First, there was the look of utter betrayal on Fox’s face when the cameraman sneezed. The two of them had been about to kiss, something Sienna didn’t even know how much she wanted until then. But when Fox realized he’d been set up—not that Sienna had done it on purpose—he thought it was for all for show.
Second, there was the way the cameraman walked up to her afterwards to get a close up of her reaction. Even with her years of acting classes, Sienna wasn’t sure she’d covered up the gut-wrenching agony that had torn through her body at the sight of Fox running off down the path.
She’d tried to storm off like Fox had but unfortunately the cameraman stayed right behind her the entire time. As they walked toward the Emerald Inn, he’d asked questions like, “How long have you guys been sneaking off to make out?” and “Do your sisters know?”
But the pièce de résistance, the fishhook in her heart, had been “Do you think Fox will ever talk to you again?”
Sienna knew he was trying to get footage of her breaking down. His job was to pester her with difficult questions while emotions were running wild. But she didn’t have answers for his questions and hadn’t been able to say a word without risking the tears building in the corners of her eyes from spilling over.
Then there was the fact that her roommate had sent twenty-three texts in the time it took to get down to the inn. Sienna had quickly glanced at each one, careful not to let the cameraman see what was on the screen. Each message was only a few words, and misspelled at that.
Where are u?
Landlord keeps calling…
I need a check by tmorrow.
Or our boxes r on the street.
Sienna was in trouble and there was no way out.
And last, but not least, Bruce was waiting for her when she finally arrived at the Emerald Inn. He wore a smile the size of Texas when he saw Sienna and asked for an interview about what happened with Fox.
That had been the final straw.
While she couldn’t be sure, since her vision was blurred from the tears that fell, Sienna thought she might have seen Bruce’s impossibly wide grin grow even further at the sight of her emotional breakdown.
She raced through the inn, not caring who she bumped into on the way. She just knew she needed to be someplace away from Bruce, or Jason, or the cameramen who seemed to be everywhere.
Sienna sank to the floor, her back still against the door of the safe room, as she pulled out her phone.
Seriously? Lila sentthreemore texts?
She didn’t bother reading them. Instead, she quickly dialed Lila and put the phone to her ear. It didn’t even get a chance to ring before the voice of her roommate blared through the speakers.
“Look who finally decided to call me back,” came Lila’s angry voice.
“I’ve been busy.”
“Oh, that’s right. With that reality show for your sister’s wedding.” A tired sigh came through the receiver. “Did you get your big break yet?”
Bruce’s smile filled Sienna’s mind again, and she struggled to compose herself. She didn't need Lila knowing just how dire things were. They were friends, and they’d helped each other out when some months had been tight, but this time they were both overdrawn and out of time.
“I’m really close.”
“That’s really great, and I’m happy for you and everything, but that doesn’t change our current problem of a very irritated landlord. He said he’s let late rent slide too many times. He needs dependable tenants.”
“I know—”
“Which is why I’ve started accepting applications for sub-letters.”
Sienna’s breath caught in her chest. They’d always talked about taking on a third roommate, under the table, of course, but leaving the apartment had never been an option. It couldn’t be. Not when they were both so close to making it. “You what?”
Lila paused, and Sienna’s heart sank. “And I’ve already found someone I like. They can move in two weeks. It’ll take all the pressure off both of us.”
Easy for Lila to say. She’d still have a place to live when the new girl moved in. What was Sienna supposed to do? All of her fears of coming home with her tail between her legs were coming true.
“What about my stuff?” she managed to squeak out.
