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“How long?” Brynn asked, her voice barely a whisper.
“This is none of your business,” her mom insisted.
She’d heard that enough. “As I was about to be the one to spend a hundred K on a crisis publicist when all you had to do is say you’re his girlfriend, you’ll have to excuse me.”
“I’ll pay for the publicist,” Gavin offered.
“I’m not happy with you, either,” Brynn shot back. “And you seem to think you can pay for everything and that makes you innocent. Did you know she told me you got us government funds for my grandmother’s care?”
“I didn’t want you to think we could go to him every time we had a problem.” Her mother put a hand to her face as though checking herself to make sure this was real. “I was grateful, but I knew I had to rely on myself.”
“But you didn’t, Diane. You relied on Brynn,” Gavin argued. “I told you I would take care of you. I asked you to marry me and let me adopt the girls. I did everything I could to be there for you. I loved you. I still do. I would marry you in a heartbeat tomorrow if you would let me.”
Her mom pointed his way. “And when I told you no the first time, you went out that night and slept with your costar.”
“It was a mistake.” He took a step toward her. “I was hurting, and I did the stupidest thing I could. Would it shock you to know I haven’t slept with anyone but you in five years? Diane, we’re good together. I’m glad this happened because maybe we can all get what we need.”
“What we need?” her mom asked.
“Yes.” Gavin stood tall. “Brynn needs time to figure out who she is outside of this life she’s been in forever. Ally needs you to take her seriously and to find her own damn voice. I need you. I need you to trust that I won’t leave you, that you’re enough for me.”
“And what about what I need?” her mother asked.
It seemed to Brynn that she’d been a servant to her mother’s needs for a very long time. “I don’t care. Get out.”
She was done. She couldn’t take this another second longer or she would say something she shouldn’t.
“Brynn, I’m not . . .” her mother started.
“Give her some time and leave, or I’ll walk out.” Ally grabbed her bag. “I’ll walk out tonight, hop on a plane, and find another manager. Hell, maybe I’ll go on some talk shows. I’ve got stories to tell.”
“Allyson.” Her mother breathed her sister’s name, a look of pure betrayal in her eyes.
Ally’s gaze went hard. “I’m playing hardball. Like you taught me.” She turned to Brynn, her expression softening. “I’ll lock down your socials and I’ll find a way out of this for you. I know you think you know what you want right now, but take some time and think about it. Stay here in this weird town for a couple of weeks and see if you want to make things work with TW.”
“It’s not about him.” Her relationship might have been blown, but she’d made friends here. Even if Major was no longer interested, this place was important to her. She could stay for a few weeks, maybe months, and paint and think and figure out what she wanted to do with her life.
For the first time, she could simply be for a while.
“Of course it is.” Her mom slung her bag over her shoulder. “You’re a silly girl, giving up everything for a pretty face.”
Something nasty had taken root in Brynn, betrayal and anger making her meaner than she would usually be. “I’m not losing everything. I mean I still have the money and the house, after all. The house I bought in LA is worth a couple million if I decide to sell it.”
Now Ally gasped. “You would sell our house?”
“I believe your sister is saying it isn’t ours at all. Be careful, Allyson. You might still need me.” Her mother swept out of the cabin with perfect dramatic flair.
“Ally, I didn’t mean that. You have to know I wouldn’t kick you out of our home.” Shame filled her. “I know how much you gave up so I could work.”
Ally sniffled, opening her arms and hugging Brynn. “And that’s why I love you despite all the perfection. I’ll talk to her. I want you to have options.”
“I don’t need them.”
Ally pulled back. “Okay, then I’ll talk to her because I want my family to stay together.” She looked back at Gavin. “All of us.”
“Brynn, I’m sorry,” Gavin said, his tone somber.
She couldn’t. Not tonight. “I need to do this tomorrow. I can’t even think tonight.”
He nodded and picked up the Scotch. “I’m going to take this. I think I’ll need it.”
