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Chapter no 17

Kiss the Sky

ROSE CALLOWAY

My parents have rented out the loft to a ritzy hotel in New York City,

complete with thirty sprawling flat screens, hors d’oeuvres and two hundred of their closest friends. They call it a screening party for the first episode.

I call it a nightmare.

Letโ€™s be clear. This is aย realityย show. Weโ€™re not going to look like proper, upstanding ladies of Philadelphia. I reiterated these sentiments to my mother and she waved me off. โ€œI know what a reality show is, Rose,โ€ she said. โ€œBut this way, weโ€™ll be laughing with you and not at you.โ€

Iโ€™m not sure thatโ€™s much better.

4 months and 25 days until the weddingย โ€“ Mom

I slip my phone into my clutch and snatch a champagne glass from the nearest server, who wears a signature-fitted Calloway Couture black pleated dress. Another reason why a hundred plus people are here to watch our antics: they have big checkbooks. Ones that may want to invest or buy

some of the clothes that Lily, Daisy, and I wear on the show.

I scroll through my phone, checking for the millionth time that the CC website is still online. God forbid it crashes during the show. That would be my luck.

The largest flat screen at the front of the room has a countdown before the show begins. 10 minutes.ย 10 fucking minutes.

Where the hell is Connor?

My nerves have spiked to new degrees, and I restrain myself from pulling out my phone and checking the website again.

I scan the crowd quickly, and I spot Loren and Lily standing off to the side, nearest a large potted plant. This is their first Calloway hosted event since Lilyโ€™s sex addiction became public. Half the people in the room stare

at them with curious, admonishing gazes. The other half gossip in whispers.

Lily and Loren look about as uncomfortable as they can be, shifting and avoiding eye-contact. Lo has his arm around Lilyโ€™s shoulder, touching her in comfort and rotating her body every time a camera edges too close.

There are twelve cameramen here. Just to ensure that every moment is captured for the show.

Iโ€™m about to walk over to Lily for moral support, but I barely take a step before Ryke approaches the couple. He hands Loren a can of Fizz Life and Lily his plate of Swedish meatballs. Whatever Ryke says, it has Lo smiling for the first time all night.

Two years ago, Lo and Lily would be standing miserable in a corner.

Addicted and enabling. A few months ago, no one could persuade my sister to leave the house because of the gossip and ridicule.

Now theyโ€™re here.

Smiling.

Iโ€™m usually not so sentimental. But watching my sister go from lying to broken to halfway-okay has moved me in immeasurable ways.

Itโ€™s easier to be born strong than to find a strength that you never thought existed. For that, I believe she has more courage and prowess than I could ever possess.

My eyes linger on them before I start searching for Connor again. I find Daisy first, entertaining my mom with a few head nods. While Loren steals one of Lilyโ€™s meatballs off her plate, Ryke watches Daisy from across the room, his smile fading and his features hardening in concern.

None of the guys like when we surround ourselves with our mother for long. I really donโ€™t want Daisy around her for more than an hour or two.

Mom sucks our energy dry, but thatโ€™s just her abrasive, all-consuming personality. Even if you never get used to it, you just have to deal.

When I finally spot Connor, all the built-up fuzzy, warm (generally foreign) feelings I had are replaced by annoyance.

I watch as my boyfriend greets a younger guy by hugging him and slapping him on the back in a typical bro-hug. It isย soย out of Connor Cobaltโ€™s natureโ€”his true self that I know and love.

My heels clap loudly on the marble floor as I strut towards him. I tip the rest of my champagne in my mouth and set the empty glass on a tray before I land by his side.

โ€œRichard,โ€ I say with heated eyes. I donโ€™t care if I look like a bitch.

Thatโ€™s the point. I am who I am. Why canโ€™t he just let people see the real him? Who cares if people donโ€™t like him?

โ€œThere you are, babe,โ€ Connor says, hooking his arm around my waist.

He nods to his friend. โ€œPatrick, you know Rose, right?โ€

โ€œWeโ€™ve never been formally introduced,โ€ Patrick says. He holds out his hand. โ€œPatrick Nubell.โ€

I donโ€™t shake it. โ€œAs in Nubell Cookies?โ€ It makes sense. Connor doesnโ€™t schmooze anyone. He has to have a reason to give you his time. Money and prestige are two important factors. Nubell sits just below Kraft (Oreos) and Keebler on the marketplace. Though Nubell cookies are more natural and less appetizing.

Patrick laughs and drops his hand, realizing Iโ€™m not going to shake it.

He doesnโ€™t seem affronted. Maybe heโ€™s heard of my reputation. In these social circles, I am frequently called an ice queen.

โ€œYeah, itโ€™s my great-great-grandfatherโ€™s company,โ€ he explains. โ€œYou probably know how that is. People always asking you which flavor of Fizz you like the best. Well, I getย do you prefer nugget or cinnamon.โ€

I stay quiet, which leaves Connor the opportunity to say, โ€œDefinitely,

man.โ€ He nods like he is entranced with this nugget/cinnamon conversation.

Sure, I could probably relate to Patrick on some level, but now is not the time for bonding. I haveโ€”I check my watchโ€”four minutes until the show airs. And I need a pep talk. Preferably from Connor Cobalt and not the twat he has impersonated.

โ€œCould you give us a minute, Patrick?โ€ I ask now.

โ€œYeah, of course.โ€ He leaves, probably searching for someone as young as him in the middle-aged crowd.

When I turn to Connor his eyes drop to mine. โ€œThat hurt me just as much as you,โ€ he says immediately. โ€œTrust me, I had to use the wordย killerย andย dudeย in the same fucking sentence.โ€

โ€œYou didnโ€™tย haveย to do anything,โ€ I retort. โ€œAndย babe, really?โ€ I smack his arm. โ€œAnd you gave him a bro-hug, Connor. Who are you?โ€ I donโ€™t give him time to answer because I know it will be something profoundly aggravating. โ€œAnd what were you doing with Nubell Cookies? Are you trying to partner with them? That sounds like a fantastic idea. Put magnets in the tins and make everyone sick.โ€

I finish my rant and he full-on grins. But itโ€™s different this time.

He smiles at me like every word I said was special. Like they belonged to him and me.

โ€œWhat?โ€ I snap, but my voice softens when I see the look in his eye that says I mean everything to him.

He intertwines his fingers with mine and draws me to his chest, โ€œNothing, darling.โ€ His breath warms my ear as he leans down. โ€œYou look

gorgeous in that dress. Is it yours?โ€

Is it yours?ย Heโ€™s asking if I designed it. I nod.

He brushes my hair off my shoulder as I inhale strongly. His fingers run across the black fabric with studs on the collar, and he skims my neck with an even lighter touch.

โ€œAs gorgeous as it is,โ€ he says, โ€œIโ€™m going to love taking it off you

tonight.โ€ He kisses my cheek, and I have to look around the room at all the faces to remember weโ€™re in public.

With hundreds of people.

My emotions have suddenly calmed, and as Connor squeezes my hand, I realize why.

Lo is right. He has a gift.

The countdown on the screen ticks down from ten.

Ten seconds.

Thatโ€™s all it takes to decide whether this show will fail. Ten stupid seconds.

* * *

Thirty minutes in, and itโ€™s not looking so good.

Beside me at the screening party, Lily shields her eyes with her hand, peeking beneath as we watch the train wreck that is our lives. The six of us have congregated in solidarity by the fucking potted plant as the show

continues playing. Scott chooses to stand beside my parents, whispering things to my mother, and she laughs with sincerity.

Connorโ€™s eyes flicker from the television screens to Scott and my parents every so often. I can tell heโ€™d like to go interject and break up

Scottโ€™s ploy to make nice with my mother and father, but he stays here. With me. And I appreciate that more than he knows.

We already watched the psychic disaster, and then I endured a five- minute clip where Daisy popped wheelies on her Ducati. She revved the bike too hard, and she slid off the back of the seat and ate it. Instead of

crying, she picked up her motorcycle that rode off without her, and she tried again.

After watching that, our mother looked ready to storm over to us and scold her in front of everyone. The only thing that stopped her was the two- hundred onlookers.

I finish my second glass of champagne and snatch another one before

the server darts away. The interview segments are the most interesting part ofย Princesses of Philly.ย None of us have seen each otherโ€™s tapes. Scott would stand behind Savannahโ€™s camera, conducting the interviews in our study, the walls lined with books. And heโ€™d dictate questions to her to ask usโ€”just so his voice wouldnโ€™t be recorded. God forbid anyone knows heโ€™s orchestrating the show.

โ€œLily and Lo f**k a lot,โ€ Ryke says, each f-bomb bleeped accordingly. He sits on a brown leather chair. โ€œIf we had to rank whoโ€™s getting the most, itโ€™d be my brother, his girlfriend, then maybe Connor Cobalt and his hand.โ€

Beside me, Connor grins and sips his wine, finding Rykeโ€™s comment more amusing than I would.

Rykeโ€™s eyes float towards the door that opens.

Daisy peeks her head through, walking straight in. โ€œI need you out front for a second,โ€ she says. โ€œWhat was the last question? If itโ€™s important, I

can come back later.โ€

Ryke stands. โ€œNo itโ€™s fine.โ€

I donโ€™t like where this is headed. Why would this be shown?

We hear Savannahโ€™s voice but canโ€™t see her. โ€œHe was ranking who has the most sex in the house. How would you rank everyone?โ€ Savannah asks.

Daisyโ€™s face lights up with a smile. โ€œDonโ€™t answer her,โ€ Ryke says.

โ€œLily and Lo,โ€ Daisy ignores him with a playful grin. She bounces on her feet like she drank way too much caffeine. โ€œThey f**k a lot.โ€

Ryke rolls his eyes.

By the potted plant, Daisy apologies to Lily, โ€œIโ€™m so sorry.โ€ And then her eyes flicker between Ryke and Lo. โ€œPlease donโ€™t get upset.โ€ She directs that mainly to Lo.

Lo turns to his brother and just gives him a deep glare. โ€œHow many shades of inappropriate are we about to see?โ€

โ€œFifty,โ€ Ryke quips, his lips slowly rise and we all burst into laughter,

despite the show still playing. People stare at us like they missed something on screen. They didnโ€™t. But finding the humor in our lives is much better than reliving the bad parts.

โ€œAnd then who?โ€ Savannah asks Daisy.

Ryke stares down at Daisy with a hard glare. โ€œDonโ€™t answer her.โ€ โ€œYou did.โ€

โ€œI didnโ€™t get that far.โ€

Daisy grins like sheโ€™s excited to be the first to divulge the information.

She spins around and stares right at the viewers [the camera] and Ryke grabs her around the waist to stop her from speaking. But she says, โ€œIโ€™m totally getting more ass than Ryke Meadows.โ€

She laughs as she squirms in his hold.

โ€œSheโ€™s not getting more ass than me,โ€ he says. He tries to pull her into his arms and turn her away from the camera. But she spins around quickly again and plants her hands on his chest.

โ€œOh yeah? I have a boyfriend. What do you have?โ€ โ€œA six-pack and big f**king c*ck.โ€

The crowd breaks into loud talk at that. Lorenโ€™s eyes flash murderously at his brother. And Ryke just shakes his head at himself.

Connor canโ€™t stop laughing.

Daisy tries to wrestle with him again, and her shirt rises on her waist, revealing a purplish bruise on her hip. Ryke goes incredibly still, and Daisy stops moving as her face falls.

โ€œItโ€™s nothing,โ€ she says quickly. โ€œCome on, I need you out front.โ€

We all turn on Daisy who has taken a seat on the floor, texting in solitude. Sheโ€™s ignoring us on purpose. And I wonderโ€ฆ

When I gave Daisy pepper spray, it seemed like she was keeping a secret with Ryke. I completely forgot about that, and so I never badgered them for the information. I think Iโ€™m finally going to get some answers, and theyโ€™re just going to be handed to me. No work involved. Look, the show

has another perk. Who would have thought?

โ€œHey.โ€ Lo nudges Daisyโ€™s back with his foot. โ€œWhat the fuck is going on?โ€

โ€œItโ€™s taken care of,โ€ she says noncommittally, fixed to her phone. Lo glances at Ryke. โ€œWhy didnโ€™t you say something?โ€

โ€œJust fucking watch,โ€ Ryke says. โ€œIt doesnโ€™t matter now. Theyโ€™re airing

it.โ€

Connor sips his wine. โ€œClearly you hoped they wouldnโ€™t.โ€

โ€œA part of me did, actually. But I was protecting that oneโ€ฆโ€ He leans

behind his brother and points to Lily who has her head on Loโ€™s shoulder. โ€œSo give me a fucking break.โ€

โ€œWhat? Me?โ€ Lily points to her chest sheepishly. โ€œIโ€™m okay.โ€ But her

voice is small. Sheโ€™s had to see herself make out with Lo, and all of us had a three-minute heated debate whether this was considered soft-core pornโ€” which sheโ€™s not allowed to watch.

Then Daisy off-handedly admitted to being a porn-watcherโ€”more to keep Lily from shrinking into herself in shame. And Lo made a face like someone stabbed ice picks in his ears.

Iโ€™m immediately brought back into the show after hearing one particular line from my sister:

โ€œHe threw something at me.โ€

Ryke breathes heavily. โ€œIt looks like he f**king grabbed you.โ€ She pauses. โ€œCan you please come outside and Iโ€™ll explain.โ€

With locked shoulders, Ryke follows Daisy downstairs, into the living room, and out the front door. When they reach the street, she leads him to her parked Ducati on the curb. The taillights and headlights are busted. And the handlebars are bent out of shape.

โ€œWhat the f**k? Mother ****ing, piece of sh*t **** **** ******* kidding me.โ€ He glares. โ€œWho f**king did this?โ€

โ€œSome douchebag downtown. I came out of Luckyโ€™s, and he was smashing my bike with his boot. He told me, and I quote, โ€˜Get out of here, you spoiled c*nt of Philly.โ€™โ€

Ryke cringes at the one swear word Iโ€™ve never heard him use. โ€œIt wasnโ€™t your boyfriend?โ€

โ€œNo,โ€ she says. โ€œHe wouldnโ€™t hurt me. I justโ€ฆI was trying to get my bike back, and we had a bit of a confrontation, hence the bruise. Itโ€™s nothing really. I was just glad the paparazzi didnโ€™t show up.โ€

Lily gapes. โ€œTheyโ€™re that angry at us for filming?โ€ The fear blinks in her eyes. If Philly locals did this to Daisyโ€”then what the hell are they going to do to my little sister whose sex addiction has been plastered on national

news?

The hecklingโ€”itโ€™s not something I really thought about before. โ€œIt wasnโ€™t that bad,โ€ Daisy tells both of us.

But Rykeโ€™s hardened jaw says differently. On screen and off.

Ryke inspects the damage on her bike, shaking his head more and more. โ€œWe need to press charges.โ€

โ€œI didnโ€™t get his name.โ€

โ€œBut you can describe him to the police.โ€ She stays quiet.

โ€œHe f**king assaulted you, Daisy. Heโ€™s not getting away with this sh*t.โ€ โ€œI donโ€™t want to cause more trouble, really. Letโ€™s just forget about it.โ€ โ€œYou want me to f**king forget about it?โ€ His eyes fall to her waist

where he saw the bruise. And then he stands and tries to pull her shirt up.

Connor chokes on his wine. I rub his back with a mechanical hand. I really want to smack Rykeโ€™s head, but Iโ€™m restraining myselfโ€”something Ryke clearly cannot do.

โ€œI gave you way too much credit,โ€ Connor tells him. โ€œI thought you were smart enough not to do that on camera.โ€

โ€œOn camera?โ€ Lo interjects. โ€œHow aboutย not at all.โ€

Daisy waves her hand from the ground, still texting. โ€œRight here, guys.โ€

Ryke extends his arms. โ€œWhat do you want from me? She just told me she got mauled by some fucking angry idiot on the street, and she wouldnโ€™t tell me how bad it was.โ€

โ€œFor the record, it wasnโ€™t that bad.โ€

โ€œIt was fucking bad.โ€ Ryke glares at her. โ€œYour whole side was fucked up.โ€

โ€œWhat isย fucked up?โ€ I say in worry. โ€œDo you need to go to the doctor, Daisy?โ€

โ€œI already went,โ€ she says. โ€œIโ€™m fine. No internal bleedingโ€”โ€

โ€œIโ€™m going to strangle you,โ€ I tell Ryke. I step towards him, and Connor clutches my arm, pulling me back to his chest. My sister wasย thatย hurt and

no one thought to inform me?!

โ€œWhy are you fucking yelling at me?โ€ Ryke shouts. โ€œIโ€™m not the one who tossed her to the ground.โ€

โ€œYou should have told me!โ€

โ€œDaisy didnโ€™t want you to know,โ€ Ryke retorts. โ€œIs it that hard of a

concept? You freak the fuck out, Rose. Youโ€™re about to hyperventilate right now.โ€

Iโ€™m not.

And then I realize that my chest rises and falls in a strange, uneven rhythm. Okay, maybe Iโ€™m not all there. But I hate that Daisy was hurt and I was purposefully left out of the secret. I should have remembered they were keeping something from me. I should have been by her side while she was at the doctorโ€™s. This is my fault. If we didnโ€™t have the reality show, she wouldnโ€™t have met such a hostile pedestrianย withoutย a bodyguard.

โ€œWere you alone at the doctorโ€™s?โ€ I ask Daisy. โ€œRyke went with me.โ€

At least she wasnโ€™t alone. But Lo glares at him, hardly thinking heโ€™s a good replacement. Heโ€™s better than no one.

I glance back at the big screen.ย Ryke and Daisy stop fighting each other.

He holds her arms while she stares up into his brown eyes. โ€œIโ€™m fine,โ€ she says.

โ€œThe more you keep saying that, Calloway, the less I believe you. Whatโ€™d he do, body slam a hundred-twenty-pound girl on the f**king ground?โ€

โ€œNo, we wrestled. In the mud. There were cheerleaders in attendance too.โ€

โ€œShut the f**k up.โ€ She grins. โ€œItโ€™s funny.โ€

โ€œYou being hurt is the least funny thing in the entire f**king world.โ€ โ€œAnd thatโ€™s the biggest exaggeration Iโ€™ve heard all day.โ€

They just stare at each other for three long seconds. Ryke tries to cut the tension by looking away first. He says, โ€œIโ€™ll take your bike to the shop. You can ride mine if you need to go to a modeling gig.โ€

People mutter again, and my motherโ€™s bony collar juts out as she inhales, her frame too skinny. With the scandal, sheโ€™s eaten less and less. And itโ€™s not long before her hateful gaze finds her target, landing on Ryke. Direct hit.

โ€œMomma Calloway is going to ream your ass,โ€ Lo tells him. He slaps his back and squeezes his shoulder hard. โ€œGood luck,ย bro.โ€ He smiles.

โ€œYouโ€™re enjoying my distress way too fucking much.โ€ โ€œIt keeps my life bright.โ€

The commercial break airs, and Iโ€™m surprised my mother has the balls to stay here. She could cave in embarrassment at her daughtersโ€™ impropriety and bluntness and their boyfriendsโ€™ habit to tell it like it is. But she smiles and waves at her stereotypical WASP friends without carrying a morsel of shame. Either sheโ€™s a terrific actress or sheโ€™s grown to look past our unbecoming natures.

Iโ€™d love to think better of my mother, but people donโ€™t change that quickly, especially not stubborn middle-aged women whoโ€™ve been rooted in their beliefs for so long.

But maybe this reality show could help her forgive and accept rather than hate.

By the time the show starts again, my head spins with a decent buzz. I grab another glass of champagne, and Connor stands behind me, his hands on my waist. He gathers my hair onto one shoulder, and the cold nips my bare neck.

Weโ€™re both suddenly distracted by the montage that playsโ€”moments at the house when only Lily was home.

Lily squirms on the leather couch. She adjusts her feet underneath, her forehead wrinkled in distress. Her hand starts to descend towards her jeans. She retracts almost instantly, her cheeks heating. She looks around the room to see if anyone saw. And when her eyes hit the camera, looking directly at us, the viewers, she presses a pillow to her face in humiliation.

It doesnโ€™t end there. Her internet privileges have been restored only because sheโ€™s taking online classes. And weโ€™ve all trusted her to stay off dirty sites.

She lies on the couch, her laptop on her legs. She glances over her shoulder and then she immediately shuts her computer, fighting a dangerous compulsion. Her hand descends towards her jeans, but she stays above the fabric and touches the spot between her legs.

โ€œHow can they air this?โ€ I ask angrily.

โ€œThe PTC will bitch tomorrow,โ€ Connor says calmly. โ€œJust let it play

out.โ€ The Parentโ€™s Television Councilโ€”Iโ€™m sure theyโ€™ll wave pitchforks at the network and producers, but itโ€™ll be all over entertainment news and blogs, just stoking the fire and causing more people to watch the footage.

Lily covers her eyes with her hands, and Lo has his lips to her ear, whispering to her rapidly while silent tears start to fall.

The clips keep coming in quick succession.

Lily rubs against a kitchen chair, unconsciously. When she catches herself, she reddens.

Lily rubs against the corner of the kitchen counter.

Lilyโ€™s hand descendsโ€”three different times. But she always stops before she gets too far.

I donโ€™t get embarrassed about many things, but I sense the judgment, the weird stares pinning on Lily in the party room. I can practically feel my sister crumpling before I even look at her.

Lily turns into Loโ€™s chest and she grabs at his black crew-neck. She stuffs her head underneath, literally hiding inside his shirt while heโ€™s still wearing it. โ€œIโ€™m not coming out,โ€ she says. โ€œDonโ€™t make me come out, Lo.โ€

Loren touches her head. โ€œStay there as long as you want, love.โ€ When

he looks up, he sends shriveling glares to anyone who so much as glances at him. His glares arenโ€™t necessarily like mine or like Rykeโ€™s. Theyโ€™re the kind that make you feel like heโ€™s about to go get a chainsaw and murder your

whole fucking family. Itโ€™s a sadistic,ย I have nothing to lose, type of look that his father taught him well.

And itโ€™s enough to cause everyone to face the big screens again.

The footage has changed to a compilation of interviews with Daisy, Lily, and me. I remember the questions being focused on sex. No surprise. Lilyโ€™s addiction is whatโ€™s drawing the viewers toย Princesses of Phillyย in the first place.

Since we shot everything separately, they cut to each of our answers.

โ€œWhoโ€™s your celebrity crush?โ€ Savannah asks. Daisy smiles wide. โ€œJames Dean.โ€

My eyes pierce the camera. โ€œAudrey Hepburn.โ€

Lily stares off in thought. โ€œUhhhโ€ฆโ€ She flushes. โ€œLoren Hale.โ€

Lo laughs and stares down at Lily whoโ€™s still hidden in his shirt. โ€œRight answer, love.โ€

She sniffs, and her arms wrap around his waist underneath his clothes.

โ€œHave you read Fifty Shades of Grey?โ€

โ€œYep,โ€ Daisy says, โ€œone handed.โ€ She wags her eyebrows deviously.

I say, โ€œAny patriarchal c*cks*cker who makes a woman ashamed to read it should be slapped across the face with hisโ€”โ€

Lily blushes. โ€œUhhhโ€ฆโ€ โ€œTop or bottom?โ€

โ€œMy motherโ€™s going to kill me,โ€ Daisy says. โ€œBoth. Sorry Mom!โ€

The people in the party room laugh, and my mother even cracks a smile.

I think we all forget how young Daisy is because she looks older than Lilyโ€ฆand sheโ€™s incredibly endearing.

But every time we cut to my answer, I look like a royal bitch compared to her, cursing the entire audience to hell.

โ€œIโ€™m a virgin,โ€ I say. โ€œWhy ask me that inane question?โ€ โ€œUhhhโ€ฆโ€ Lilyโ€™s eyes widen.

โ€œBack door or front door?โ€

โ€œNo c*cks have been near my a**h*le, sorry.โ€ Daisy shrugs after answering crudely.

Lo gives her a look. โ€œYouโ€™re spending too much time with my brother.โ€ She just laughs.

I tilt my head to the side. โ€œReally?โ€

โ€œUhhhโ€ฆโ€ Lilyโ€™s eyes grow bigger with each question. โ€œWhat do you wear to bed?โ€

โ€œI sleep in the nude,โ€ Daisy answers.

โ€œA nightgown,โ€ I retort, not elaborating whether itโ€™s silk or ankle-length cotton.

โ€œUhhhโ€ฆโ€ Lily turns her head to look at the door. โ€œLo!โ€ โ€œWhips or handcuffs?โ€

โ€œOooh,โ€ Daisy grins. โ€œI like the idea of whips. But you know, me dodging the whips. Make it into a game.โ€ She laughs.

I swear the men in this room grunt in audible desire.

I must wear a look of pure disgust because Connor squeezes my hip and whispers, โ€œWeโ€™re not all pigs, Rose.โ€

Heโ€™s right. I know I shouldnโ€™t generalize the entire male species as vile, gross things thatโ€™ll get off to my sixteen-year-old sisterโ€™s image.

And just when Iโ€™m feeling apologetic, I spot a guy with aย clearย bulge in his suit pants. โ€œWhat do you call that?โ€ I whisper in detest.

โ€œA boner.โ€

I shake my head. โ€œYouโ€™re such aโ€ฆโ€ I trail off and then smile. โ€œSmartass.โ€

He touches his chest mockingly. โ€œร‡a fait mal.โ€ย That hurts. โ€œJe suis content.โ€ย Iโ€™m glad.

His grin only grows. โ€œThey could have chosen anything else to label me, you know. Genius would have been my number one pick.โ€

โ€œPretentious,โ€ I argue. โ€œOr popularโ€ฆโ€

โ€œConceited,โ€ I continue.

He flashes another smile. โ€œHandsome.โ€

My eyes flit from his white button-down that fits him perfectly to his deep blue eyes. โ€œMaybe.โ€

He takes a sip of his wine and waves me to keep going. โ€œI have you

almostย giving me a compliment, why stop now?โ€

Our banter sets a fire underneath my heart. I could kiss him. But I regretfully turn towards the big screen. I realize I missed my response to theย whipsย orย handcuffsย question, which was evasive anyway. And Lily most likely gave her perfunctoryย uhhhh.

Now the guys are being asked a series of questions, cut together like our interviews.

Loren glares, waiting impatiently for Savannah to ask him something.

โ€œBlondes or brunettes?โ€

Lo stares harshly. โ€œBrunettes.โ€

โ€œI donโ€™t give a sh*t about hair color,โ€ Ryke says, his forearms on his thighs as he sits on the leather chair.

Connor is seated with his ankle on his knee, leaning back like a CEO of a multi-billion dollar company. He has his fingers to his jaw in mock contemplation. โ€œWhat happened to redheads?โ€

Savannah clears her throat.ย She has red hair.ย โ€œOr redheads.โ€ โ€œWhat about gray hair?โ€ His eyes flicker up a little. Heโ€™s staring at

Scott, who stands off screen. โ€œYouโ€™re forgetting black hair too. And purple, blue, orangeโ€”โ€

Lo is back, glaring.

โ€œWow,โ€ Lo says, his hand on Lilyโ€™s head, still concealed in his shirt. โ€œThey cut off your little rant, Connor. Howโ€™d that feel?โ€

โ€œChapped,โ€ Connor says easily.

โ€œCome here, Iโ€™ll rub your ass for you.โ€

Connor smiles into his sip of wine. But it must be annoying that Scott has the power to shut him up with a simple edit. I can see his irritation in the tight muscles of his jaw.

โ€œWhoโ€™s the messiest?โ€ โ€œRyke.โ€

โ€œMe.โ€

โ€œRyke.โ€

โ€œHave you ever been with a man before?โ€

Lo cocks his head to the side. And he flashes a bitter, dry smile, not giving anyone anything they want to hear.

โ€œNo,โ€ Ryke says.

Connor wears an unreadable expression. โ€œMany people want to be with me. I may give them all my attention, but Iโ€™ll only be with a handful, and of those, Iโ€™ll only really like a few.โ€

โ€œWho has the best legs?โ€

โ€œLily,โ€ Loren says. โ€œBut she wonโ€™t believe me if I say it.โ€ Ryke rubs his lips in thought.

Loren glares at him like โ€œyou better not have fucking said her nameโ€โ€” but I think we all hear Daisy in his head anyway.

โ€œRose,โ€ Ryke grimaces.

I laugh into my sip of champagne.

โ€œRose,โ€ Connor says. โ€œAnd then me, of course.โ€ โ€œTop or bottom?โ€

Lo glares. โ€œTop.โ€

Ryke shakes his head in annoyance. โ€œI donโ€™t care.โ€ โ€œTop.โ€ Connor grins. โ€œAlways.โ€

โ€œDo you think Daisy is as sexually active as Lily?โ€

Loโ€™s eyes flash cold. He stands up. โ€œIโ€™m done with this sh*t.โ€ โ€œWhat the f**k kind of question is that?โ€ Ryke asks. He rises and

chucks a pillow.

โ€œNo, sheโ€™s not,โ€ Connor says definitively. He stands and buttons his suit jacket. โ€œThatโ€™s enough for the day.โ€

While we go to commercial break, Daisy picks herself off the ground, her cellphone in hand. She tries not to make eye contact with any of the guys. Itโ€™s clear that the media is trying to determine whether or not my little sister will turn out like Lily.

And this fact only causes Lily to stay buried in Loโ€™s shirt, not only doused with shame but now guilt.

My chest hurts for both my sisters, but thereโ€™s nothing in my power that can reverse whatโ€™s happened. Maybe my clothing line isnโ€™t worthย thisย attention.

I scroll on my phone. My salesโ€ฆtheyโ€™re up by ten percent so far. The little ads that cut to the commercials must be helping. They say,ย Purchase the clothes worn by the Calloway sisters right now!ย And they show the

links to the CC website.

I wish my body didnโ€™t soar by the small success. A part of me wishes this reality show was a failure so I could easily choose my sistersโ€™ welfare over my dream. I should do it. Two years ago, I think I would have. But I wonder if Lily would ever forgive herself for driving my company to the ground. I think she needs to know that my company is okay tooโ€”that she didnโ€™t destroy everything with her addiction.

Daisyโ€™s phone slips between her fingers and clatters to the floor. She bends down to pick it up, forgetting that sheโ€™s in a black backless dress I

designed, short on her thighs. The dress immediately rides up, showing half her ass since she wears cut-off boy-short underwear.

My little sister has sufficiently mooned the crowd.

Ryke is the closest to Daisy. โ€œFuck,โ€ he curses, quickly standing behind her. He grabs the hem of her dress and tugs down.

The three guys look over their shoulders at the nearest camera.

โ€œDid they see herโ€ฆ?โ€ Lo trails off, not able to talk about Daisyโ€™s ass without cringing.

โ€œThat one did.โ€ Connor motions to a photographer with horned-rimmed glasses, gesturing for him to come over to us. As the photographer nods and approaches, Connor pulls out his phone and makes a quick call.

Daisy struggles to pick up her cell.

โ€œDaisy, grab the fucking thing,โ€ Ryke tells her, having to literally tug her dress down three more times as she moves.

She finally snatches the phone and spins towards him with a large smile. โ€œGot it!โ€

Ryke stares at the hem of her dress, making sure itโ€™s not riding up. I should be the one doing it, but Iโ€™m slightly tipsy, and I fear moving the wrong direction in my four-inch heels. I already sway a little. If it wasnโ€™t for Connorโ€™s hand protectively on my waist, I would have stumbled by now.

โ€œAre you checking out my ass?โ€ Daisy asks with the raise of her eyebrows

โ€œYeah, so did the rest of the fucking party.โ€

โ€œSo whatโ€™d you think? On a scale of one to ten.โ€ She grins playfully. โ€œIโ€™m not rating your ass.โ€

โ€œWill you ride it then?โ€

โ€œDaisy,โ€ I interject.ย Stop, I mouth. She pushes Ryke too far, and heโ€™s not one to back down from these kinds of conversations.

Daisyโ€™s smile fades. โ€œSorryโ€ฆI was just messing around.โ€ She flips her phone in her hand. โ€œIโ€™m going to goโ€ฆmingle.โ€

Now I feel bad.

โ€œNo,โ€ I tell her sharply. โ€œYouโ€™re staying.โ€

โ€œNo, itโ€™s cool. I need to go talk to Mom anyway.โ€ She avoids Ryke who stares down at her with a strong gazeโ€”filled with this unadulterated concern. Itโ€™s strange for such a hard-lined guy to have such potent empathy for others. But Iโ€™ve seen it come out on more than one occasion.

Connor speaks into the receiver of his phone. โ€œGreg, you see this photographer nearing me?โ€

So he called my father.

Connor continues, โ€œHe has a picture of your daughterโ€™s ass. Iโ€™m going to take the camera if you donโ€™t send someone to do it.โ€

I hear my father say, โ€œWhich daughter? And I have someone on the way.

Thank you.โ€ โ€œDaisy.โ€

My father lets out a large sigh. โ€œThat oneโ€™s going to kill me.โ€

Connorโ€™s lips slowly upturn, and his eyes glimmer with this unbridled longing. Itโ€™s powerful but barely visible. Fleeting. Like an eclipse of the sun.

He truly wants children.

He wants the challenges that each one brings.

He smiles as though he canโ€™t wait for that day where he has to deal with the hard parental choices, the dilemmas, the chaotic situations he must calm.

He does want it all.

But Iโ€™m afraid I may not be able to give it to him.

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