Page 96 of Fight For Me

“Because it’s what everyone else is going to do,” I mutter. My whole body slumps as exhaustion slams into me.

“Anyone who blames you for something we both wanted is an idiot.”

I bark out a bitter laugh. “Yeah, well, tell that to your dad. How many times has he called since the show ended? You think he’s not imagining all the ways he should kick my ass right now?”

She rolls her eyes. “My dad hasn’t like any of the guys I’ve ever dated—”

I take a step closer, anger and frustration building. She doesn’t get it.

“It’s not the same, Alex. He’s not going to be mad because he doesn’t like the idea of his little girl growing up and dating. He’s going to be mad because it’sme.”

“My dad loves you! Both my parents do.”

Not anymore.“He’s not going to be okay with this. No one is going to be okay with this.” I don’t know how to make her understand. “Your parents. My parents. Reed and Lennon and Paige—”

“You’re being ridiculous.”

“Did you see my brother’s face up there?” I’m trying to hold it together and failing, my words leaving me as a shout. “He’s furious. He looked…”

She just seems confused. “What? How did he look?”

“Disgusted. Like he couldn’t stand the sight of me.”

Her eyes go wide. “You’re misreading things. There’s no way Will feels like that. He idolizes you!”

“I know what I saw. And I know he won’t be the only one who feels like that.”

Her frustration is clearly rising to meet mine. “Why? I don’t understand why you think people are going to react this way. Why is it such a big deal?”

I rub my temples. “We’ve been over this. I’m older—”

“Who cares?” she yells, throwing her hands up. “People date older and younger partners all the damn time!”

“They sent me here to take care of you!” I explode. “Your dad and Reed. That’s why I’m here. To keep you safe. To keep assholes from messing with you and Everly.”

She narrows her eyes. “I thought you weren’t here to babysit. You promised us—”

“I’m not talking about babysitting!” My voice is definitely too loud but I don’t know how to calm down. Not when it feels like everything is falling to pieces around me. “I’m talking about Scott.”

“Scott?”

“He’s an asshole, Alex. A total creep. Reed had a background check done on him like an hour after you guys told him about the show. He has a reputation of dating girls from his shows. Much younger girls.”

“So they asked you to stay with us to make sure we didn’t…what? Succumb to his charms?” She says it like it’s the dumbest thing in the world. “Sorry, Wyatt, I don’t think either of us is attracted to gel-caked hair and fake orange tans.”

“We wanted to make sure he didn’t try to take advantage of you,” I bite out. “We didn’t want him using the show to pressure you.”

She rubs at her temples. “Everly and I are going to need to have a long talk with our fathers about their ridiculous overprotectiveness.”

“It wasn’t being overprotective,” I snap. “They had legitimate concerns about that guy. And I was supposed to be here to keep anything from happening.”

“Okay. What’s the big deal then?” she asks. “You did that. You came out dancing when you didn’t want to because you thought he was being too fresh, you went to Miami—”

“And then I did exactly what they were afraid of!” I shout. “I took advantage of a much younger woman.”

“You didn’t take—”

“It’s what they’ll think! They’ll think they sent me here because they trusted me and I turned around and betrayed them.”