Page 40 of Beyond Me

“Get off me, dude.You’re nuts!”He stumbled back.“I’ll put you in the cut of money if you want.Damn, you’re so fucking touchy lately.”

James met my gaze.His eyes pleaded for me to understand.“I never told them, Quinn,” he stated.“I swear to God.”

It was too much.Too many lies to take.I needed to escape before I burst into tears.“It doesn’t matter anymore.I’m outta here.”

“Quinn—”

“Don’t follow me, James.I mean it.”

I turned and pushed my way past the crowds.I stumbled out on Duval Street, but I’d only taken a few steps before someone grabbed by arm.I yanked away, trying to beat James off me, but the sound of Cassie’s voice broke through.

“Sweetie, it’s me.What happened?Oh God, are you okay?”

A sob caught in my throat, and suddenly, I was in my friend’s arms for a comforting hug.“He made a bet, Cass.A bet to get me into bed, and I had no idea.I thought I’d fallen for him.”

A blistering array of curse words rose up to my ears.Cassie squeezed me tight.“I’ll kill him.Wait here and I’ll be right back.”

A broken laugh escaped and I hung on to her.“No, he’s not worth it.Oh God, I’m a mess.And there’s more.His stupid friend blabbed about Mac to the press.The paparazzi are swarming her right now—Austin tipped me off.Mac probably thinks he did it, but it was James.Did you know about this?”

Cassie pulled back and gasped.“This is a mess.No, I haven’t heard anything yet.What should we do?”

I sniffed and tried to get my head on straight.My heart was already in tiny pieces, but I needed to concentrate on my friend.“Listen, I’m going up to her room.Austin said she was holed up.”

Cassie looked worried and glanced back at the bar like there was something important going on.Or someone.“Want me to come with you?”

“No, stay.I don’t think Mac needs both of swooping in if she’s trying to lay low.And I need some time to process.”

She looked torn, and shifted from foot to foot.“I don’t know.I hate leaving both of you alone when all this stuff is going on.”

I squeezed her hands.“Cassie, go back to the bar.For God’s sakes, one of us has to have a good wrap-up to this week.I’ll check in with Mac and we’ll be fine.Text us later.”

“Sure?”

“Sure.”

We hugged briefly.I made her promise not to kill James or his friends, and I headed back to the hotel to find out what the hell was going on.When I saw the news trucks and the crowds clogging the hotel, my heart sank.Too late.Poor Mac was probably trapped inside and couldn’t get back out.I had to show my key to the lobby, and then make my way past her bodyguard, who let me right through.

Mac’s eyes widened when she saw me.I probably looked like a mess.“Are you okay?”

I nodded.“Yeah.I think.What the hell is going on, sweetie?Why didn’t you tell me about getting busted by the pap?”

She dragged me into the room.“I couldn’t deal.I wanted you to have a nice vacation and not worry about me.”

I dragged in a breath and just blurted out the truth.“Austin didn’t leak the news.”

“I know.I mean, I thought he did at first, but then I realized I was wrong.But it was too late.”Mac blinked back tears.“How did you know about it?”

I lifted my chin.“It was me.”

She laughed.“Really funny.”

“I’m not kidding.I didn’t actually do it, but I might as well have.”I collapsed on the couch and covered my face with my hands.“I told James about you.Told him I was here with you.I trusted him, and his friend…he did it.”

Mac sat down beside me and rubbed my back.“James told them?”

“No.James’ buddy.Dickhead Adam.”I uncovered my face.“He must have been eavesdropping…or maybe James told him.I don’t even know.”

“It’s okay.That’s not your fault.”

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