Then I remember rule five.
Rule #5: Keep it fake.
It made sense when we proposed the rule. Three months of faking a relationship, never letting things get real to keep it from getting complicated. We have to keep the end goal in mind. Fuck with Truett and Brett a little, make things tense between them, and hopefully get the club away from my father in the process. With Truett’s son publicly fucking Brett’s ex, it should be easy.
“What do you think Brett will do when he sees it?” I ask.
Immediately, Sage fidgets and looks uncomfortable.
“Umm…I don’t know. He’ll probably call me to tell me what a ho I am. Or find some way to make me feel like shit for what I choose to do with my own free will.”
“He won’t…hurt you, will he?”
Her brows pinch together as she stirs the noodles in the carton, not looking up at me as she shakes her head. “No. He wouldn’t.”
As worry starts to creep its way up, I’m about to say something to Sage when my phone rings on the table. I see my
brother’s name on the screen, which is strange because Caleb never calls me.
Hesitantly, I pick it up and swipe the screen to answer it.
“Hey, Caleb—”
“Holy shit, Adam,” he barks into the phone. “Tell me this is some deep fake photoshopped bullshit.”
I drop the food carton on the table as my eyes widen. I’m not sure why, but I bolt out of my seat and stumble for a response to my brother’s accusation.
“Dude, answer me,” he yells.
“It’s real, Caleb.”
“What the fuck, Adam? Did you leak this shit on purpose?”
Across the room, Sage is staring at me with alarm on her face. This is what we wanted, right? This is what happens when you post a sex tape online. People see it.
“Yes, I did it on purpose,” I reply. My heart is pounding in my chest as I start to pace the room. My phone beeps and I pull it away from my face to see that I have another incoming call, this time from my father’s publicist. I quickly hit decline.
“Why the fuck would you do it on purpose? What is going on with you?”
“Because I’m sick and fucking tired, Caleb. I’m tired of being so perfect and doing everything he wants us to do for his image, his reputation , his ministry.”
“Jesus, Adam. This is about him firing you as his writer?”
“It’s about a lot of shit, Caleb. Shit you wouldn’t understand. He’s manipulated us long enough, and I’m fucking done. I posted that video because I wanted to. I started dating Sage because I wanted to. I brought her to the gala last night because I fucking wanted to.”
The line goes silent for a moment, and I can tell by the background noise that Caleb is in his car. After a moment, he responds.
“Damn. He’s going to lose his shit, Adam. Are you ready for this?” His tone is softer now as if he understands me a little more, but it’s laced with worry too.
“Yes, I’m ready. And if he thinks I’m not going to do it again, he’s wrong.”
Caleb sighs. “This isn’t like you.”
“No, brother. This is me. My entire life up until now… that wasn’t me. It was him.”
Silence again. I didn’t realize until this moment just how much I want my brothers on my side for this. How much I need to hear at least one of them say how much they hate that motherfucker so I’m not so alone. Not just for me. For Isaac too.
“Good for you, Adam. Fuck that asshole.”
I’m struck speechless for so long I don’t even realize the call ends, and my phone is buzzing with texts and messages.
“The video is already at two million views,” Sage says quietly, looking down at her phone.
“Good,” I reply, feeling motivated and ready to do some damage. “We can film another one tomorrow.”
She stares up at me with surprise. “Okay…” As her voice lingers, I know she’s about to say something else. “Is everything all right?”
“It’s better than all right. The video is working, and we’ve only just begun.”
I cross the room to the door and glance back at her, sitting on the couch with her pink hair shining with the afternoon sun.
She looks beautiful from this angle, and I feel sort of…proud of her now. Proud of what we’re accomplishing.
So proud I almost…smile. But that’s against the rules. Not one of our rules, but one of my rules.
Don’t let Peaches know how much I like her.
It’s easier this way. No feelings. No strings.
Before I let a smile slip, I grimace instead. As I turn the knob on the door, I glance back at her, quietly muttering a cold goodbye before slipping out of her apartment.
Eighteen
Adam
C hecking the app becomes obsessive. Watching the number of views climb is like a hit of ecstasy, and soon, I’m an addict. Every like, comment, and share is a serotonin boost I didn’t know I needed.
These comments are a lot different than the Instagram posts from the night of the gala. Maybe because they’re filled with more praise than shame.
Jesus, this is hot.
Who knew that Goode boy had it in him?
I don’t know who this guy is, but he’s making me want to go back to church again.
I’ve also watched the video itself about a hundred times too. Not to brag, but I can’t get over how good I look, how hot we are together. Sage really does appear like she’s riding my dick and enjoying it. And that filthy expression on my face is something I didn’t even know I could do.
My mind is racing when I get back to my apartment. Texts, DMs, and calls have been coming in like crazy. Apparently, this video went viral fucking fast. I had no idea so many people even cared, but once it got out that Truett Goode’s oldest son made a sex tape on FanVids, the media went wild with it. People who had no clue who I was before today are suddenly following my social media accounts in droves.
Everyone loves a scandal.
The one person I haven’t heard from yet—who I expected to—is my father. And that might be the call I’m most anxious to get. Dread and excitement are warring for control in my head as I anticipate his reaction.
On the one hand, I can’t fucking wait to hear how pissed he is.
On the other…I’ve spent my whole life pleasing him.
Being the perfect son. His protégé. Doing everything right, the way he wanted. Playing the role of the well-behaved son is my entire identity. It’s all I know.
So yeah…shedding that responsibility is like crawling out of my own skin.
The incoming message notifications get overwhelming, so I put my phone on Do Not Disturb as I drop onto the couch in my apartment and watch the video again. I wish I knew why this is so addicting and why I can’t stop watching it.
Opening my text message thread with Sage, I type out a message with a smile on my face.
Three million views.
She types back her response immediately.
Everyone loves a good boy gone bad.
Grinning at her message, something strikes me about it—
something not right.
It’s because of the way I acted in that video. Not because you’re bad. You know that, right?
I’m blushing.
You’re too sweet, Church Boy.