TEN

DELILAH

Two flights and twelve hours later, Tess and I are on a mini girls trip at a tiny island in the middle of the Caribbean. My Aunt Rose, my dad's younger sister, moved here a few years ago and agreed to let us crash with her for a few days to escape the craziness that has become my life back home.

While we're here I have a small swimsuit modeling shoot scheduled as well. My mom's former agent contacted dad yesterday after seeing my photos with Liam making their way around the internet.  I decided to give it another try. I have been modeling since I could walk.  It's fun, and I love being on photo shoots.  Not to mention I am all about keeping my schedule busy right now, that means there won't be any time to think about that Asshat.

We are currently at a little beach side diner named Lolitas getting breakfast when I spot the first photographers lurking behind some bushes. My dad had some of his security team come with us, so I'm not worried, just a tad annoyed that even on this tiny island they've somehow managed to find me.

Tess and my Aunt Rose sit across from me and Nathan, a guy on my dads security team, sits next to me. Nathan is a year older than us and started working for my dad right after he graduated from high school last year. He is a little young to have snagged the job, but his mom and my dad were friends in high school, so my dad decided to give him a chance.

We are all dressed for a day of sightseeing. I have on a light blue cotton sundress and Tess is wearing a ditzy floral romper. It's super hot and humid here so Nathan is dressed in a white tee and khaki shorts, which will also help him blend in to protect us.

We are visiting an old fort today that is just down the beach on top of a hill. I wanted to keep busy, I needed the distractions to keep me from thinking about a certain hazel eyed boy who shall not be named. I haven't heard from him since I blocked him on my phone. I'm sure by now he has already moved on to whatever girl said hi to him first anyway. He's probably been through multiple girls by now. If those pictures are any indication there's been at least three.

We are almost to the fort and I'm walking beside Nathan with Tess following behind us. She's already tired of walking and is trudging along trying to talk me into laying out on the beach instead.

I'm trying to get her excited for our adventure and I'm not paying the best attention to my surroundings. I stumble on a loose rock, Nathan grabs my back to steady me and I grab onto his bicep, laughing at what a klutz I am. That's when I see the photographer snapping his camera in front of me. I really hope he didn't get my near fall on film, that would be embarrassing.

We had a lot of fun touring the fort and decided to head back to this tiny tiki bar on the beach for fruity drinks while we watched the sunset.

Tessa's phone starts dinging incessantly.

"Ugh Tess! I thought we agreed to a technology free trip? No phones allowed." I pout and cross my arms in front of me channeling my inner 6 year old.

"Sorry girl. I blocked 'he who shall not be named', but I need it just in case we get lost or something. Huh, I wonder what Ty wants." She scrunches her nose and scans through the messages quickly. "Uh oh. So, there are more pictures babe. Do you want to see them or live happily for the time being in ignorant bliss?"

"I could go the rest of my life without seeing more pictures of him with his stupid groupies." I proclaim while taking a sip of my fruity rum drink. It has a tiny colorful umbrella and I love it! "But just out of curiosity, am I hotter? Even if I'm not, lie to me. OK? Thanks."

She shakes her head, "The pictures aren't of him, babe. They are of you," she pauses for dramatic effect, "and Nathan. How did they even get a shot like this?" She looks up at me confused.

"A shot like what? Let me see," I take her phone and examine the screen. The headline reads "Football's Princess Moves On with Yummy Mystery Man".

I scroll to the photos. There's one of me where I know I'm stumbling but they have it cropped close so it looks like I'm leaning into him, gripping his muscular bicep. I mean, it's questionable. I shake my head in confusion and move to the next photo.  My jaw drops, from the angle they took the photo it looks like we're kissing. I think I'm going to be sick. What the heck?

I hear Nathan on the phone explaining to my dad that he did not kiss his daughter.

Another text from Ty comes through and Tess takes the phone from me since I'm still staring at it frozen with shock and reads the message.

"Liam's pretty upset, Lilah. Maybe we should head back to the villa so you can give him a call. He deserves to know that the photos aren't what he thinks." She gently says taking my hand. Deserves to know? I don't think so. 

"Why should I care what Liam thinks?" Who am I kidding? I totally care what Liam thinks, but no one else needs to know that. "He cheated. He has no right to be upset. He's a cheaty cheater."

"Other magazines are putting up more pics of you and Nathan from our trip as we speak. We've been together all day. They are painting a pretty convincing story. Besides, maybe Liam's telling the truth. Look how easily they made up a story about you. Maybe those pictures of him with the girls were old like he's claiming." She deadpans and I want to believe what she's saying. I really do, but I've already started putting that wall back up and I have no plans on tearing it down again for Liam or anyone else.

"It doesn't matter." I say, shaking my head. "There will always be more girls throwing themselves at him. You should see all the nudes they are constantly sending him. It's disgusting. Even if he's telling the truth this time, it's only a matter of time before it happens for real." I refuse to let him break my heart. Again.

"I think you're making a mistake. Can I at least tell Ty that nothing is going on with you and Nathan?" She begs and I shake my head stubbornly.

"Let him think what he wants to think. It doesn't matter to me. I've already decided that we're better off as friends." If we can even be that.