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His eyes narrow ever so slightly, and I take a step back, tugging at Poppy’s shoulder for her to do the same.
“It ain’t possible to hide from the public, Annalise. Brody and that team of his know that too damn well to be playin’ these games with the media. You tell ’im that, yeah?”
I stiffen, my back straight as a steel rod. “You can tell him that yourself, I’m sure. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’ll be leaving.”
Poppy bares her teeth at him like a rabid dog before we move to her car, hopping in quick and locking the doors. Spencer Sharp continues to stare at us through the windshield, and I have to shove Poppy’s hand down out of view when she tries to flip him off.
“Reporters have been to Cherry Peak before, but not for a few years now. It was crazy for a while after Brody’s first few singles dropped and the world wanted a closer look at his life back home. The hype of the small town wore off, though. The people here won’t be happy to have that guy in town. He’ll be run out quick, don’t worry,” she rambles as we pull away from the studio and down the main street.
Tucking my hands between my thighs, I attempt to fight off the shock panging through me long enough to come up with a response. Poppy speaks for me.
“You need to call Brody. Tell him what happened.”
“He’s busy,” I mumble, but even I can admit that’s a cop-out. It’s a reason to keep this to myself so he doesn’t freak out. The moment he hears what happened, he’ll come home, and it’s too soon for that.
If he was ready to come home, he’d already be here. There are still things he needs to work out in Nashville.
She stares at the rear-view mirror before saying, “Call him, or I will.”
“Neither of us are calling him. I’m a big girl, Poppy.”
“I’m not saying you aren’t. But that douchebag is following us in his fancy rental car right now, and there’s no way I’m leading him right to your house. So call your man and ask him what he wants me to do here.”
I spin in my seat, mouth gaping at the headlights beaming in the back seat. My fingers are shaking when I pull my phone out and dial his number. He answers on the third ring, sounding so happy to talk to me that I almost pretend to lose service before having to tell him what’s happening.
“Hey, sweetheart. How was class?”
I swallow. “Good. I’m sore, though.”
“Need a massage?” The smirk is obvious in his voice.
A laugh rises in my throat before evaporating into nothing. “Can you talk right now? Are you busy?”
“What’s wrong?” he asks stiffly, suddenly on alert.
The headlights behind us continue to flash in the side mirror, making me wince. “There’s a guy in town. Says he’s fromCountry Capital. He asked me about you.”
“When? Where?”
“A couple of minutes ago outside of BB.”
“That’s not all!” Poppy shouts. I glare at her.
“What’s going on?”
I hate this. Really, really hate this. “It seems he didn’t appreciate being turned down for a statement. He’s following us.”
Something slams in the background of the call, so loud I can hear it over the sharp curse Brody spits. “Don’t go to your place. Poppy’s either.”
I relay the information to Poppy, and she asks, “Where do I go, then?”
“The ranch. I’ll let my grandparents know you’re comin’. Spencer won’t get on the property. Poppy can stay with you too. We don’t need him knowin’ where you both live.”
“I’m not bringing him to the ranch and making him your family’s problem, Brody. Give me an alternative route.”
“Youarefamily. And that fucker won’t dare step a foot on our land without permission. I’ll be home tomorrow.”
My next exhale is heavy, tired. “Don’t come home because of this. You’re not done there yet.”
