I hated that I was thinking along those same lines. I allowed myself to tell these people that us making money would be betterfor them. I wasn’t thinking about the cost beyond a monetary sense.
“I don’t think this is going to go well,” Cody said. “Those men and this crowd are not the image we want splashed across the media.”
“I know.”
“What are we going to do?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I think we need to drop back. If people figure out who we are, they are going to turn on us.”
I turned, ready to retreat when Judd spotted me. There was no way he was going to let me walk away. He wanted me to share in the misery. Except he didn’t hate what was happening. He was getting off on it. He raised one hand and crooked two fingers at me, the way you’d call a dog.
Fucker.
I internally grimaced. People noticed him gesturing and everyone turned to look my way. The people nearest me were looking at my face, then at Judd. I saw recognition dawn. They knew who I was.
“Traitor,” someone nearby muttered.
I didn’t look to find out who said it. I could retreat into the crowd or face the music.
I started moving toward the steps, doing my best not to make eye contact with anyone. The crowd shifted around me, stepping out of the way like they were afraid to touch me. I didn’t blame them.
I was maybe ten feet from the base of the steps when I ran directly into a wall. Not a wall. A person. A beautiful blonde in denim shorts and a cut-off shirt that showed a strip of tanned stomach that I had absolutely no business noticing right now. Nor did I need to be thinking about running my tongue around her belly button.
Summer planted herself in my path with her arms crossed and her chin up. The anger radiating off her was very real.
“Summer.” I said her name.
“Anderson.” She said mine with disgust in her tone.
“I need to get up there.”
“I know you do.”
She didn’t move.
“I’m not going to stand here and argue with you in front of half the town,” I said quietly.
“Nobody’s arguing,” she said. “I’m just standing here. It’s a public street. Just like it’s a public beach… for now.”
“Summer,” I tried again. “Can we talk later?”
“When you get up there, make sure you take a good long look at the crowd.” Her eyes held mine and didn’t let go. “Look at the actual people. The ones holding the signs. Okay?”
“Why?”
“You’re hurting every single one of us,” she said. “And you don’t get to keep your head down and ignore that fact if you choose to go forward with this.”
Shame coiled in my gut. It was wrong. I felt it.
“Go on,” she said. “Your pal might get mad if you don’t jump when he calls. And he looks pissed. I’d hate for his big, bad bodyguards to get angry.”
“I didn’t know he was bringing bodyguards,” I hissed.
“Is that why you told me to stay away?” she asked. “You didn’t want me to witness you getting up there and flaunting your wealth and strength.”
She wasn’t going to give me a chance. “You’re right, Summer. You know me so well. If you’ll excuse me, I don’t want to keep my fans waiting.”
I climbed the steps to join Judd and prepared to face my haters.