twenty-two

BEAU

"What the hell is this?" My hand shakes with anger as I hold my phone in front of Rey's face. Somehow, my voice is eerily calm. Her wide eyes only blink at me in confusion and maybe even nervousness. "Who the fuck did you tell?" I ask.

My heart is racing as fury courses through my veins. It is my fucking fault: I was the one who let it slip that Emma and I were a publicity thing while I was arguing with Rey. And now she's told someone and Emma won't return my calls.

"Beau, what're you talking about?" Rey holds her hands up in surrender, taking her feet off the desk in her hotel room. Staring at the generic textured wallpaper, I try to pace my breaths.

We were supposed to be getting ready for a post show party, but I had to call Emma before I went out. I just felt so good - the crowd was rowdy as hell and everything felt so alive. It's like I was back to normal, minus the liquor and tantrums. But Emma didn't answer - not the first time, and not after I showered. Or the time after that.

That's when I went online and saw the stories. I knew Emma must've, too. The declined calls confirmed my suspicions.

"Me and Emma - who did you tell?" I growl, slamming my phone onto the desk so she can see it clearer.

Her mouth pops open in surprise as she looks from the phone to me, realization setting into her features. "Beau, I swear I didn't leak anything. I would never go to the press,"

I run a hand over my hair and shake my head. It's hard to believe she would have, I'll admit. "You're the only person I've told, Rey." Rocco couldn't have said anything - he has too much on the line as my manager. She must have said something.

"I didn't! Why would I do that?" Rey stands and puts a hand on my shoulder to stop my pacing. I shrug it off roughly and lean against the wall.

"If you didn't, Rey, then who did?" I glare at her, wondering how I could've been so stupid in the first place. Who else would've said something, if not for her? She might be nosy, but she isn't mean. My head spins a mile a minute.

"I don't know," Rey stares at me, dark brows furrowed. "I can help you find out; just take a minute to think."

Then it hits me. Fucking Scott. He was probably around the corner listening to Rey and I arguing - the whiny little shit.

"Scott," I spit, already storming out of her room to his. I cross the hall in two long strides, barging through his door, Rey on the back of my heels.

"Tell me who you told," I demand, shoving my phone into his hands.

The baby faced man takes a second to read the headline before slowly meeting my eyes and smiling. I clench my jaw tighter, barely keeping it together.

"I didn't say anything, man." Scott shrugs, "But maybe this is what you deserve."

"Fuck you," I spit, too furious to think up something witty. "Who'd you tell?"

"No. One." Scott grins. "I don't even know what the hell you're talking about, though I wish I did."

"Cut it out, Scott." Rey mutters, coming to my side and standing between the two of us. "Beau, if Scott says he didn't do it, then I trust him."

"I don't." I glare at him as Rocco walks through the door.

"What's going on?" Rocco stares at each of us, running a hand over his graying goatee. "Beau?"

Silently and without taking my eyes from Scott, I hand the phone to Rocco. He looks at it quickly before handing it back to me, lips pressed together firmly.

"If they say they didn't leak it, Beau, there's nothing to prove that they did." Rocco's voice is careful, cautious to not set me off while keeping the piece between the group.

I should've expected as much from him.

"It had to be someone, Rocco." I close my eyes.

He takes me by the arm and brings me back across the hall to my own room. Rey follows, leaving Scott smirking to himself on his bed.

"You know how these things are, it'll blow over in a couple of weeks when they get another story." Rocco shrugs, squinting at me as if to ask what the big deal is.

"For me," I nod slowly, leveling him with my eyes. "But what about for Emma?"

Rey's expression softens as she places her hand on my shoulder sympathetically. This time, I don't push her off.

***

"So that's everything." I sigh, staring at Dr. Dex's face on my laptop. I run a hand through Zeus's fur as he plants his heavy head on my thigh, letting out a long exhale of his own.

Emma still hasn't called and I can't stop wondering where she is, how mad she probably is. Or worse, I shutter.

"Well," Dr. Williams strokes his chin. "Take whoever leaked the story out of the equation - there's not much you can do on that front." He pauses to make sure I understand. "How does this affect you? How does this affect your relationship with Emma?"

I shake my head. "I can deny it, ignore it even. I'll be fine - professionally speaking." I run a hand over my eyes and Zeus wiggles closer to my body, forcing himself more into my lap. I've never been well liked by the press, anyways. "Emma won't answer my calls."

"Do you think that's fair?" Dex asks, squinting through his glasses.

I shrug. "I messed up, again." I'd be sick and tired of hearing me apologize, too.

"If Emma messed up, would you ignore her?" He asks, staring at me intently.

I shrug again. I have in the past. I might again.

After a moment of silence, Dex speaks again. "Is that the healthy way to handle it, if you're angry with Emma?"

I shake my head: this I know the answer to, "No."

"Then it's also not healthy for Emma to do it, would that make sense?" Dex removes his glasses. "I just want you to enter the situation knowing it's not only your fault here. Emma jumped the gun this time. It takes two to tango,"

Dex shrugs and asks me if I understand. I tell him that I do, despite the conflicting thoughts in my head.

We hang up and I stay seated in bed, stroking Zeus, loudly snoring beside me. A gentle knock at the door grabs my attention, followed by Rey softly telling me it's just her.

"It's open," I invite her in. She's stumbles a little in the hall and keeps her distance, resting on the desk instead of coming near me. "You been drinking?" I ask, staring at Zeus's collar.

"Just a couple shots before we go out. Are you still coming?" She grins her gap toothed smile. "It's more fun if you do,"

I shake my head. "Not tonight." It'll be too much, I'm sure.

"Want me to stay?" She offers immediately. I know if I told her yes, she would, no questions asked. We'd get room service and watch TV, she wouldn't mention it ever again.

But still, I shake my head. "Go have fun. But be careful,"

I cringe inside - if only Jace and the guys could see me now. The responsible one.

Rey nods, face falling just a bit. "I am sorry about this stuff with Emma. I know you really care about her."

I don't say anything, unsure what there is to say to that, but Rey doesn't leave. Lingering as if there's something else she wants to say, she finally decides against it and leaves quietly, pulling the door softly shut behind her.

I dial Emma's number and jump when I hear her voice answer. "Hello?"

"Emma," I gasp, "Where are you? I mean, what's up?" There's noise in the background - music and laughter.

A club, I realize.

"Now's not a good time, Beau. It's girls night," I hear her tell someone to "sh" followed by muffled voices.

"Okay," I accept eagerly, just glad that she didn't decline my call. "Tomorrow then?"

"I have work," Her voice sounds far away from the phone and suddenly I'm anxious. Anxious at how nonchalant she's being about all of this, about me.

"Tomorrow night, then?" I hate the desperation in my voice.

"Tomorrow night sounds good."

"Okay. Have fun, Em." I feel a weight lifted off my chest - at least she's speaking to me. "I love you,"

But the line is already dead. I stare at the phone, trying to place the awful, foreboding, empty feeling in my chest.

When my phone rings again, I raise it to my ear without checking the number - hope making me a fool.

"Emma?"

"It's Beck."

My fists clench reflexively at the voice. "How many times do I have to tell you - stop fucking calling."

"I get it - I wouldn't want to talk to me, either. Please, just hear me out."

There's silence on the line and what's left of my patience thins. "I'm listening."

"It might be better in person, would you meet me?"

I shake my head before the sentence is even finished. "Not likely."

"You're still so stubborn."

My jaw clenches tightly, my own teeth grinding loudly in my ears.

"Say what you have to say, or don't. This is the last chance you'll get." I growl, watching Zeus stare at me from where he's woken in bed. His round eyes watch me with what looks like concern.

"Oh, I doubt that." I hear the tone change slightly, becoming darker. Or did I imagine that? "I'll see you at home, Beau."

The line is dead and once more I'm left staring at my screen, speechless.

Was that a threat?

I ignore the pounding in my ears, the shakiness in my hands, and the million thoughts buzzing around my head.

In. Out. In. Out.

I remind myself to keep breathing as I tear through my luggage, Zeus by my side instantly, using his nose to nudge through the clothes I discard to the floor. Finally, my fingers grasp the leather leash I bought once I rescued the older German Shepherd no one else wanted.

"Come on, boy," I clip the leash to his collar as he excitedly stomps his feet. "Let's go for a run."

Thanks for reading loves!

As always, let me know what you think in the comments!

Trouble in paradise for Bemma?

Are Rey & Scott telling the truth? Who spilled the beans?

WHO. IS. BECK!