Fox spun on his heel and faced them. He knew they’d just badger him endlessly until they got the whole story. So, he might as well get it over with. “She lied to me. She can’t be trusted, just like Becky.”
Eli’s head recoiled. “Are you sure? That doesn't sound like the Sienna I know.”
Fox snorted. “I mean, how well do you know her? She lives in York, right? You see her maybe twice a year for holidays?”
“Yeah, but—”
“Listen. I went to the safe room after what happened with Harry. I needed to calm down for a couple of minutes. And guess who showed up? Sienna.” He stopped and gave Eli a tight-lipped smile. “She pretended like she needed a break from the cameras too. Yeah, right, like she ever wants to be out of the spotlight.”
“It’s possible she needed a break too.” Eli didn’t sound too convinced.
Possible, but not probable.
“But that wasn’t it,” Fox said. “She pretended to care. We had this big heart to heart, and I thought I was getting to see the real Sienna and then—” He pursed his lips together. They didn’t need to know about the almost kiss. With any luck, no one would ever know. “Then the cameraman, who had been hiding behind a tree the entire time, sneezed.”
“Whoa,” Wade said.
Fox pointed at him. “Exactly. It was all for show.”
His friends both shook their heads and frowned.
“It really doesn’t sound like her,” said Eli. “I know she’s kind of a drama queen but the past few days…” He bit his lip.
“What?” said Fox. “She’s been magically transformed? Having cameras everywhere and the fame she wants most within reach have somehow made her less interested in the spotlight?”
“She hates this as much as you do, I know it.” Eli crossed his arms. “She wants to be a real actress, not some reality show drama queen.”
Fox snorted. “Well she’s doing a really good impression of one.”
“I don’t know if she can fake the way she looks at you,” said Wade, rubbing his chin. “When you two start fighting like bratty kids, it’s entertaining for everyone, but her whole face lights up when you walk into a room.”
Fox wanted that to be true, so badly. More than Eli or Wade could possibly understand. But could he really let himself trust so much after everything he’d been through?
“I can’t think about all of this right now,” he said and ran his hands through his hair. “I need a break. A real one.”
Wade lifted a finger. “I know,” he said. “How about we go out tonight. The next competition isn’t until tomorrow. We’ll find a way toreallylose the cameras and get a drink or something.”
A drink or something.
Wade was great, but he didn't know all of Fox’s past, not like Eli. And while Fox didn't have a problem with other people drinking, he had done a good job of staying away from alcohol for the last ten years. After his fit in the safe room earlier, he didn't think it was a good idea to go anywhere near a bar.
But escaping the Emerald Inn sounded great. Escaping the cameras even better.
He nodded. “Let’s do it. Let me just grab my hoodie real quick.”
But when Fox turned to go up the stairs to his room, he saw Sienna racing down the hall toward the safe room—and there were tears in her eyes.
Sixteen
7 Days Until Dream Wedding
Sienna rushedto the safe room. She wasn’t sure how much Bruce had seen—or how much had been captured on camera—but regardless, things were not going well.
Please let it be empty, please let it be empty.
She opened the door, and relief flooded her veins when she found it vacant. She hurried in, closed the door and leaned her back against it. The tears that were already spilling down her cheeks began to fall in thick streams as Sienna struggled to catch her breath.
The last hour had been a nightmare in every possible way.
