Page 43 of Everything In Between

THIRTY-SIX

jersey

“Well, doesn’t this look cozy?” a sickeningly familiar voice says to my right, breaking the quiet moment I’m having with Hayes. I turn my head to see Corey Shrader standing in the doorframe of the green room, watching the two of us with snide interest.

“What are you doing here?” I ask tightly, standing up to face him. Of all the nights that Corey had to ruin, he had to pick this one.

Corey looks bored with my question. “Cal invited me.”

I cross my arms, almost like a protective barrier between me and my ex.

Hayes stands up from the couch, and I’m keenly aware of his large frame at my back. I can practically picture the unamused glare he’s giving Corey right now.

Corey’s eyes slide to him and again, he is entirely unbothered. He extends a hand to Hayes. “Hayes, good to see you again.”

I roll my eyes and Hayes scoffs, not accepting the handshake. “Actually, not really.”

Corey’s lips pull into a smirk. He lets his hand hang in the air for a second before he drops it back to his side. “All right, then. She’s sure got you whipped.”

My shoulders tighten and Hayes makes a dissatisfied sound low in his chest. I wonder if Corey can hear it, and I wonder if he’ll heed Hayes’s warning.

Hayes is much bigger than Corey, in height, in stature—in every way that matters.

Corey would not fare well going up against Hayes one-on-one.

But of course, I should’ve already predicted that wouldn’t stop him.

“She’s pretty good at that. Hopefully, you’ll wise up like I did and realize she’s only interested in using people who help promote her career.”

“Stop it, Corey,” I say. Of course, he’d take that angle. In Corey’s mind, he probably takes credit for everything I worked so hard for, thinking he gave me a one up.

He didn’t. I earned what I have.

“Let’s go.” I turn to Hayes and reach for his hand.

“What’s wrong, princess?” he sneers, using the old nickname he used to call me. It makes my skin crawl that I’d ever thought it was endearing. “Worried I’ll scare your new boyfriend off and you’ll be all alone again?”

“I think we’re done here.” Hayes steps in, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. “You can see yourself out.”

“What’s the matter, Hayes? Feeling threatened? I bet if you asked nicely, Jersey would be open to a little two-on-one action.”

Before I know what’s happening, Hayes is pushing me behind his body, rearing back and swinging. His punch lands right in the middle of Corey’s face. With a sickening crunch, Corey falls to the ground and covers his nose, swearing.

“Hayes!” I shout at him, moving back around to his front so I can glare at him.

He’s still scowling at Corey on the ground, absentmindedly shaking his fist out.

“Why did you do that?” I question him. Finally, his eyes find mine and he seems confused for a second.

“What do you mean? That dick has had it coming for a long time.”

I grab his large hand, flipping it over so I can inspect his knuckles. They look okay for now, but I suspect there will be some bruising later.

Annoyance takes over. “You’ve already got a busted knee. Do you really want to sit out for another season with a broken hand? I think quarterbacks need to have two working hands.”

He blinks, taken aback. “Are you scolding me right now? For punching that guy?” He points down to Corey. “If you think I’m above punching someone to protect you and your name, you better think again. I’ll do anything to protect you. No matter the cost.”

I cross my hands over my chest and exhale. His words stir a deep affection in my chest, and I’m forever grateful for his protectiveness, but I also need him to understand where I’m coming from.

“What the hell, guys?” Bethany asks, hurrying into the green room. I shrug, unable to give her a better answer right now.

“I agree. What the hell?” Cal’s menacing voice breaks through.

My skin goes cold. Corey has pushed himself up off the floor and he’s wiping away some of the blood from his split lower lip. He glares at Hayes and then frowns at Cal. “I’m pressing charges, and you can’t stop me.”

“That won’t be necessary.” Cal holds up a hand, effectively shutting Corey down. I’m a little surprised to see Corey deflate so easily. “You can go now, Corey.”

My ex-boyfriend clenches his jaw but doesn’t argue, seeing himself out of the green room. When he’s gone, Cal turns to Bethany. “Please get Mr. Vogt out of here, as well. Jersey and I have some important business to discuss.”

Irritation gnaws at me as Bethany gives me a helpless look, glancing between me and Cal. I give her a small nod and she sighs. “All right. Let’s go, Hayes.”

“Try not to punch anyone on your way out,” Cal sneers.

Hayes glowers at Cal as he walks by, brushing his shoulder. There are no words passed between the two of them, but there doesn’t need to be. The malice is thick enough to cut with a knife.

When Hayes is gone, Cal glowers at me, fire in his cold eyes. My stomach sinks. “We need to talk. Sit,” he growls, pointing to the small sofa. I don’t put up a fight, sitting on the couch like a child being scolded, even though I have nothing to feel guilty about.

“Are you kidding me with this?” Callum asks me, placing his hands on his hips.

“I thought it would be nice to see your last show of this stretch, celebrate afterward, get excited about the album release later this year. But then this football player comes in and puts all that in jeopardy with one well-placed swing!”

I blink twice, watching as Callum’s face turns from his normal shade to an angry red with his irritation. He’s not the only one who’s irritated, though.

Scowling at him, I cross my arms over my chest. “He was trying to protect me. Corey was making a fool of himself at my expense. Why was he even there in the first place, Cal?”

“Listen,” Cal says, pointing his finger at me, totally glossing over my question as if I didn’t even ask it.

“You know I don’t give two fucks about who you’re slumming it with on the side.

What I do care about is how it’s affecting your public image.

We’ve put a lot of time and effort into creating your brand only for you to go and mess it up with some guy who’s going to drag you down and get you caught up in a narrative you don’t want to be a part of.

What do you think the media would do if they found out that your new boyfriend punched your old boyfriend? You don’t have time for this.”

“Cal, my fans are eating it up. Any time Hayes and I are spotted together, they go insane. My fans are happy for me and Hayes, and that’s going to convert to more sales. You should be happy, too.”

“Oh, trust me, about that part, I am happy. At least you’ll chart again with this upcoming album and we’ll be able to swing a tour twice as big as this one.

But what I’m pissed about is how irresponsible you’ve been acting, like you’re wanting to throw it all away for some guy.

” He waves his hand in the air dismissively.

“We’ve spent all this time and money creating your brand, this version of you that people can relate to—and now you’re dating a ticking time bomb who could ruin your whole career just like that.

” He snaps his finger in my face and I flinch.

“He punched Corey Shrader. Should we have a lawyer on retainer for when the quarterback turns on you?”

Callum is right. They have put a lot of time and effort into turning me into this angelic character.

The pop princess who keeps to herself and is professionally driven, having no time for relationships or anything other than work.

They turned me into the victim when Corey and I broke up, playing on the wounds and the heartbreak of my fans and using that to create this narrative that couldn’t be further from what I want for my career, for myself.

I’m their pop princess, and they’ve locked me up in a tower.

Now that Hayes has rescued me, it’s not meshing with the persona they’ve created.

I stare at him a moment, musing about how skewed his perception is on this matter. Callum is criticizing me like I’ve floundered myself out to the highest bidder.

I can count on one finger the number of times Corey attended one of my shows.

When I try to think of any instance where he showed up for me, I come up completely blank.

And we dated for a long time. Knowing that Hayes went out of his way, being injured, to support me means more than he could ever know.

It’s not as though this was the first time Hayes and I have been seen together out in public—not by a long shot.

Our relationship isn’t something we were keeping secret.

I’ve been spotted at his games and we’ve had pictures taken of us when we went out on public dates.

Hell, there were headlines blaming me for his injury.

Showing up for me tonight? That was a very big deal. And what he did just now, defending my name and my character? That was an even bigger deal. Even if he did risk injury to his throwing hand.

Callum pinches the bridge of his nose as if this is the scandal of a lifetime rather than what it actually is—a boyfriend showing up for his girlfriend, in private no less. “It will be fine,” he says, as if that is something I’m worried about. “Everything will be fine.”

“Cal, it’s not a big deal.” Has Cal officially lost it? Why is he acting like this is something new or different? “It’s not breaking news that Hayes would be here to support me.”

“It’s about the narrative, Jersey!” he snaps at me and I take a step back. “If Corey takes this public, it’s up to us to respond which determines how the public and the media will continue to see you.”

“Why don’t you simply talk to Corey and ask him not to go public? He’s always done what you’ve asked in the past.”

He ignores my counterstrike and goes for the kill, aiming for my heart.

“I don’t know why I even bother with you.

You don’t understand any of this, so why don’t you stay in your lane and let me handle everything for you like I always do!

We’ll have to do some damage control, make sure that people and fans know you’re truly committed to the album this year.

We’ll do a few teasers, do a few behind the scenes of you recording. ”

I bite my tongue. When have I ever given the impression that I wasn’t committed to the tour and to the album?

Callum has clearly made up his mind on the matter, and me telling him that he’s wrong won’t do any good.

There’s nothing I want more than to tell him I quit and to shove his suggestions where the sun don’t shine.

What would I give to do that, to finally be free of him and his stupid agenda?

Of course, I don’t, because I can’t. The memory of the iron-clad contract I’m under weasels its way to the forefront of my mind, and I remind myself I only have a few more years of this. And then, I’ll be free to do whatever I want with my career.

So I stay silent.

Still lost in his own thoughts, Callum is suddenly struck with a brilliant idea. His eyes grow wide and he snaps his fingers a few times, bringing that idea to the forefront of his mind.

“We could stage a public breakup,” he says, bobbing his head a few times. His eyes are now on me as if he’s gauging my reaction. The mere idea of Hayes not being in my life anymore makes my eyes burn.

I freeze and then stand up from my seat, officially done with this conversation. I don’t say a word as I walk to the door. I’ve had enough of Callum and his “brilliant” ideas.

“Jersey, wait, just hear me out!”

I wave a hand at him but don’t bother looking back. “No, thanks.”

He and I have very different ideas of what it means for my career to be successful. I’m contractually obligated to listen and fall in line with some things, but I will not let him jeopardize my relationship for PR.

Closing the door behind me, I’m finally safe in the empty recesses of the stadium. I take a few deep breaths and close my eyes, leaning against the wall.

When my head has cleared a little and my heart rate has returned to normal, I start walking down the hallway to find Hayes and Bethany, ready to put Cal and Corey out of my head for the rest of the night.