Page 75 of Reality With You (Arden Beach #1)

A champagne corked popped, a bartender in a white jacket pouring the contents into a group of flutes arranged on a tray.

Glass balustrades offered a nearly seamless view of downtown Arden Beach, the buildings and streets lit up like their own star systems against a clear night sky, surrounding at least a hundred people packed onto the hotel roof in cocktail attire.

House music played as they drank and mingled under string lights.

Lennon and Dylan arrived half an hour into the celebration, arms linked and clad in black. A few heads turned toward them, then others, surprise rippling through the crowd.

The pounding of Lennon’s heart reverberated through her body. But unlike at the brunch, or the party, or the wedding, it pounded against steel. They were no longer passengers on this ride.

They finally had their hands on the wheel. And she was ready to drive it off a cliff.

“ Heyyyyy .”

Cold snaked through Lennon’s veins at the sight of Tana as she slinked toward them.

She clenched against Dylan as Tana’s surprised gaze roved over Lennon’s black faux-leather mini dress.

Lennon’s dark hair hung wild and messy around her bare shoulders, her eyes smoky and lips painted a nude brown.

Dylan matched her with black dress pants and a deep V-neck, slim-fit, button-down.

Tana clocked their linked arms. Her fake smile faltered. “Hold up—are you guys back together?” She waved a finger at them, a near-empty martini clasped in the other hand.

“We are.” Dylan enveloped Lennon’s hand nestled in the crook of his arm.

The model’s sharp eyebrows pulled together slightly, clearly thrown by this development.

Tana knew Kelsey’s plan—and she’d probably been as confident as Kelsey that he would take her deal.

“Wow. That’s … amazing. I’m so happy for you guys.

” A laugh tumbled out of her. It sounded hollow and forced, like her smile.

“Hey, umm—I hope there’s no hard feelings about what happened at the wedding.

Emotions were high. Everyone was a little tipsy from the open bar,” Tana said, tugging her lip to the side as she rocked her head dismissively.

“Glad we can put all that behind us now that the show’s over.

At least until next season.” She tilted forward, winking.

The urge to call her on her bullshit burned for release, but Lennon didn’t want to tip her off that they knew anything. Yet. “We’re not doing another season,” she settled on instead.

That part didn’t seem to come as a surprise to Tana.

“I think we all feel that way right now, but once the series streams and the opportunities start pouring in, we’ll be ready for round two.

” She tossed back the remainder of her drink, dropping it on a tray as a server passed by.

Before he walked away, she snatched the speared olive from it.

“You heard about Candace? So sad. She’s obviously not coming tonight.

” Tana dragged the olive off the toothpick with her teeth.

“Crazy. Just goes to show you never really know someone.”

“The truth always has a way of coming out,” Lennon said, not bothering to hide the bite in her voice.

Tana paused chewing the olive, her catlike eyes narrowing as she studied Lennon.

The music stopped and Kelsey’s voice grated through the speakers, addressing the audience from the stage. “Hey, gorgeous people. Can I steal your attention for a sec?”

Lennon’s attention flicked to the stage where Kelsey held a microphone, wearing a skintight, red, mini dress. The blonde waited a moment as chatter across the roof ceased and a sea of heads turned her way.

“I’m going to get something to drink. You want anything, babe?” Lennon asked Dylan.

“Lead the way.” Dylan’s glare lingered on Tana, disdain simmering in it.

They worked their way through the dense crowd to the bar at the opposite end of the roof, parallel to the stage.

“Let’s give it up again for the two geniuses behind the show—Huey Donaldson and Maeve Greenberg,” Kelsey said, leading the crowd into applause. “They’re amazing, right?”

Huey stood at one of the high-top tables with Maeve, acknowledging those around him, while Maeve did a little wave of her fork as she ate a piece of cake.

Her signature red lipstick was flawless as ever.

Lennon caught Avery’s eye at a table near theirs.

They waved at each other while Chad nodded to Dylan.

Avery appeared tense, like she wished to be anywhere else. Lennon could relate.

Lennon and Dylan stopped at the bar, ordering sparkling water before turning to face the stage. Anticipation buzzed under Lennon’s skin.

“How ya doing, mija ?”

Bruno leaned on the bar beside Lennon, while Darius flanked Dylan.

“Feels like I’m back in the Underworld,” Lennon answered. “Only this time, I’m Charon.”

“Well, we know one thing. This party won’t be boring.” Darius raised his champagne flute, passing them a look of solidarity.

Kelsey babbled on about how the show was about to “change all of their lives.” For once, Lennon and Kelsey agreed on something.

Dylan pressed his shoulder against hers.

When Lennon looked up at him, he gently flicked his nose.

All good. It’ll be OK . Her lips stretched into a smile, melting some of the chill inside her.

Whatever happened, she knew they would be.

A tall, slender man in a suit carved a path through the crowd, making a beeline to Huey. His stern, purposeful energy clashed with the relaxed audience.

Adrenaline spiked in her chest.

“Here we go,” Lennon whispered, directing their attention with her sightline.

The man stopped beside Huey, whispering something in his ear. Gradually, the producer’s face fell, turning ashen. He snapped his head to the side, saying something back, and then dragged his wide-eyed gaze to his daughter on stage.

Though Lennon couldn’t hear it, the next thing out of Huey’s mouth was perfectly clear. “ Fuck. ”

Huey dipped his head to say something to the other man, the latter of whom gave a curt nod before making his way back through the crowd while Huey cut toward the stage. He moved with purpose yet restraint, evidently trying not to draw attention to himself.

“People like to make fun of reality shows, but they can’t stop watching them,” Kelsey continued, completely unaware of what was unfolding.

As Huey tried to get around people, excusing himself and clamping down on his frustration as they got in his way, Lennon glanced across the crowd. A few recorded Kelsey’s speech with their phones, while some others scrolled and texted.

Lennon’s pulse quickened.

“We couldn’t have done this without all of y—” Kelsey’s voice cut out with a high-pitched interference, no longer projecting through the speakers. Confused, she tested the microphone. Her lips moved silently. She gestured to someone off-stage to fix it.

“It’s showtime,” Kelsey’s voice returned through the sound system.

But her mouth wasn’t moving on stage.

“ I can’t believe you’re actually doing this ,” came Tana’s voice. Lennon watched her eyes widen in the crowd as a hush fell over them, wondering what was happening. “You’re fucking crazy. I love it. ”

“It’s getting a little boring. I’m just … spicing things up.” Kelsey’s face slowly fell as she recognized her own voice.

Confused murmurs bubbled across the roof.

“Oh, my God,” Tana breathed, the blood draining from her face as the recording continued. Beside her, Joel regarded her with confusion.

“Shut it off!” Huey yelled to the audio team near the stage.

“We’re trying. Someone’s hijacked the system,” a frenzied crew member explained.

“Then, unplug the goddamn speakers!”

“Oh, shit,” someone muttered in the audience, looking at their phone. “It’s on Star Pulse .”

Others immediately dug out their phones, gasps and quiet chatter spreading like wildfire, all while Kelsey stood frozen in the middle of the stage, gripping the microphone. Her father raced up the stairs, grabbing her by the arm and dragging her off it.

“You’ve got Avery losing her shit over a fake affair and now you’re about to nab yourself a baseball player. You’re an evil fucking genius, Kelsey McCroy. I’ve got so much to learn from you.”

Tana quickly slipped away, eyes following her as she rushed toward the exit. Her husband hesitated a moment before joining her.

Huey tried to follow the same path with Kelsey, but Dylan stepped in front of them, making them stop short.

“I can’t believe you knew and tried to blackmail me. For a fucking TV show.” Dylan glared down at her with contempt. “What kind of pathetic person does something like that?”

Kelsey stared at him, stunned.

“Kelsey, don’t say anything ,” Huey ordered. “Move out of our way.”

“How does it feel,” Dylan asked her, solid as a rock, “being the one who’s not in control anymore?”

“Don’t worry, Kelsey,” Lennon remarked, standing beside him. “Villains are some of the biggest stars. Right?”

Huey tugged on Kelsey’s arm, about to circumvent Dylan and Lennon, but a large figure blocked his path.

Chad towered over them with a searing glare, his torso nearly the width of the two Donaldsons side by side.

Avery came around him, planting herself in front of Kelsey.

A tremor of panic rippled across the blonde’s expression.

“How dare you.” Tears pooled in Avery’s eyes, anger and grief closely intertwined. “I can’t believe you’re the one who started the rumor about Steph and Chad. Why would you do that to me? You were my maid of honor .”

“It’s not personal,” Kelsey snapped back, finally finding her voice, though it was shaky. “I was making sure the show wouldn’t be so boring that it got canceled after one season. It’s business—”

“Kelsey, shut up,” Huey demanded.

“I trusted you,” Avery said, her voice breaking. “I thought you were my friend.”

“I am—”

“Friends don’t use each other and try to ruin their wedding.”

“You mean the wedding the studio paid for? Why do you think they did that?” Kelsey’s blue eyes turned sharp as a blade.

“You don’t get how this business works, Avery.

This isn’t just influencing people to buy shit on social media.

I was helping make this thing a success.

A pretty face and designer clothes only get you so far.

You need drama to keep people hooked. Without me, no one would end up watching this fucking show. ”

Avery drew back like she’d been physically slapped. “You could’ve at least told me what you were planning to do.”

“Come on, you know you never would’ve gone for it.

And you wouldn’t have been believable even if you tried.

” Kelsey expelled a hollow, condescending laugh.

“I was doing you a favor. It’s not like anything actually happened; it was all fake.

Everyone needs to calm down.” She scanned the crowd, directing the message to all the eavesdroppers.

“You assaulted Dylan,” Lennon reminded her. “That wasn’t fake.”

“Oh, please.” Kelsey pulled a “give me a fucking break” expression. Dylan’s arm clasped around Lennon’s waist, holding her back from doing something she’d later regret.

“You have no proof of that,” Huey interjected.

His face was as red as Maeve’s fingernails.

“That audio was tampered with, and we’ll prove it.

Whoever pulled this stunt will pay. We’re done here.

” He made to step forward, but Chad remained a statue.

Huffing, Huey raised his chin to the ex-quarterback, trying for a show of strength even as fear flickered in his eyes.

“You did all this for what—fame? To boost your career?” Avery surmised. Her voice was pitched low. “I hope everything you ended up losing in the process was worth it.”

Something flashed in Kelsey’s eyes—something that looked dangerously close to pain—but it quickly vanished. Stone-faced, she replied, “That’s what we were all here for. I just had the balls to make the most of it.” A bitter smile shaped her lips. “What do they say? Hate the game, not the player.”

Avery shook her head, her expression hardening into disgust. She glanced up at Chad, sending him a small nod. He finally stepped aside to let Kelsey and Huey pass. Huey wasted no time dragging his daughter toward the exit.

“You’ll all thank me when this show blows up and you’re making bank,” Kelsey threw over her shoulder. Lennon wondered if she was trying to convince herself as much as everyone else.

One of the guests the Donaldsons passed by recorded them with their phone. Huey slapped it out of their hand. Looking around, Huey proclaimed, “If any of you taking videos ever want another job in this industry, you’ll delete them— now .”

As they stormed off, the stunned crowd remained suspended in silence for a while, unsure what to do.

“OK, well. I think it’s time to call it a night,” Maeve announced loudly, her upbeat mood jarring with the tense atmosphere.

“Thank you all for coming. Feel free to take advantage of the open bar once more before you leave.” Under her breath she added, “God knows I will.” Turning on her heels, her attention landed on Lennon and the others.

Her expression went solemn as she approached the group.

“I swear—I didn’t know anything about what was on that recording.

I’m all for shaking things up, but that crossed a line. ”

Though she seemed earnest and as disturbed as they were, Lennon didn’t feel particularly trusting in that moment. The others remained quiet, too.

Maeve didn’t press it. Her chest rose and fell with an inward sigh before heading back into the crowd, probably to make her best attempt to put out this raging fire before it took her down with it.

Chad wrapped an arm around Avery, who looked as ill as Lennon felt. “You OK, baby?”

“No.” Avery shook her head, her cheeks stained with tears. “I’m sorry, Lennon. I didn’t want to believe she was like this. She was always so good to me. Or at least, I thought she was.” She squeezed the bridge of her nose. “I feel so stupid.”

Lennon sighed. “You’re not stupid, Avery. You just wanted to see the best in someone you care about.”

Avery frowned. “The person I care about apparently doesn’t exist. And while I was defending her, I wasn’t a good friend to you.”

“Well, we’re trauma-bonded now, so you have time to make up for it.” The corner of Lennon’s mouth quirked up.

Avery’s twitched a little, too, but then her eyes fluttered shut with another small, quick shake of her head. Her voice cracked. “I’m sorry … I’m so embarrassed. I need to go.”

“Let’s go home.” Chad lovingly stroked her arm. “I’ll call you later, man,” he told Dylan, who nodded. Avery hid her teary face in Chad’s chest as he escorted her away, the crowd parting like the Red Sea around them.

“You ready to get out of here, too?” Dylan asked Lennon, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

“So fucking ready.”