Free Exposed: A Novel by Ashley Weis Page B

said now would be a good time to get breast implants.”
    Breast implants? Uh, the thought hadn’t crossed my mind.
    “I know you can afford it. I pay you more than enough.”
    Except most of my money went to Cola or Jack. “Yeah. I don’t want breast implants though.”
    “I didn’t ask what you wanted, sweetheart.”
    A woman giggled in the background.
    “Who’s that?” I said.
    “Gianna. We just finished a shoot and she’s waiting for her driver.”
    She giggled some more, like they were cheek to cheek or something.
    “Okay, well I don’t really see the need for breast implants.”
    “Trust me, there’s a need. I’ll get everything set up for you, all you have to do is show up.”
    No sense in arguing. Maybe I’d look good anyway. Maybe he really did know what he was doing. After all, he only wanted the best for me. He wanted to make me famous and happy, filled to the brim with a life of glamour and fun and jealous ex-classmates.
    Sounded good to me.
    I hung up the phone with Andy and his giggly companion.
    I placed the phone in my purse and decided on a spontaneous drive. I felt good today. Better than usual. And sort of hopeful about my future again. Up and down, on and off, it never ended. I couldn’t figure out what to feel or think most of the time, but today, today I felt like I could fly.
    I left my apartment and opened my car door, humming R. Kelly’s song, picturing Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny in my head, and feeling high on life again, without the help of Cola.
    I drove around singing and sticking my head out the window. Windows down, sunroof opened, the hot July breeze tangled my hair. I thought about Ocean City, Maryland. The beach. The smell of salty shores and crabs covered in Old Bay seasoning. Smooth, warm sand under my toes. Without another thought, I drove south, heading toward the Chesapeake Bay Bridge that would take me to the sandy strip.
    My cell phone rang.
    Andy.
    I hit End. My phone sang Free Fallin’ as it turned off.
    And I smiled.

Chapter 15 Ally
    I walked into my house. Jessie’s muffled laugh traveled down the stairs. I needed him. Regardless of our issues, I needed him.
    As I walked upstairs Jessie’s words sharpened. When I reached the top I leaned my head against the bedroom door. Another voice landed on my ears. “She can’t expect you not to look at stuff, man,” Tim said. “Just don’t tell her if it bothers her.”
    I pressed my ear as close as I could to the crack in the door.
    “Verity watches it with me,” Tim said. “She actually likes it. And I’m telling ya, sex has been better since she has.”
    I couldn’t believe what I heard.
    “Yeah,” Jessie said. “I don’t know. You know Ally has a past filled with that stuff.”
    I opened the door.
    Jessie’s arms fell to his sides. He looked at the phone on the bed then back to me.
    “Hi, Tim,” I said, eyes stabbing Jessie. “Ally here.” I picked up the phone. “Just so you know, Verity isn’t crazy about that stuff. She only does it because you don’t love her enough to stop.”
    Click. I tossed the phone back on the bed.
    Jessie inhaled and crossed his arms.
    I shook my head. “What?”
    He unfolded his arms and threw his hands in the air. “You take this stuff too seriously.”
    “Right. You make it sound like I’m crazy and if it weren’t for me and my craziness you’d watch that stuff every night.”
    He looked down.
    “Look at me.”
    Clenched jaw, he looked at me.
    “Have you looked at anything since the day I found out?”
    “No.” He sat on the bed.
    “Not online, not in person, not in magazines?”
    “I don’t think it’s wise for me to tell you every detail.”
    “Wise or not, I deserve to know.”
    He fell back onto the bed. “Not online and not in magazines. In person, yes.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I drove passed a billboard today on my way to OfficeMax. Does this really make you feel better?”
    “Nothing can, but I need to know the truth. Did you think