Curvy Girls Can't Date Bad Boys - Kelsie Stelting Page 0,53
out.
Within a couple of minutes, my phone powered on and began vibrating endlessly. Text after text and Sermo chat after Sermo chat came into my notification screen, along with calls, voicemails, and social media notifications. My eyebrows came together as I tried to look at one notification long enough to make sense of it.
Realizing that this wasn't going to end anytime soon, I silenced my phone.
The waitress set a ceramic mug and a sweating glass of water on the table and then nodded toward the spot where Ronan had gone. “Is he eating with you?”
“Yeah,” I answered.
She put her notepad in her apron pocket. “I'll come back in a little bit.”
“Sounds good.” Our whole interaction was so normal it caught me off guard. How could life ever go back to normal after what had happened?
I took a sip of the hot liquid. It was unexpectedly delicious, cleansing my soul in a way I hadn't expected.
Ronan slid into the booth across from me and took a long drink from his water. “Did you order?”
I shook my head. “Waiting for you.”
He looked at the menu casually, like he already knew what he wanted.
“What are you getting?” I asked.
“Can't go wrong with a burger and fries.”
“This early in the morning?”
He leveled his gaze at me over the menu. “Are you telling me a time of day makes them not taste good?”
With a laugh, I conceded. “True. Can you order that for me too?”
He nodded. “Where are you going?”
“Bathroom.” I pulled my phone from the charger, hoping it had charged enough for me at least to make a call and see what was going on. Fear gripped my chest as I went to the single-stall bathroom. Had word gotten out that Ryde and I weren't together anymore? What rumors had the media and the Alexanders spun? I imagined all the ways his fans could come after me and cringed.
As I sat on the toilet, I pulled open my messages and went to the group chat with my friends. They would give me the news in the kindest way, I was sure.
Jordan: YOU’RE ENGAGED?
Callie: I thought you were calling it?
Rory: Did the talk with your dad not go well?
Ginger: Did you change your mind?
Callie: It’s okay either way! We just want what’s best for you! <3
Their messages confused me. Why were they saying I was engaged?
The low battery notification popped up on my phone. I canceled it and quickly typed in a message.
Zara: We are NOT engaged. I called it last night, and my father won’t let me back in the house. Jordan, is it still okay if I stay with you and your mom?
Jordan: Of course. But you might want to see this.
Her next message was a screenshot of a news article with the headline, Ryde Alexander Off the Market. Star Announces Official Engagement to Zara Bhatta.
What?
I nearly dropped my phone in the toilet. How did they get that out of what transpired last night? The image with the article was one of Ryde and me sitting together at the Alexanders’ for supper. We didn't look too close, but we were sitting right next to each other. Looking at each other. The only people who could have caught us at that angle were my dad and Merritt and maybe Hannah.
I got out of the chat app and went to my internet app. Typing in my name and “engagement” gathered thousands of results. I clicked on the top one and read the story, all about how Ryde asked for my father's blessing and how happy my dad was that I was marrying such a hardworking, up-and-coming actor. There was a quote from Pam saying that I was a stunning girl, but joking that I better not break Ryde’s heart. Then a lamenting quote from the leader of the Ryders, Ryde’s personal fan club. It was like reading something from an alternate universe. How had this gotten out? And how had no one found out that I walked out on Ryde the night before?
When I went to my social media, I had hundreds of thousands of new followers overnight and plenty of notifications asking me how I felt about marrying Ryde or asking to see my ring or threatening me unless I broke up with him.
I pressed the button to create a new post and set the story straight, but my phone screen went black. I tapped on it desperately, wanting to make the announcement that I was by no means marrying Ryde Alexander.