Rocked (Rock & Romance II.)

Chapter 38. - No Good Deed

*Gia*

"I thought we were best friends! I thought we could share everything. I thought that I mattered enough that you would take my advice - or better yet, not hide behind my back!" Every single one of London's words was a slap in the face. "I can't believe this! I cannot believe my own eyes..."

I took a deep breath. "London-" I started, but was cut off again.

"At first I thought 'wow, they really did a number in photoshop!' because my best friend would never smile at a man like that. No, my best friend from childhood would not hold hands with the one person I've been warning her away from. She would never sneak around on me, because we shared everything." She paused for a second, choking on a sob. "I shared everything with you. All my secrets, my pain, my wishes... But now it all makes sense. How busy you have been for the last few months. I mean... How long has it been going on?!"

"Look, let's have dinner tomorrow. We'll talk, I can't-"

"There isn't much for us to talk about at this point. I've been here to talk your whole life. But now? Now I think I need a break."

I shook my head. "Look, I should've told you. But that doesn't mean our friendship-"

"What kind of friends keep something like this from each other?!" London snapped. "I've been talking about his affairs and weird tastes in front of you for months - and you what? Were you making fun of me behind my back?"

"You're overreacting. I would never make fun of you."

"I used to think you wouldn't lie to me either - but I was wrong about that, wasn't I?"

"Let's have dinner tomorrow, I can-" I offered again, but London didn't listen.

"I don't think I can make it tomorrow, Ginger. And if we're in the spirit of honesty, I don't think I can make it for a while. Whatever I need to know about you, I could just read online apparently. Because these gossip sites seem to have more secrets on you than your own so-called best friend."

"London-"

But the line went dead.

For the first time since I answered the call, I looked up. My eyes met with bottomless black ones, staring down at me in question as Ash bent his tall body to angle his face closer to mine. "What happened?" He asked in that gravelly voice of his.

I swallowed. "Please just-" I felt my stomach twisting. If London was this mad about the public finding out about us, I had no idea how Ash was going to react.

But this was certainly not the time to fall apart. I needed to put my big girl pants on, and face the consequences of my actions head-on.

So I squared my shoulders, straightened my spine and flexed my stomach so my voice would come out clear and loud. "Someone took some pictures of us, I think. I haven't seen them, but they're out there. That was London on the phone..." My throat tightened as I thought about how angry she has been. "She knows. Everyone knows."

I prepared myself for the blow. Ash Wolfhart was famous for his short temper and I was about to be on the receiving end of it.

But Ash continued standing there, solid like a rock, staring at me with those impossibly dark eyes that seemed to see right down to my very core - straight into those ugly parts that I've tried so hard to hide. "And?"

His question caught me off guard. "I mean, there is a picture - or most probably more than one - floating around of you and me holding hands and appearing very..." I trailed off, but Ash finished the sentence for me.