My Player Bestfriend (Book #1)

Chapter Nine

We were sitting on the hood of Austin's car, the sun dipping low behind the trees. His tour started again in two days.

And it felt like everything was slipping just as it had finally settled.

"I don't want to go," he said, his voice low.

I rested my head on his shoulder. "You have to. It's your dream."

"You're part of my dream now."

I smiled, but it didn't reach my eyes.

He noticed. "What's going on?"

I didn't answer at first. Then I said, "I just... I've never had something like this. I'm scared it's going to disappear the second you're gone."

He turned to me, holding my face gently. "Then let me make it official before I leave."

I blinked. "What?"

"Be my girlfriend, Mary. For real. No more almosts, no more hiding."

I looked at him, stunned. My heart felt too big for my chest. "You're serious?"

"Dead serious. I want you. All in."

And even though fear was still there, something louder rose up to meet it.

Hope.

"I'm in," I said softly.

He kissed me — not desperate or urgent this time. Just sure.

Like he meant it.

The first week of tour was fine.

He texted every morning. FaceTimed me after every show. Sent pictures of cities he wished I was in. Told me he missed me more than the crowd's energy.

I believed him.

I wanted to believe him.

Until the fourth week.

Until the silence started stretching longer. Until the calls got shorter. Until his responses turned into:

"Sorry, crashed early."
"Busy day, I'll call you tomorrow."
"Show ran late. Love you, though."

And then — the headlines hit.

"Austin Mahone Caught Leaving Hotel with Pop Star Marlee Rose at 2AM"
"Sources Say the Two Have Been 'Close for Weeks'"
Photos: blurry, but real. Austin. Hoodie up. Marlee beside him. Laughing. Close.
"Insiders report a 'spark' between the two artists on tour."

No one tagged me this time.

No texts. No group chat.

Just silence.

Because this time... no one knew what to say.

And neither did I.

I sat frozen in my room, staring at my phone. My mind racing.

Was it just rumors?

Was it nothing?

Or had everything I was finally starting to believe in just... crumbled?

I opened our text thread.

Typed:
"So... do you want to explain the headlines?"

No answer.

I tried again.
"Austin?"

Nothing.

Not for an hour. Not for two. Not even by midnight.

The worst part?

He had read them.

The next morning, the internet was on fire.

His fans were split — some defending him, some calling him a cheater, some saying Marlee was an upgrade.

And I still hadn't heard a word.

It wasn't a scandal this time.

It wasn't a rumor.

It was real enough to hurt.

So I did what any girl would do when the boy she trusted the most goes quiet.

I deleted our photos.

Took down the story highlight with his name in it.

Blocked the headlines, muted the noise.

But I couldn't mute the ache in my chest.

Not when everything I'd feared came true — after I finally let him in.