Reckless (Thoughtless, #3)(151)
Kellan slowly looked back at the DJ. This was hard for him. Regardless of how Sienna had manipulated us, she’d given the D-Bags their start. She’d put them on the map; they sort of owed her for that. And she wasn’t all bad. I’d seen glimpses of her generosity, like her arranging a car to get my sister to the hospital, and her showering Anna with things for Gibson. There was a soul inside of Sienna . . . buried deep under her incessant need to be on top. I wondered how much of that drive had to do with her pressure-filled childhood.
Sighing, Kellan told her, “It’s not entirely Sienna’s fault, but yes, she definitely did her part to make sure the fans saw us together.”
All of the DJs looked confused. “Why?” the unkempt one asked.
Kellan looked back at his band sitting slightly behind us. This was it, the point of no return. But we’d gone too far now. If people were going to really understand what had happened, then the entire truth needed to come out.
Evan reached over and put his hand on Kellan’s shoulder. Squeezing, he nodded. Kellan returned his eyes to the DJ who had asked the question. “To boost sales. The record label decided early on that Sienna and I as a couple would create a buzz that would help us both. It was their idea to make the music video so . . . explosive.” He frowned as he looked over at me. “And I’ll never really forgive myself for doing it.”
“I talked you into it,” I reminded him.
Nodding, Kellan inhaled a deep breath. Looking back at the DJs hanging on our every word, he said, “I was encouraged by the label to let the rumors grow, to hold my tongue. I didn’t want to let my band down. These boys are my family. I wanted the success for them, so . . . I went along with it in the beginning.” He let out a weary sigh, then shrugged. “By the time I changed my mind and started speaking up, it was too late. Nobody believed me.”
Seeing his forlorn expression, I told the DJs, “The label pulled the D-Bags from the tour with Avoiding Redemption. The label put them on Sienna’s tour, trying to drive the hype up. Sienna made sure they were constantly photographed together. Kellan was being evasive to protect me.” Shaking my head, I turned to Kellan. “It’s no wonder that the fans didn’t believe what you were telling them. No one’s at fault there.”
The female DJ scoffed. “No one but your label and Sienna. You were green to the business, probably overwhelmed, and they completely walked all over you. It’s disgusting, and I for one am outraged for you.”
Kellan and I both smiled at her. Finally, someone understood. Someone believed us. And having someone on our side felt better than I ever thought it would.
We spent the next several minutes answering any question they asked, including a lot of questions about the confusing sex tape. Kellan told them, “No, that wasn’t Sienna. That was an old roommate of mine. We made it several years ago. She leaked it for money, and since she’s never once spoken up about being the girl in the video, I’m assuming that she got paid a great deal of money.” I thought he made a very good point. So did the DJs.
After the DJs’ questions were satisfied, we took additional questions from callers. It went really well, although several of the callers sounded shocked, angered, and saddened that Sienna and Kellan weren’t real. One was even crying. I hadn’t meant to break the hearts of the Kell-Sex fans, but Kellan and I couldn’t keep this under wraps anymore. In the end, I hoped they understood that.
The minute we stepped from the studio, I felt higher and happier than I had in a while; our relationship being out in the open was both terrifying and liberating. Even if we were going to get heat from the label and Sienna, at least things would be honest from here on out. For the first time in the last few weeks, I felt really hopeful. And proud. Hard as it was, Kellan and I were doing the right thing.
Tori was livid when she met up with us in the hallway. She wasn’t the only one. We didn’t even make it to the elevator before Kellan’s phone started ringing. He cringed when he saw the screen, but he opened it. “Hi, Sienna.”
She screeched so loud I could hear her. “What the bloody hell did you just do?”
Kellan was cool but collected when he answered her. “Something I should have done a long time ago. I said my peace.”
“You just admitted that we manipulated the public for money! Are you trying to ruin both of our careers?”
Tory was red-faced, and I couldn’t help but think that she absolutely agreed with Sienna; I was a little surprised she hadn’t gone off on us yet. She was probably waiting to do it in the car. The rest of the band was quiet as Sienna’s heated, tinny words rang in the air.
Kellan pulled the phone away from his ear. “Our albums will speak for themselves. And that’s the way it should be. If our music isn’t good enough to stand on its own, then we shouldn’t be at the top. And if we fall . . . I’m fine with it.”
“You are the biggest bloody fool I have ever met! Get your ass back here. Now!”
The line went dead, and Kellan tucked the phone back in his pocket. As the elevator dinged and the doors opened, Kellan leaned down to me and whispered, “You think she’s mad?”
His lip curled up in an expression that was both sexy and adorable. I had no choice but to wrap my arms around his neck and thoroughly start kissing him as we stepped inside the elevator. Pausing for only a microsecond, I murmured, “I don’t really care if she is.”