Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

AVA

Though I try all week to ignore the feeling in my gut that I should look into Jett's date, by Saturday I give in. I just can't risk her being an unknown at the wedding, a possible troublemaker. I have to do my due diligence. While I watch the University of Houston game that morning, I pull up Instagram on my phone and check out Hayden Reid's profile more in depth than I did on Tuesday. I grit my teeth when I notice that she and Jett went out a few days ago. His smile is stiff in the pic she posted of them, but I know him well enough to know that's because of what this picture was for—promoting Hayden—not that he doesn't like her.

I ignore it. I mean what I've said to Gabriella over and over: Jett and me back together isn't a good idea. Except I have a hard time pinpointing why anymore. Because he's still so hurt and angry? He didn't act that way on Sunday, so it has me feeling a bit upended on that subject. Because he'll never forgive me no matter how good things can seem between us? Maybe. But after how easily we slid back into us on Sunday, a sliver of optimism says maybe I could convince him to give me a second chance.

I scroll past the picture and continue browsing Hayden's profile, confirming to myself that everything is fine. I jot down a few names of people she has pictures with frequently, but I already feel sheepish about the whole endeavor. I go back six months before I stop. And only because I have to somehow justify why I was spying on Jett's date, I look up the names I've jotted down.

One comes back as a Houston city councilwoman, Maggie Wilcox, which piques my interest. I chew on my lip as I look up Councilwoman Wilcox. My gut instinct to research Hayden feels reasonable now. Ms. Wilcox is opposed to Gabriella on a lot of things, which obviously happens in politics. The sheepishness gone, I go back to Hayden's Instagram, checking carefully over the captions of the pictures of her with the councilwoman. She supports Ms. Wilcox, and there're even pictures of them on red carpets together for fundraising and other events. It sounds like Hayden has known the woman since she was a kid—family friend or something, from what I gather.

I'm deep into Hayden's social media accounts, all platforms now, when I find a video of Hayden passionately supporting one of the councilwoman's pet issues—book banning. Which happens to be one of Gabriella's pet issues right now too.

Well, opposing it.

I drop my phone onto the couch cushion beside me, staring at the football game in front of me that I haven't been paying attention to while I stalked Hayden. My thoughts spin, and the players could be doing a funny half-time dance for all I've noticed. I blow out a frustrated breath. What do I do now?

I try to focus back on the game, hoping an answer will come to me. And it does, in the form of the camera zooming in on Houston's favorite, Jett McCombs, and a gorgeous blonde sitting next to him. She waves at the camera as it settles on them, smiling genuinely as she leans into Jett. He gives a smile too but turns his attention back to the game, and a second later the camera has returned to the players on the field.

I snatch my phone up and call Gabriella.

"Hey," she answers. She and Colby are watching the University of Houston game at her apartment, a few chill hours together before he checks into the hotel to prep for tomorrow's Pumas game. "What's up?"

"I think we maybe have an issue with a guest. Maybe. It could be that I'm overreacting, so don't be afraid to tell me that."

Gabriella chuckles. "Who?"

I cringe, knowing how this is going to sound right out of the gate. "Jett's date, Hayden Reid … I know how this sounds Gabriella, but let me explain."

"This is the woman he met at the charity game, right?"

"Yeah, I've been looking through her Instagram, and there's some stuff that's giving me pause. Maybe I'm seeing things that aren't there, but could you check it out for yourself and tell me what you think?"

"Of course." Gabriella's voice shifts as she moves me to speaker. "What do you think you're seeing?"

"I'll let you figure it out. If her posts don't worry you, I'll know I'm overreacting."

"Mmm, okay, chica." Her voice is distracted. "I'll look through this and—ay! How did I not recognize her before?"

"Recognize her?"

"Sí, in that picture she posted of her and Jett that everyone saw. I mean, she does have sunglasses on, yeah, but … you're right. We could have a problem."

Has Gabriella already had run-ins with her? It would make sense, given Hayden's relationship with the councilwoman and the volunteering Gabriella does with local politicians. "So you don't think I'm overreacting? She has some controversial views, and I don't want to see her air them with your wedding in the background."

Gabriella huffs. "Which I could see her doing. Right after we graduated, University of Houston was looking for a visible alumnus for a big ad campaign they were doing. They chose me, and Hayden thought it should be her. She made a big fuss online about it. It was just as her Instagram was taking off, and she wanted the exposure. She said I'd only gotten it because my dad was friends with the university president."

I vaguely remember Gabriella doing the spot, but I'm not sure how I missed all the drama around it. "So what do you want to do?"

"I don't know." She sighs. "You can guess how Jett will take this if we ask questions about her."

I can guess exactly. "I'll back whatever you want to do."

There's a long pause and she finally says, "Let me think on it. I'll get back to you."

"Got it."

We hang up, and I plop back onto my couch, my worry increasing. Hayden's history with Gabriella makes me think she won't hesitate to criticize Gabriella's wedding, and with two million followers, that's negative talk that Gabriella doesn't need to start this with. It's exactly the kind of thing that seems like no big deal at first and then suddenly blows up in your face—like a video that looks like one thing and turns out to be a nuclear bomb to a good cause. The whole reason I started looking up guests was to avoid potential problems like Hayden, or at least be on the lookout. I'll do everything in my power to make sure history doesn't repeat itself at Gabriella's wedding. I can't let her down.

But maybe Hayden has moved past all that. Clearly her career is doing well, and dating Jett could blow it up even more. Who am I to take away that chance for her? Or to get in the way of what might be a great relationship for Jett? Any way I play this, it looks like I'm coming after Hayden because I'm jealous. Part of me hopes Gabriella decides to ignore it and take the risk. But another part of me pictures Mrs. Page's face, her smirk as she opened a presentation that ruined a few careers.

Whatever Gabriella decides, I've got my eye on Hayden.