My whole face contorts into a snarl as I cut him off. “Listen here, asshole! I didn’t fuckin’ shatter both of our hearts for nogood reason. I told you then, and I’ll remind you once more. I love her enough to lose her. To stand back and watch her be happy with someone who ain’t me, alright? And if you doubt my intentions, don’t doubt the way I feel for your sister becausethatis somethin’ that’s never changed. That neverwillchange, you hear me?”
And without allowing him to say another damn word, I hang up the call, my heart pounding as my temples throb painfully.
Knowing I can’t go back to set yet, I text Kyle quickly.
ME
Got held up. Be another couple of minutes.
I’ve just reached the sanctity of Emmy’s silent dressing room, when I hear my cell ping with a reply.
KYLE
Gotcha Boss Man.
Striding directly for the restroom, I lock the door behind me and turn on the cold tap, allowing it to run for a minute before splashing ice-cold water onto my face.
Easton’s call has shaken me more than I’d like to admit, and as I stare at my dripping-wet reflection in the mirror, my mind can’t help recalling the day everything turned to shit.
“Did you forget your key again, Tink?”
I’m chuckling to myself as I close my laptop on the kitchen island and jog down the hallway leading to the dark wooden door of Emmy’s parents’ brownstone.
Emmy’s dad, Tristan, and her stepmom, Reese, are in Europe for the summer, so it’s been just the two of us, with the occasional visit from Hayley, who’s been sworn to secrecy on penalty of revoking the best friend card, according to Em, for the last three glorious months.
From my first time meeting Hayley, I could see why Emmy had always spoken so highly of her, and we’d hit it off almost immediately. We still haven’t decided how we’re going to tell the rest of her family about our relationship, but we do know that we want to handle it delicately where Easton is concerned.
Emmy has reached out to him, asking him to come and visit so that we can tell him in person. We both feel thatseeingus together, and how committed we both are, is better than hearing it over a phone call, even if the thought of his reaction makes me more than a little apprehensive.
Where Emmy is the very epitome of calm, her older brother is unpredictable, to say the least.
Even so, I know in my heart that me and Emmy are end game, and it’s well past time to share it with the world.
The buzzer sounds again as I reach the door, and I grin at her impatience.
Emmy’s been forgetful lately as she’s juggled rehearsals for two off-Broadway shows she’s been cast in, alongside preparing for more significant roles in upcoming auditions, like her one with Hans Lieberman later this week.
I’m dwelling on how excited I am to potentially see all her hard work pay off as I open the door, only to be met with a fist to the nose that sends me reeling backward into the hall.
Blood spatter fills my vision as I blink stupidly, trying to stand up, but I don’t get the chance. The owner of the fist climbs over me, and I blindly try to block the next two, three, four, five blows, but despite my best efforts, he clearly has the upper hand.
Suddenly, he stops pummeling me to jerk me up by the scruff of my shirt, getting right down into my face.
I blink through my blurred vision until, eventually, the haziness ebbs away, and I’m left staggered as I stare up at my friend.
“Easton?”
His face is a parody of itself. His lips are pulled back in a snarl, and his eyes are filled with undiluted disgust while he watches me. Sweat beads across his forehead from his exertions as he spits, “How long?”
I open my mouth to answer, taking too long in my groggy state, only for him to slam my body against the hall’s tiled floor.
“How long have you beenfuckingmy little sister, Holloway? Defiling her with your family’sdisgrace! How long have you been using her for your own gain, hmm? I bet you’re even living here in my parents’ house with nothing to your name, you worthless, lying sack of shit.”
He huffs a laugh. “Not that your name will be worth a damn when your family’s shame is finally made public knowledge. When Jasper Holloway’s trial is plastered across every television screen in the country.”
Finally finding my voice, I pull away from him, pushing his hands off, and even though he could have kept me pinned, he rolls away, watching me from the opposite side of the hall as I pull myself upright.
I’m panting, sucking in oxygen desperately as I declare, “I know this isn’t the right way to find out about us, East, but Iloveyour sister. I love her with my whole damn heart. I’d lay my life at her feet?—”
