, it stirs something inside me. She’s so happy and carefree. I wish I could return that light to her eyes. Wish I could chase away all that pain and heartache.

“Oh my gosh, how are we failing this?” Phoenix says as they both start rolling with laughter. “This means we’re not real best friends.”

“Oh no,” Katie says as another fit of laughter takes over. “Does that mean we have to find new best friends?”

“Guess so,” Phoenix jokes, shooing Katie away. “Get out of here, ex bestie.”

“Excuse me? This is my room.”

Phoenix blinks at the room. “Oh, that’s true. In that case…” She locks her fingers together in a begging gesture. “Can you please, please, please be my best friend, Katie Lane?”

Katie rolls her eyes. “You only want me back because you want my room.”

“No!” Phoenix cries. “That’s not true.”

Katie wrenches herself off the chair, so I only see her stomach. “Forget it!”

“Wait,” Phoenix hisses. “You’re off camera.”

That makes me laugh, and when I look at the comments, the fans are really enjoying this, too.

Phoenix adjusts the camera, and they’re both back in the shot. “Okay, continue,” she whispers.

Katie folds her arms over her chest. “Find yourself another best friend to use. I’m out of here.” She marches out of the room.

“Katie!” Phoenix falls to her knees, clutching her heart. “Katie, don’t leave me!” She flattens herself on the floor until she’s out of sight.

It’s complete quiet.

Then she pops up and laughs at the camera. “Okay, that was fun. Katie!” She calls over her shoulder. “Come back.”

Katie also laughs when she returns. “We’re a little nutty.”

“But the viewers loved it!” Phoenix says as she reads the comments. “Especially you, Katie. Your acting was superb. You’re so good at improv.”

Her face grows a little pink. “I was just goofing off.”

“And she’s sooo humble,” Phoenix says to the camera.

“Stop.” Katie playfully shoves her.

I wonder if this video is still popular. It has a lot of views. I skim over the last few comments. Most are good, but there are a few that seem to be attacking Phoenix. Most of them are from a user called TheTman. And there’s a response to every one of them from a guy called LiamC.

I didn’t know Phoenix’s channel had so many haters. But I don’t think it bothers her that much—she’s always so fun and positive. I guess that goes with the territory, just like with the band. We have a lot of haters, too.

My phone rings. It’s the guy I’ve been talking to regarding the concert. He was supposed to get back to me with an answer any day now. Which means this phone call will either make the band’s dream come true, or crush it.

After clearing my throat, I answer it. My eyes grow wider and wider as he tells me we got it. The Rock E’s will be performing at a concert in two weeks.

“Thanks so much!” I say and hang up. Then I race to Ethan’s room to tell him the good news.

He’s playing a game on his computer, yelling at the screen when a group of zombies pounce on his character.

“Crap!” he groans when it’s game over. Bending forward, he types something.

I step into his room and am about to tell him the news, but I freeze in place when I catch sight of the game chat. He’s talking to someone called PhoenixFireBird and his username is LiamC? As in the guy defending Phoenix online?

“I didn’t know you’re LiamC. It’s cool how you stick up for Phoenix on her channel. But I thought you guys hate each other.”

He spins around on his chair. “What?”

I nod toward the screen, where PhoenixFireBird is playfully blaming him for their defeat. “You’re chatting to Phoenix. Are you guys friends now?”

His body stiffens and guilt passes over his face. “She…doesn’t know it’s me.”

I stare at him for a few seconds. “Wait, what? Why are you pretending to be someone else?”

He squeezes his eyes shut. “I don’t know.”

I plop down on his bed and I notice he’s got two phones on his desk. “You’ve been using a different number to contact her so she wouldn’t know it’s you?”

He nods, lips pressed together as he rubs a hand down his face.

“But why are you doing it?”

He shuts his eyes again for a second. “She was being bullied online and I couldn’t stand it. So I made a profile under the name LiamC to help her.”

I don’t say anything because I have no idea what to say. Then I turn to him. “You’re lying to her.”

“I know.”

“Why couldn’t you use your real name?”

He sighs. “Are you kidding me? Phoenix hated me. She never would have accepted my help. But now…” He swallows. “Now things are looking good between us.”

“You mean online.”

He shakes his head. “I mean in real life. I think she’s starting to warm up to me.”

“That’s great.”

He nods slowly. “But if I tell her I’m Liam, she’ll hate me again.”

He’s right. There’s a high chance Phoenix would never forgive him. “But Ethan, you can’t keep lying to her.”

“I know. I tried to put an end to Liam last night, but I couldn’t. She kept asking me to game and I couldn’t refuse her. If Liam vanishes, I’m pretty sure she’ll be crushed. She called me her best online friend yesterday…”

I just gape at him. “Do you realize how insane this is?”

He throws his hands up. “Of course I do! But I don’t know what to do, bro. I’m seriously torn here.”

I stand and head over to him, placing my hand on his shoulder. “You know what you need to do. Even if it hurts her, you have to tell her the truth. You’ll only hurt her more the deeper you fall into this lie.”

He sighs. “She’ll hate me.”

“Maybe, but it’s not right to lie. You always do the right thing, man. Do the right thing now, too.”

He doesn’t say anything as he thinks it over.

“You’re right,” he says after a few minutes. “Phoenix deserves to know the truth. If I keep this from her, then I really am a jerk.”

“It’ll be okay, Ethan,” I assure him.

He doesn’t look so sure. But he seems to shove that aside as if he doesn’t want to talk about it anymore, and turns to me. “Why did you even come here?”

I flop back down on the bed and tell him about the concert.

A small smile spreads on his face. “That’s great, man.”

I return the smile. “This concert could open many doors for us.”

He nods, forcing himself to be excited, but he still looks torn up about Phoenix. He stares at the screen, where she’s still chatting to him, demanding to know where he disappeared to.

On my way out the door, I rest my hand on his arm again. His muscles are tense and wound up. I reassure him it’ll be okay, but I don’t think it’s helping much.

He gets to his feet and marches to the door, his fists at his sides. “I’m going to the basement. Need to work out.”