Thrive (Addicted, #4)(43)

The words Sex Addict and Alcoholic appear across our bodies.

And then Rose, Connor, and Scott fill the screen. Rose’s yellow-green eyes are practically radiating heat, and her body is shifted towards Connor. He stares at her like she invented the sun, a look I’ve seen a million times when they have their epic nerd battles. Connor leans over to whisper in her ear, and it sets her off, her cheeks concaving in anger.

She shoves his arm and he grins.

The word Smartass flashes on his body.

Then the screen pans to Scott, who looks down (very quickly) at Rose’s boobs. And then my sister gives Scott a quick glance. The editing makes it seem like they were a couple, or had some sort of relationship. Scott tilts his head and gives pretty good bedroom eyes.

When his caption appears, it just makes me hate him more.

Heartthrob.

Seriously. He’s a douchebag. I find it insulting that out of all the guys, he gets the only decent label.

And finally the promo shows Rose, wedged in between Scott and Connor, further exploiting the fake love triangle. Both guys stare down at her with longing and desire.

Her caption pops up just as she looks directly at the screen.

Virgin.

Now everyone knows about her sexual status, but she didn’t much care about that. Rose isn’t ashamed of being a virgin. I think she’d shout it from the rooftops if she could—just to prove a point.

The promo ends with the Princesses of Philly logo and title, and then the tagline flashes on the bottom.

Get inside the Calloway sisters this February.

Dirty. That was dirty, and I don’t have to be a sex addict to know it.

Plus, I got confirmation from Daisy that she thought it was a sexual innuendo too. So there’s that.

I scroll down and read some comments underneath the video.

Havana33: Are they going to show LiLo f*cking on this show? I feel like it needs to be NC-17.

NoelMarch: +Havana33 No way. GBA would be sued big time. So curious to see how crude it’s going to be tho.

JamesGGG: How old is the Daredevil? She’s hot as fuck.

James. Your GGG must stand for gross, gross, gross. I have to click out of the video and clear my head. It’s not his fault, I remind myself. Daisy isn’t his sister. He doesn’t know her. But it’s hard to convince myself that he isn’t some creep in his parent’s basement.

I log onto the last alert, an article from Celebrity Crush. Just great. This magazine has been nothing but nasty to me.

The headline alone makes my stomach turn. Poll: Which Brother Should Lily Calloway Choose?

A poll? There’s a freakin’ poll now.

My disbelief and masochistic curiosity compels me to read Wendy Collins’ article from the top.

Poll: Which Brother Should Lily Calloway Choose? Loren Hale or Ryke Meadows? By Wendy Collins

With only a few days left before the premiere of “Princesses of Philly”, we have one huge question left to be answered. Does Lily have more chemistry with Loren or Ryke? While we have strong suspicions that she’s been dating both at the same time, one of these men is bound to have more fire on-screen than the other.

Let’s break it down:

Loren Hale is her “long time” boyfriend, now fiancé, and a recovering alcoholic. Just click through our photo reel of him and you’ll realize he has a panty-dropping body but it’s the face that seals the deal. “Gorgeous” just doesn’t even cut it. Oh, and he has a nicely-sized inheritance of a rumored $2 billion dollars, the direct heir to Hale Co. baby products.

Ryke Meadows is Loren’s half-brother, routinely spotted riding his Ducati and climbing at a local Philadelphia rock wall. He’s notorious for his fights with the paparazzi, shoving cameras away from Lily and his brother. Despite Lily’s “proposed” engagement to Loren, we believe Ryke brings a certain heat in bed that Lily craves.

Now remember, Lily is a “recovering” sex addict, so her needs have to be satiated by her man (or men). Since we don’t know their…ahem, full packages, we’re going to base their chemistry between each other from recent candid photos.

I quickly scroll through the photos, none of which make me seem too chummy with Ryke. I’m literally kissing Loren in most of them. The poll resides just below the pictures and before I click into the results, I read a disclaimer at the bottom.

Note: While it’s my firm belief that Lily may very well be sleeping with both men, we know, in the very end, that she can only be with one. And while she may choose Loren for publicity, this poll is for you to choose who she should be with despite whatever happens.

I hate her.

I click into the results and my heart drops.

22% Loren Hale

78% Ryke Meadows

…no.

I do not accept this. How could she even have a poll? It’s rude. No one is polling to see if Kate Middleton would be a better match with Prince Harry than Prince William. I realize that I may have just compared myself to royalty. Not my intention.

I’m just freaking out.

A lot.

A lot, a lot.

Fuck it. Wendy Collins can’t just write biased articles and not have consequences. I pop up my email and start pounding the keys in frustration. I’ve never written a nasty letter, but as long as it’s legible, I’m fine with it.

Dear Ms. Collins,

I don’t know you personally, and you don’t know me personally, which is why I’m writing to you today. This is your fifth or so article about me and the supposed Ryke/Loren rumors floating around the media. These rumors are NOT TRUE. I would gladly appreciate you focusing on another topic. Hell, I wouldn’t even care if you still have to write about me (though, I would prefer you not). But just stop claiming that I’m sleeping with my boyfriend’s brother.