Page 75 of The Wiener Across the Way

MustangFanatic: Declan’s a great guy! He wouldn’t hurt a fly. Unless you’re playing for the other team. Kelsey’s in safe hands. #KingmanForTheWin

Mz. Besties Bestie(replying to MustangFanatic): Couldn’t agree more! Declan is a gem and they’re amazing together.

KingmanPrincess(replying to MustangFanatic): Couldn’t agree more. For anyone who knows him, these accusations are total bullsh*t, and they’re hurting his family with them too.

PopCultureQueen: Still can’t believe Kelsey’s tour is cancelled. Sure I can get my money back for the tix, but I prepaid for a hotel, and they are not being cool about it. Mz. Besties Bestie, keep us posted if you hear anything! You’re our lifeline!

SkepticalSam: Not sure what to think anymore... I agree about so many of the posts floating around being for clout. Just hope Kelsey knows we’re all rooting for her!

Mz. Besties Bestie(replying to SkepticalSam): That’s the spirit, Sam! Let’s keep the positive vibes flowing for Kelsey. She needs us now more than ever.

THE REAL DEAL

DECLAN

We pulled into the driveway of my house, and I felt a mixture of relief and apprehension. The familiar surroundings were a welcome sight, but I knew the real world was about to come crashing back into our lives. Pooh bounded out of the car, sniffing around the lawn with the enthusiasm of a pup on new turf.

Kelsey followed suit, stepping out and gazing around. “This feels so... normal. Not exactly where I thought a star football player would live.”

I placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Everything we need is right here. My family are all in those houses, Trixie too, and they’ll all be here in a flash if we need them.”

I pointed to the houses on either side of mine, and the two across the street. Everyone’s lights were on, and I was tempted to call them all over now just so Kelsey knew we had her back.

“Wait, all of them?” She glanced at the houses surrounding us and she made a face of surprise. “Your whole family lives in the same neighborhood?”

“Yep. That’s Chris’s doing. He uses his money to invest in real estate. Owns most of the neighborhood. Including all of our houses. Except Everett’s, who won his in a bet.” That was a story for another time.

“That’s so... Kingman of you. I kind of love it.” She almost smiled. Almost.

Thank goodness she was here with me and not in some isolated apartment in New York or L.A. where she probably didn’t even know her neighbors. This was the time to circle the wagons and rally the troops.

We went inside and I set our bags at the foot of the steps to the upstairs. I’d take them up later when we went to bed. I already was itching to hold her and love on her, help her forget what was happening. But there was no escaping this bullshit yet.

“I really don’t like that I still haven’t heard from Penelope. Her messages aren’t even showing as read or anything.” She glanced down at her new iPhone. After the woman at the store had gotten over the initial shock that Kelsey Best really was standing in her shop trying to replace a, uh, lost phone, she’d been able to set us both up and port our contacts and apps from the cloud. “It worries me more than Skeeter telling me she needed to get to her office and call me from there.”

Just then, her phone rang, the sharp buzzing slicing through the quiet inside my kitchen. She answered, putting it on speaker. “Hello?”

Skeeter’s voice, sharp and reprimanding, filled the room. “Kelsey, where have you been? You can’t just disappear for almost a week with no contact. We’re in a huge mess because of your utter disappearance from the world.”

I watched Kelsey’s shoulders slump under the verbal onslaught. It pained me to see her like this, so strong, yet so vulnerable. And I wasn’t going to stand for it.

“Kelsey needed time to recover,” I interjected, unable to hold back. “You should’ve been able to manage whatever was going on. Everyone would understand her not being available because of medical reasons.”

It took all I had in me to keep the twelve instances of the adjective fucking out of my warning to Skeeter. I hadn’t liked this woman from the beginning, but I wasn’t the one who had to deal with her, so I’d done my best to ignore her. But nobody berated my girl. Nobody.

I could practically hear Skeeter bristling at my words. “And who are you to—wait, am I on speaker? Kelsey, you’re letting him be part of this conversation?”

Kelsey straightened up, her voice firmer now. “Yes, Skeeter, Declan is a crucial part of my life now. I’m comfortable having him involved because he genuinely cares about my wellbeing.”

The tension in the room was palpable. Skeeter’s silence spoke volumes, and I could almost feel the shift in power dynamics happening over the phone line.

Kelsey continued, her newfound strength evident in her tone. “Declan wants to protect me and my interests, Skeeter. It’s something I’m starting to question whether you truly have at heart.”

I squeezed her hand, a silent message of support and solidarity. The look she gave me was one of gratitude mixed with determination. It was clear that Kelsey was taking control of her life, her career, and who she trusted.

Skeeter huffed, the sound one of frustration and resignation. “I am acting in your best interest, but you’re making it very hard.”

“How about you tell me what’s going on?”

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