Page 21 of Everything In Between
I can’t deny that those words stung yesterday like a slap to the face given all the hard work I’ve put into my career. But over the last few years, I’ve made peace with the fact that Callum Strong is nothing but a bully.
Unfortunately, a bully that I am tied to by a legal contract.
How rewarding would it be if I could find the gall to stand up to the people above me, put my foot down, and say that it’smycareer and I want to be the one in charge of the decisions? But every time I try, he squashes me like a bug, putting me in my place and reminding me he’s the one who holds the power.
All I have to do is play his game and get through the end of this contract, and then I can walk away and never have to deal with him again.
That’s it. Easy, right?
When I’ve regained control of myself and trust that I’m not going to break down again, we leave the bathroom and go to the recording studio. My phone chimes with a new text message. Hope springs to life in my chest as I read Hayes’s name on my screen.
Hayes
Have fun today, Jersey. Do what you do best. Give them hell.
I am emboldened by Hayes, even though he’s thousands of miles from me. His support makes me stronger even if it’s only over a text message. The knowledge he’s got my back gives me that sense of vigor that I’ve been missing. He hardly knows me aside from one night of texting back and forth, yet he believes in me.
If Hayes can believe in me, maybe I can muster the ability to believe in myself, too.
Before I go into the sound room, I text Hayes back.
Jersey
You too, QB.
EIGHT
hayes
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
“Dude,get your head out of your phone.” Beckett’s voice echoes through the locker room right before a towel snaps and sends a sting across the back of my neck.
“What the fuck?” I shoot back at him, glowering as he gives me a shit-eating grin.
Sunday is our game against the Detroit Blue Devils. At this point, I’ve done everything in my power to make sure we come out ahead. The team has worked tirelessly to memorize the plays and study the defense so we know what we’re up against. Only time will tell if we take home the win.
Beckett points to the phone in my hand as if that’s explanation enough. “Who are you even texting?”
“No one,” I say way too quickly. Yeah, so I’ve been texting Jersey practically nonstop... what’s the big deal?
“You’re never on your phone. Now, suddenly, your nose is buried in it.” Beckett narrows his eyes suspiciously at me, and then, before I can take a breath, he’s lunging at me, and snatches the phone right out of my hands.
“Hey! Beckett, cut it out,” I growl. He evades me as I reach for my phone again. A few of the other guys have paused their conversations, now giving us their full attention. They’re used to some level of shenanigans between me and Beckett, but even I can admit this is excessive.
“Well, well,” my supposed best friend says, looking at my phone screen. “Who do we have here?Jersey? Is that a code name or something?”
“Beckett,” I warn, but the fucker doesn’t listen.
“Are you talking about Jersey Matthews?” Xaden chimes in. “She’s like the world’s biggest pop star right now. Every time I turn on the radio, it’s one of her songs playing.”
I stand stone still as Beckett processes that information. Quentin turns around and joins the conversation, shock on his face as he easily reads my reaction. “You’re shitting me.Jersey Matthews?”
“It’s no big deal,” I say quickly, swiping my phone back from him. As those words hit my tongue, they leave the bitter taste of a bald-faced lie. “We’ve been talking here and there.”
“Riight,” Beckett drawls. “Which is why you haven’t been seen apart from your phone for days now. Talking, my ass.”
“Beckett,” I say my friend’s name again, hoping he’ll pick up on the hint that I’m not interested in playing these games. There’s too much shit on my mind right now to find any humor in his teasing.
