“Three, two, one…and we’re on,” one of the crew said.
Bridgett held her microphone up and smiled. “Hello and welcome to a special edition of ET—today we have Seconds to Juliet with us. Not only are they going to answer some of your burning questions, but they’re also going to debut their new music video for ‘Let Me Make You Smile’. And we have a very special audience of fans with us today.”
The teens in the crowd screeched as the cameras panned in on them—all wearing their T-shirts, holding up signs and waving Ken-type dolls that looked just like the band members.
“There’s one burning question that’s on everyone’s mind—we want to know about your love lives. Ryder, why don’t we start with you—you’re currently dating one of your opening acts, Mia Reyes. How are things going?”
Ryder grinned. “Great. It’s amazing having her on tour with us. I get to see her every day—although sometimes, we’re kind of hit and miss with our different rehearsals and workouts. But so far, she puts up with me. I don’t know what to really say, other than I’m in love.”
“So what would you say your favorite date has been with her?” Bridgett asked.
“I’m not sure if I could pick just one—maybe going to the carnival and eating corn dogs. But right now, we mainly just like to get some downtime together. Even if it means curling up to watch a movie during a bus trip or hiding out in our dressing rooms together chatting.”
“Will and Nathan, you two are both single right now, is that correct?”
“Yes ma’am. Single and looking.” Will winked.
Girls screeched and Bridgett laughed. “Hear that ladies? He’s very much available. And Nathan?”
Nathan’s face turned bright cherry. “Yeah—I’m not seeing anyone right now.”
“That means so far we have two of you guys up for grabs. Miles, are you still dating Aimee?”
“Yes—we talk pretty much every day and night—and try to Skype as often as possible.”
“It must be hard being away from her.”
“It is, but we make it work.”
“And Trevin—I’ve heard through the grapevine that you’ve recently started to date someone named Daisy Morris.”
Trevin chuckled. “News travels fast. But yeah, I’ve recently decided to date again.”
“I bet you had to do lots of apologizing after standing her up,” Bridgett said. “Did she make you grovel?”
Trevin frowned. “You mean for the fifties dance? I really didn’t mean to stand her up; we had a fashion show—”
“No. Not the fifties dance. We actually have the video from the night you stood her up for homecoming, last autumn.”
Trevin went still as the TV screens showed Daisy standing on the front porch of a house, next to a woman he assumed was her mom. She wore a dark blue dress, which she kept smoothing down, seemingly out of nervousness. He watched in horror as a delivery guy brought her an envelope. She ripped it open and her face crumbled.
The TV crews panned in on her face. “Did Trevin Jacobs stand you up?” a reporter asked. But Daisy rushed into the house.
Trevin sat there stunned. Shit. He had been the one to stand her up.
And he never even knew it. No wonder she didn’t want anything to do with him. Now he’d never forget the hurt on her face—the hell he’d put her through.
Wait a second, hadn’t LJ said that the girl he was supposed to go on the date with canceled? That he could do the VMAs because the contest winner had a boyfriend and didn’t want the date now?
Trevin swallowed hard. How could they have been so stupid? How could he have been so stupid? He needed to explain.
“We got a chance to talk to Daisy off-camera, and she was very candid about what you put her through last year. After she handed us this video clip, Daisy mentioned something about a bet between you and Ryder and how the only reason you’d even asked her out was because of this said bet. Did you want to elaborate on what this bet involved?”
Trevin closed his eyes. So she’d used him. All of this was to get back at him.
“Trevin, you seem shocked by the video,” Bridgett said. “How do you feel, finding out that you destroyed Daisy? Is this how the members of Seconds to Juliet treat women?”
“No comment.” His gaze shifted down the line of his band mates, who all looked as surprised as he did, other than Nathan. Had he known all along? Was that why he’d been so nice to Daisy? And if so, why didn’t he tell him?
At last, Trevin dared to search out Daisy in the crowd. But all he saw was the back of her head exiting the room. Fuck. He’d screwed up badly. But so had she. She’d totally thrown S2J under the bus. She’d handed the tape over to the paparazzi. Everything that’d happened between them this summer was a lie. Not just on his end, but she never had any intention of really dating him. She’d only gotten close to him to hurt him.
…
Daisy’s throat tightened when she saw the video onscreen. She squeezed her eyes shut. She hated reliving that moment, to have her embarrassment displayed for everyone to see on TV. And for Trevin to not even realize what he’d done. But even worse than that was how the paparazzi had portrayed her, like all she wanted was revenge. Maybe at the beginning she did. She never should’ve handed over the video. The look on Trevin’s face had nearly brought her to her knees. She couldn’t bear to see him like that.
She hurried to the back of the ballroom and let herself out. She had no idea where she was going, but she didn’t want to stay here right now.
Daisy rushed toward the hallway but didn’t get very far before she heard Trevin. “Daisy, wait.”
Daisy stared at him, then down at her hands.
“Why didn’t you tell me? You’ve been hanging out with me all summer and didn’t say a damn word.”
Tears streamed down her face, but she didn’t answer him.
“So instead of talking to me and giving me a chance to explain, you gave the reporters the footage, to make me look like an idiot?”
Her eyes narrowed as she stared him down. “Really, after you stood me up for our date last night, and stood me up last fall? That’s what you want to ask me? After everything you’ve put me through? I started off wanting to get revenge, but as I got to know you, I’d actually changed my mind—until yesterday. To find out I’m just some stupid-ass bet? Do you know how much that hurt? I mean, it was bad enough to have you ditch me for my homecoming dance, but this, this was even worse. You and the guys must’ve had a lot of laughs over this. Plotting out every second of how to make me look like a fucking joke. Was any of it ever real?”
“Look, the bet thing, that’s not why I hung out with you. Okay, maybe at the beginning, yes, but not these last several weeks. Things changed.”
“Nice try—but I’m not falling for your fake words ever again. But I have to give it to you, you really had me fooled when you learned my grandpa’s song. God, I’m so stupid. So fucking stupid.”
“I’m telling the truth. And if you want to be pointing fingers, how about the fact that you threw me under the bus along with the whole band. Was everything you did fake? The kisses, the time we spent together? Was this part of your scheme to hand the video over to the press? To try and make it as juicy as possible?”
He started to walk away when she called after him. “How does it feel? To be made a fool of the same way you stood me up in front of my whole town on TV. How does it feel to know everyone is going to be watching you and pointing fingers? Seeing what a jerk you really are.”
“Is that what this was about? All the pranks? I thought it might’ve been Ryder, but that was you, too? You got close to me just so you could crush me, humiliate me? Well, it worked. You win.”
“Damn it, I screwed up—but so did you,” Daisy said. Her chest hurt so badly, but still she reached for his arm. She needed to calm down. They both did. Tears welled in her eyes, making her vision blurry.
He shook her off. “Save it—I don’t need your excuses.”
Shi
t. Daisy covered her face and rushed out of the building. She ignored the fans and paparazzi standing in her way.
“Daisy,” her dad hollered after her. A second later, he caught up, crushing her into his arms. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
She shrugged as she sobbed into his shirt.
“I don’t want you running off on your own; let me call you a cab to bring you back to the hotel. We can talk tonight, all right?”
“Okay.”
A few minutes later, she was in a car headed back to her hotel. When she got there, she paid the cabby and raced for her room. This had turned out to be almost as bad of a summer as when her grandpa passed away. What sucked even worse was tomorrow was the anniversary of his death. So she’d get to deal with that and this. Why had she ever made the plan to get back at Trevin Jacobs? Or better yet, why had she ever thought his feelings were real? All she knew was she didn’t want to be here.
She needed to go home.
Chapter Twenty-One
Miles came down the hall. “Are you okay, mate?” He stared at Trevin.
“I don’t know, man. I’ve fucked up a lot of stuff. I don’t even want to know what everyone’s saying right now. I was supposed to watch out for the band, and now what are we gonna do? Because of this, and the video, we look like a bunch of douchebags.” He sighed. “Shouldn’t you be in there with Bridgett and not out here?” His eyes burned and he wanted nothing more than to cry. But the last thing he needed right now was to have a breakdown. Especially so close to the cameras. He took a deep breath and paced the floor, trying hard to compose himself and pretend that his heart didn’t feel like shattered glass.
“Nah. The interview is like every other one we do. Besides, you’re my friend, and I needed to check on you.”
“And because I didn’t want Miles to look like the only sensitive one, I thought I’d better check things out, too.” Ryder sauntered up right behind Miles, followed by Will and Nathan.
“What the? You guys didn’t finish the interview?”
“We took a break,” Nathan said. “We’re supposed to premiere our video after the commercial.”
Within seconds, LJ stormed out into the lobby. “What the hell is the matter with you guys? Are you trying to throw your careers away?”
“We’re sorry,” Will said. “We just need a minute.”
“Oh, you’ll have a minute, after we’re done doing this.” LJ pointed toward the doorway. “If you go in and finish this interview, we might still be able to save face. But only if you’re on your A game and being your charming selves.”
Trevin watched his bandmates head back into the ballroom, but he stayed behind.
Anger rolled off him like a monster truck racing over a line of cars. “So, would you like to explain to me why the hell you lied to me last night about calling Daisy to tell her something came up? And how you fucking lied about the contest last fall? The one where you said Daisy had a boyfriend and no longer needed a date to homecoming? Did you know all along that Daisy was that girl?”
LJ sighed. “No, I didn’t know. I swear. But look, you guys were still trying to make a name for yourselves. You needed to do the VMAs, but I knew if you had a date with this girl, you’d miss the opportunity, the band would miss the opportunity. I’d say that you should thank me for doing it—after all, look at what kind of girl she turned out to be. Handing that video to the paparazzi. It’s over and done with now. You need to focus on our upcoming shows.”
“That was a dick move, even for you, Lester. Seriously. Just so you know, don’t come to me anymore for information about the guys or to try and smooth shit over. I’m done being your bitch.”
“Trevin, wait. Let’s talk this through.”
“I’m done talking. I’m here for the band and that’s it. They’re like brothers to me, and I’ll continue to make music with them, and look out for them, but not because you asked me to and not to report anything back to you. If you want something from them or want to know something, then ask them yourself.”
With that, he trudged back into the interview, determined to save what he could of the band’s reputation.
When Trevin burst into the hotel about an hour later, he wanted nothing more than to go hide out in his room. The only positive thing that had happened was that they at least managed to finish the interview and debut their video. His song. Which now, with everything going on, he’d be lucky if anyone watched.
Trevin raced upstairs and barged into his suite. As soon as he was inside, he fisted his hands and covered his eyes and screamed. “Shit. I can’t believe this happened.”
“Trev, look, we can fix this, bro.” Ryder glanced at him from behind Miles.
“Just leave me alone for now.” He grabbed his cell, went into his room, and dialed Caroline’s number.
“Hey, big brother,” she answered. “Wow, I get two calls within a couple of weeks. I’m feeling pretty special.”
“Carly, I need you to fly out to see me,” he said in an unsteady voice, hoping he didn’t cry. He wasn’t a crier, but right now his heart felt like someone had taken a pair of scissors to it and cut it into tiny pieces. He sat on the bed and buried his head in his hands. “I’ll order you a ticket right now. I just need you.”
“What’s wrong?”
His voice quaked as he went on to explain what had happened both in the interview and last fall. “Will you see if Mom will let you fly out tonight?”
“Here, why don’t you ask her?”
Trevin knew if he talked to her she’d know something was wrong. But his mom didn’t pressure him for details—instead, she told him to book the flight, and she’d make sure his sister got to the airport on time. It felt good to know that his family was there for him, even when they were so far away. That they loved him no matter what kinds of shit choices he made. It made him miss them even more. He thanked her. When he hung up the phone, he went back out into the living room area.
Miles turned off the movie. “Okay, mate… What happened with Daisy before we came out?”
“You all saw the video. I think it’s obvious. She only got close to me to get revenge for hurting her last year,” he said, slumping down on the couch.
“Are you sure? I mean, she doesn’t seem like the type to do that,” Nathan said.
“Really? Are you blind and deaf? The video said it all. But hey, you should be glad. Now you can date her,” Trevin said.
“Uh, am I missing something?” Nathan stared at him like he’d sprouted another head.
“You like her, don’t you? I mean, you were hanging out with her before concerts.”
“I told you before, I never thought of her like that. But listen, I honestly don’t think she planned on doing this. I mean, obviously she handed over the video, but she must have had a reason. Because when I talked to her she just wanted you to remember her on your own and apologize. So how come I’m the only one who remembered her? Didn’t you guys read the memo and look at the picture when it came through about the contest?”
“You’re the only one who does that kind of shit,” Ryder said.
“But you knew about the date, right?”
“Hey Nate, why don’t you let it drop for now?” Will said. “I think we need to kill some zombies before our concert tonight.” He slipped a game in the Xbox. “Zombie killing always makes you feel better.”
Trevin didn’t have the heart to tell him it wouldn’t work for this. He’d been so blind and stupid. The summer couldn’t end soon enough. Beau better keep her off their bus or he’d find another place to crash at night. But in the back of his mind, he wondered if maybe Nate was right. That maybe things weren’t as bad as he thought they were.
…
Deflated, Daisy flipped on the TV and sat down staring at the screen.
Her dad came in. “We’re heading out for the concert now.”
“I—I think I’m going to just stay here tonight, if that’s okay.” She didn’t even look at him.
“Sounds good.
Stay in the room—no wandering around. You understand?”
“Yeah. I’m not really in the mood to go anywhere. I’m just gonna chill and watch a movie or something.”
“Okay, I’ll see you later.”
He left the room. He hadn’t even yelled about her part in handing over the video, which somehow made it worse, Daisy thought as she sobbed. She’d screwed up everything. This summer was a disaster, just like she knew it’d be. Maybe not in the same way she first thought—she’d never planned on falling for Trevin Jacobs. She was only supposed to come here. Destroy him. And leave. Not get involved.
She grabbed some clothes and shoved them into her backpack, then got her purse. She wanted to go home. Daisy didn’t belong here; she never had. She pushed her pillows in place under her blanket to make it look like she was sleeping. She used her cell and looked for the nearest bus station, finding one only a couple blocks away. She took out the credit card her mom had given her for emergencies. And, well, this seemed like one to her. She ordered her ticket online and would pick it up when she got to the station.
By the time the bus pulled into the Grand Rapids terminal, Daisy was exhausted. But she had one more place to go. She hailed a cab that was waiting in line for passengers to disembark from the buses and nearby train station.
“Where to, ma’am?” the driver said as she climbed in.
“Oakenfield Cemetery, please,” she said.
“Do you have the address?”
She wrote it down on a slip of paper from her purse and handed it to him. He pulled out into traffic and navigated the busy streets. About fifteen minutes later, he parked by the front gate, the wrought iron spires pointed like dangerous arrows.
Her eyes burning from lack of sleep, her body trembled as she trudged away from the cab. She’d been up for more than twenty-four hours. But she didn’t care about her fatigue. All that mattered was she was here now. Daisy made her way down the stone walkway of the graveyard. The midday sun created shadows along the headstones that lined emerald green grass. Oak trees stood tall, shading the dead. She took the familiar path to the left around a small pond and park bench, past an angel statue and a fountain decorated with stone doves. Soon Daisy stood next to her grandpa’s grave.
Daisy and the Front Man (Entangled Crush) (Backstage Pass) Page 20