Page 53 of Coastal Runaway

I couldn’t help but shake the feeling that everyone was staring at me. While I had grown to embrace the attention I received, this felt different somehow, more malicious. I got up from the table in the union building that I was studying at and headed out to the quad. Maybe I just needed some air.

It’d been two weeks since Sinclair caught me and Luke kissing on our secret date. I was initially nervous that he would go shout from the rooftops about what he saw, but nothing came of it. Luke and I hadn’t gone on another date even though he’d asked at least a dozen times.

Look, it wasn’t that I didn't want to go out with him. But, I was trying to get my head on straight about what was happening here. I knew we should just tell the family and get it over with before they found out from someone else, but as soon as we acknowledged our relationship to the world, it became real. And when it’s real then that would give Luke the chance to break my heart again. Publicly this time.

As I walked down the path I picked up my pace to avoid the feeling of prying eyes. A group of girls approached me giggling. Okay, everyone was definitely staring at me. I tried to squeeze past them but they blocked my path.

“It’s okay, sweetie, we have all put our trust in the wrong people.” One of them sympathetically placed a hand on my shoulder.

Shrugging the stranger's hand off of me, I looked at her confused, “I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”

“Oh wow. You haven't seen it. This is so awkward,” she laughed and I had a sinking feeling in my stomach.

Did Sinclair tell my brother?

Did someone see us and post a photo?

I had a following on social media but I was generally not in the gossip rags. There were only a few times where the paparazzi blasted my most intimate details to the tabloids. Normally though, it happened when my dad was being covered in the news regarding some big deal or merger. As far as I knew there hadn’t been any news surrounding our family in a while.

She pulled out her phone and scrolled for a second before handing it to me. My eyes went wide and I froze in place as I read the headline KavTech Dynasty Reputation Threatened By Daughters Leaked Nudes.

I blinked and scrolled down to find naked pictures of myself that were anonymously posted to a CCU gossip page. I handed her phone back muttering, “I need to go,” and then I took off.

I was fully sprinting towards my Jeep when I smacked right into someone. Hands gripped my shoulders and held me steady.

“Woah there, slow down,” Sinclair said with a chuckle, “why in such a rush Keegan?”

It all clicked into place. I never was someone who sent nudes until I met him. He convinced me by saying that he missed me when the team was on the road and he wanted something to remember me by. I thought it was harmless, not understanding the slimy snake of a man that he really was.

“How could you do this to me?” The stinging behind my eyes fueled me as I took a step back. This man would not get the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

He leaned into my space, “next time your little boyfriend wants to throw a punch, think about how the loser's actions will affect you.”

Taken aback, I put my hand to my mouth.

“But tell me, how would Nolan feel about his best friend fucking his little sister?”

I reared back and slapped him across the face, the ringing in my palm causing me to clutch my hand. He touched his cheek and snarled at me.

“You made a mistake fucking with a Kelly, douchebag.” I turned and continued running until I got in Baby Blue and drove home.

I let the tears fall and screamed into the air as I sped down the highway.

This was what I got for letting my guard down. For trusting my heart with someone. I spent so much time building my walls and leaving the vulnerable little girl behind only, at the end of the day, for nothing to be different.

Used by another man.

Stupid little girl.

twenty-three

Keegan

I felt numb. As soon as I got home I collapsed on my bed and let it all out. The frustration that I felt about Sinclair exposing private photos. The hurt that I felt about embarrassing my family. The fear that I felt regarding opening my heart up to Luke. The disappointment that I felt knowing that I let down those who looked up to me through my accounts.

A scandal like this threatened to ruin the business that I worked hard to build. It all crashed over me like a tidal wave threatening to pull me under.

I was sobbing into my pillow when my phone rang, “hello?” I sniffled.