Page 152 of How to Lose at Love
“His, um, agent wanted him to look more friendly, be seen out with someone…not like this blonde.” I point to her phone. “This is the exact opposite of what Eli wanted for Dallas.”
“Who’s Eli?”
Jesus, have I told her nothing? “Eli is his agent.”
Winnie shakes her head. “The fact that you’re dating someone with an agent blows my mind.”
Yeah, mine too. Except… “Looks like I’m not dating anyone—again. Two boyfriends in one month? Wow, I’m really winning at life here.”
“Stop it,” my friend chastises. “Knock it off right now. You couldn’t have predicted this, and like I said—maybe it’s not what it seems.”
“I’m sorry, Winnie, I wish I agreed with you, but pictures speak louder than a million words.”
She tilts her head. “Haven’t you learned anything from the tabloids? Celebrities are always getting fucked over because some asshole photographer sets them up. Maybe that’s what this is.”
I shake my head insistently. “That’s not what this is.”
“You can’t know for sure until you talk to him.”
I’m not talking to him. He had his chance, and he blew it.
I am now going to be a laughingstock after he had the paparazzi breathing down my neck and every student on campus staring and whispering about me behind my back.
“Be smart about this, Ryann.”
I don’t understand why she wants me to hear him out. Is it because deep down she’s like every other fame-grabbing girl on campus?
“I think I need to be alone.” I need to think.
I don’t want to see that picture, don’t want to hear about it. I’m terrified to check my phone, confident I’ll have a million messages I don’t want to see or read, dreading the night to come.
* * *
Winnie:
How are you doing? I haven’t heard from you in hours…
I’m hiding.
Did you make it back to work?
Yeah, but they were cool about me coming in late. Ben gets it…
Ben? BEN WAS COOL?
Yes. I mean, obviously he heard about the drama and saw the picture, so I feel like he was kind of expecting me to call in sick.
Obviously he’s seen the picture.
Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.
Don’t be sorry, it’s facts.
Have your parents called?
Yes, a few times, but I don’t want to talk to them because I’ll just have to listen to my mother lecture me about dating a football player.
How would she know what it’s like dating a football player?
