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After a pause, I said to Ciaran, “We should get cleaned up before everyone arrives.”
“Good point,” Ciaran said.
“That reminds me, Franky, can you order ten large pizzas and ten boxes of wings?”
“Ten boxes!” she said in shock. “You can’t be that hungry.”
“The swim team is coming over tonight,” I explained. “I’m going to tell them about Coach’s blackmailing scheme. I have a feeling he might be doing the same to others.”
“And what about Zoey? Is she on board?”
I lifted my phone. “I’m about to find out after I call her.”
Franky grumbled, “She better, if she knows what’s good for her.”
“No mob antics, Franky,” I said.
“Fine.” She wiped her hands on a dish towel. “I’ll inform Davies about the arrival of the swim team and then I’ll order the pizzas. You’re lucky I put up with you.”
“You love me,” I quipped. Franky’s arched eyebrow suggested I was pushing my luck. “I mean, thank you, Franky.”
It wasn’t until Franky closed the front door behind her that I picked up my phone, placed it on speaker mode, and dialed Zoey’s cell phone.
She picked up on the third ring.
“Matthias,” was her less-than-pleasant greeting after picking up the line. I’d come to hate the way she pronounced my name, like it was poison on her lips. “I’m a little busy at the moment.”
“Busy deleting videos from Coach’s phone?”
It was a risk to lead with that, but we were running out of time. The swim team would be here soon and our parents would be returning tonight. I needed this wrapped up before it turned into a war.
“I haven’t seen Coach today,” Zoey said. “Which means I wouldn’t have had access to his phone.”
Hope flared bright in my chest. I stole a glance at Ciaran, who had remained quiet the entire time. His expression conveyed the same sentiment.
“Does this mean you’re considering helping me?” I asked.
Zoey didn’t answer right away. “Words are cheap in this town, Matthias. I’d want a formal written agreement between us drawn up before I decide.”
Ciaran’s gaze looked troubled. He hadn’t overheard my and Zoey’s previous conversation. At the time, she was semi-receptive to helping me. My goal at last night’s dinner had been to separate her goal in Hollywood from her father’s blackmailing scheme.
She’d been close to agreeing, but then Miss Paulina arrived to let me know that Ciaran was trying to run away. I wasn’t about to let Ciaran know all this. He’d just feel guilty.
“I’m willing to discuss terms, Zoey,” I said. “In person, though. Come over tonight, say eight thirty? I’ll have Davies pick you up at your dorm, so you won’t need to worry about transportation.”
“Fine,” Zoey said. “But the second it looks like you’re bullshitting me, I’m splitting, and you can deal with all the consequences of your actions.”
I wanted to argue with her, to yell and say that her father was a goddamn asshole, but that wouldn’t serve my cause.
“See you tonight,” I said instead.
After hanging up, Ciaran pressed a hand against my shoulder. “The swim team won’t be gone by the time Zoey arrives.”
“If everything goes the way I think it will, Zoey will realize the situation is bigger than me. I want to protect the guys on the team, too. If Zoey won’t listen to me because she’s burnt about my lack of romantic interest, maybe the team will convince her.”
Ciaran surprised me by pulling me into a bear hug.
“I’m proud of you, Matty,” he said into my neck. “Whatever happens tonight, just remember that.”
