Breaking South (Turner Artist Rocker #3) - Alyson Santos Page 0,71

about. She’s mad, sure. I bailed on her. She fell. She’s hurt. Her mom is pissed. But a public breakup?

Sandy sighs and leads me to the couch. He motions for me to sit, but I don’t want to sit. There’s no sitting when you hit rock bottom and still your life continues to spiral.

“Sit,” he snaps. “Don’t make me make you. You know I will.”

I curse and perch on the edge of the cushion, pulling my phone from my pocket. I hate that internet gossip has become my news source lately, but I’m not sure what other choice I have. No one else seems willing to keep me informed. I avoid the string of unread texts from Camille and others, knowing they’ll only bring more questions.

It’s an easy search. Too easy, and the latest update posted just minutes ago. I sink into the cushion, suddenly crushed under the weight of it all.

CHAPTER 16

Wake up, it’s time

The violent tide

Has made you mine

Through the tears we cry

Over truth and lies

These tragic ties

Have bound our lives

To survive

Another rise

Of the violent tide

So wake up, it’s time

GENEVIEVE

“Hadley?” I groan at the sharp pain in my ankle. The one in my head is worse. They promised the painkillers would last through the night. Liars. I was lucky, they said. I’ll be back on my feet in a couple of weeks and make a full recovery. Lucky… told you they’re liars. Is it weird I had to fake a smile at that? That I was disappointed I didn’t get hurt worse than I did? There was a split second as I was falling that the fear blossomed into relief. My mother’s manic reassurance when I woke in the hospital erased all hope and sent me back to the verge of panic. Funny reaction to news that you were “lucky.”

“Where’s my phone? Has Oliver called?” I ask.

Did Hadley just wince? “He… Um, your mom has your phone. She’s been handling your messages.”

“My mom?” Blood drains from my face. I feel it pool in my stomach and slosh around in nauseous waves. “Hadley—”

She shakes her head, cutting me off. “Don’t. You focus on you. Get better. Let me and the team deal with the press.”

“Press?” I groan again and drop back to the pillow of this stupid hospital bed. I told them I’m fine, but because of the head injury they wanted to keep me for observation until morning. Then again, maybe I’m not fine. The blood pressure monitor certainly doesn’t think so at the moment.

“What are they saying?” I ask in as calm a voice as I can manage. Gosh, I want Oliver right now. Somehow, I think it’d all be okay if he were here, sitting in that chair currently occupied by my assistant. Or better yet, cuddled up with me. I almost laugh at the thought of his big body crammed next to me on this tiny bed. Almost. I can’t laugh when he’s not here. When my head pounds and my ankle throbs and no one seems willing to tell me what the heck is going on.

“Just rest,” Hadley says gently. “Nothing we can’t deal with tomorrow.”

I glare at her, but even that hurts. “I need my phone. I have to call Oliver.”

“I know, but—”

“Hadley!”

“Okay, just…”

Concern mixes with the nausea at her expression. She glances around nervously before leaning in. “I don’t want to get in the middle of anything,” she whispers, watching the door.

I follow her gaze, stiffening as my mother moves into the room. “Oh, Genny, sweetie. You’re awake.”

“Don’t call me that,” I mumble. “Hadley said you have my phone. Can I have it back, please?”

“Sweetie, there’s plenty of time for that later. For now, you need to rest.”

I shake my head despite the pain. “No, I want it now. I have to call Oliver. I’m sure he’s heard, and he’s probably worried sick.”

Her lips press into a thin line, but I don’t care. “Genevieve. Honey.” Her expression falls, and my heart rate picks up again. I’m expecting the nurses to rush in at any second from my crazy vitals.

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

She sighs. “You haven’t heard.”

“Heard what?”

“Oh, sweetie, I’m so sorry. Oliver, he…” She pauses, and my stomach lurches. “I called him last night. I tried to convince him to come see you but he refused. He said he has too much on the line with his career and can’t afford a scandal like this. I’m so sorry, sweetie.”

I stare at her in shock. My mouth opens to speak, then closes