Page 103 of Rebooting Conor Flynn

I punched the button and took the car to my floor. A few dancers at the end of the hall waved, and I waved back, wondering if they were the ones who leaked the photos. I saw everyone on the tour as a suspect now.

Once in my room, I showered, changed into a pair of gym shorts and a T-shirt and flopped on my bed with my laptop.

I read a message from Sam asking how I’d managed to go from fuckboy to saint in a few hours and begging me for tips. Wanker.

I brought up my songwriting program and tried to channel some of these feelings into new lyrics, but social media kept drawing me back with its siren’s song of positive energy.

Justice for Conor

Don’t mess with our pookie

Ashley lied, Conor cried

Time to fire the publicist

Five2go Forever!

Where was Noelle’s justice? This afternoon these same fans painted her as a homewrecker, a sneaky link, a sidepiece. Didn’t she deserve her own redemption arc? It didn’t feel as if even Noelle could fix this.

I jumped when my phone rang and sank against my pillows when I saw Toby’s name on the display. “Hey, Tobe.”

He whistled. “That was a close one, lad.”

“Yeah.”

“Did you post those photos of Ashley?”

“Fuck are you talking about. Of course, I didn’t.”

“Well, whoever did, saved your Irish ass. You’re out of the woods now.”

“Doesn’t feel like it.”

“What do you mean? Have you been checking the socials? You’re everyone’s fair-haired boy again. You don’t even need to address it. Keep quiet.”

I paused.

“Don’t do anything stupid, Con. You’re in the clear.”

I swallowed as the silence stretched over the line. “I am. But she’s not.”

PopWiz Instagram Post

Blind Item #3

This former boybander is back in his fans’ graces, but the woman behind the scenes may be ready to spill the beans.

Part IV – End of the Road

Chapter 25

NOELLE

I ordered room service for breakfast and sat on my balcony watching the sun spill golden morning light over the rolling hills in the distance as I sipped my chamomile tea.

A sense of calm descended on me as I took in the awakening of those hills—it might also have to do with the swap out of my usual iced coffee for the tea.

We had a day of rest at the hotel before the three-hour drive to Dallas tomorrow. Jermaine preferred to travel during late nights, checking into the hotels with minimal fanfare, but the proximity of Austin to Dallas gave us a little breathing room. I could use a little breathing room right now.