|chapter 40|
ACE
I didn't make it two blocks before the cameras found me. I swear these people smell chaos the way sharks smell blood.
Flashes exploded in my face as soon as I stepped onto the sidewalk.
"Ace! Ace! Are you and Ariana back together?"
"Did you spend the night?"
"Are the cheating rumors with Kehlani true?"
"Were you drunk last night?"
"Anything to say about the girls on your lap?"
I kept my hood up, jaw tight, fists clenched, heart pounding. I tried to push past them but every question hit harder than the last.
And underneath all of it, louder than the cameras; only thing I could think about was how Ariana thinks the worst of me. The fact that Greyson is still alive to comfort her. I just feel like I ruined everything!
Someone shoved a mic toward my mouth, hitting me in the upper lip. I snatched back glaring towards the crowd.
"Ace, man, one comment for the fans—"
I snapped. "Back up," I growled while holding my mouth. "I'm gonna fucking sue the shit out of you guys!"
"Ace—"
"I SAID BACK THE FUCK UP!" I was loud, of course I was. I was angry as hell, not just because of the paparazzi- but because of what just happened with Ariana.
Their faces went wild — like they'd just caught the headline of the month.
I shoved through the crowd, practically running until the noise faded behind me.
"Shit." I mumbled removing my hand seeing some blood. My chest was tight and breathing uneven. The whole world felt like a blur.
I shouldn't have left her like that, I should have just talked to her and not walk away. But I didn't know how to stay without breaking more shit.
I needed some space and a few hours to myself. That's what's I felt like I needed right now, it's always a million things going on around me. I just wanted a break.
My phone rang and I glanced down at it to see it was CeCe. Of course. Instead of answering the call, I let it ring. I huffed trying to relax, but after the fourth call- I picked up.
"What," I snapped.
"Ace, where are you?"
"Walking." I mumbled as I pushed my free hand down into my left front pocket.
"You need to stop walking and get to the hotel. Now."
"No," I muttered. "I'm not doing PR right now. I'm not doing interviews. I'm not apologizing for shit I didn't do."
"This isn't about PR." Her tone was sharp enough to cut steel.
"Then what—?"
"Ace," she said slowly, "there's a video."
My stomach dropped. "What video."
"From the afterparty."
Oh shit, no-no this can't be happening right now. This is the last thing I needed to be dealing with right now!
My throat tightened. "Which part." Of course I knew what he was talking about, but this is the last thing I wanted to talk about. This bullshit already caused me so much hell- fuck I should have just stayed on my tour bus or in the damn hotel. I shouldn't have even showed up to the party- then I wouldn't have seen Ariana and her fuck toy Greyson.
