Olive peers at me through narrowed eyes. “Do you think everyone hates you?”
“Hate is a strong word.” I chew my lip. “More like everyone has lost respect for me now that they see how petty I really am.”
“Bree,” Zoey says, scooting closer and putting her arms around me. As the oldest Belacourtandthe oldest daughter, she has the protective genes down pat. She’s been preoccupied with her boyfr—no, herfiancé—for the last few years, but that doesn’t erase a lifetime of being the oldest. She holds me tightly, like she can squeeze her feelings into me. “Do you know how many people drop diss tracks every year? You’re acting like this is the worst thing you can do to another human, but it’s not the end of the world.”
“It’s not just that, though. Mine’s not a genericBad Bloodtype. You guys heard it. I’m so specific and cruel.”
“I can’t really believe Mom let you release that,” Olive mutters.
“Not helping,” Zoey snaps.
“Mom loves the song. She was totally on board.”
Olive wrinkles her nose, her brown eyes piercing me. “Never mind, I can totally buy it. Mom probably thought it would throw you and Jaida into the headlines for a while.”
“Which it has,” I concede.
“You just didn’t come out on top.”
Zoey releases me and sits back against my headboard. “Jaida’s pity video wasn’t great for your image.”
“Did you guys come tohelp? What happened with Lucy?”
“Yeah, so…” Olive inhales. “Lonnie is going to talk toGood Morning America.”
Ice runs through my veins.
“Lucy heard about it through someone she knows?—”
“His new girlfriend. Abby, right? She helped Lucy sometimes with my hair, so I’m guessing that’s who Lucy heard it from.”
Olive cringes, which is enough to prove I’m right. That absolute, utter piece of trash. I can’t believe he’s selling out the years we spent together for ten seconds of fame.
“When is he going live?” I ask.
“Tuesday morning,” Olive says.
“So we have the weekend to figure out what to do.” Zoey has slipped her business goggles on. “We aren’t unprepared, B. This isn’t a sneak attack, and he doesn’t have to have the upper hand. I already tried to use my contacts to see about getting him uninvited, but short of you taking his place, they want to talk to him.”
I shake my head. “I’m not rewarding a company who’s actively trying to get dirt on me.”
“Figured you’d say that,” Zoey says with a nod. “Our next steps are to plan how to handle it. I have ideas, but I’m open to hearing yours first.”
If I suggest sinking into this bed and turning onNever Been Kissed, will they shoot me down or go scoop the ice cream?
I close my eyes, pushing out thoughts of traitorous Lonnie and his stupid new stylist girlfriend, and dragging in my support team. Zoey, Olive, Benny, Nancy. Even Colby, I think.
That’s it. Colby. The video.
“We kind of already have a plan. Benny came up with it—we wrote a song, and he has a friend who’s going to let us use his recording studio next week, and his cousin Colby is going to shoot a video so I can post it online.”
It’s obvious from Zoey’s expression that this is the last thing she expected from me. It stings a little, but I let it slide.I’m still trying to understand why they’re here and my mom isn’t.
“Can you move the recording session up? If we have everything done by this weekend, then we can drop it the morning of Lonnie’s GMA appearance and suppress any momentum he thinks he’s going to get.”
“Great idea,” Olive says.
“I’ll ask. I need to get my phone.” I climb off the bed and retrieve my phone from the kitchen drawer where I keep it hidden. When I swipe it open, the number of notifications awaiting me are overwhelming.
