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“I love cheesecake,” Astro remarks, and she grins at him before looking at me.
“Do you want me to kick his ass?” she offers seriously.
“Nope, it’s fine,” I promise, patting her hand. “But thanks, Mom.”
“Always, my girl. I don’t know where you went, but we are glad to have you back, and if you ever disappear like that again, I will be very angry.” She stands. “I’ll bring extra cheesecake.”
I watch her go, and when she gets into the kitchen, I hear, “I like the pretty one with the curly hair. He likes cheesecake. Let’s set them up—”
“Oh god.” I groan, banging my head on the table.
“She likes me.” Astro grins proudly.
Save me now.
“I like cheesecake too,” Dal grumbles.
* * *
I’m just heading to the car, where paparazzi are taking pictures after being tipped off, when I hear my name shouted. The familiar tone makes me freeze. I can’t pretend I don’t hear it, so I turn and scan the crowd. Emerging from her own crowd, Sal steps forward.
She looks as perfect as always. Her long, tan legs are exposed in her tiny skirt, and her skinny body is on full display. Her blonde hair hangs in waves over one shoulder, and her makeup is perfectly applied. She looks every inch the flawless celebrity, even though one of her biggest claims to fame was being my bestie. Before that, she wanted to be an actor, and now she’s in films and she models and her name is everywhere.
It's all thanks to me and the games she played to get there.
She hurries over, grinning like she is excited to see me. I see the cameras snapping pictures, and the guys move closer as if to block her.
Shit, maybe it wasn’t the fans that tipped them off to my presence, but her. It would be something she would do, wanting this on record either to use against me or for herself. There was a time when I never knew just how deep her twisted games and plans went, but that was before. I sidestep her half-hearted hug.
“Sal.” The door to the car is still open, and I want to dive inside, but I refuse to hide. I give her my fake smile, pretending I don’t give a shit, even as my heart rips open. How could someone I was so close to, who knew all my secrets, hopes, and dreams, turn into this? Was I really that blind, or has she changed that much?
No. I remind myself this was always hidden deep inside her. I was just too blind to notice. Her smile doesn’t falter. She’s a good actor, I’ll give her that. “I missed you.” She pouts. “I heard you were back. I can’t believe you haven’t called.” She lets out a fake laugh as the paparazzi move closer to capture us. After all, we were inseparable before I left.
I simply smile, and she clearly wasn’t expecting that.
“Well, I’m glad you’re back.” Leaning in like we are the only people present and they won’t hear every word, she drops her voice and says, “I hope you’ve been better with alcohol and drugs.”
This bitch.
“I never had an issue with them.” I smile. “That was more your field.”
Her smile turns brittle before she laughs.
“Can I get a picture?” a pap yells, and she turns to pose. “Reign!” he shouts. I take sick joy in posing for one as they ignore her. I guess she’s not as popular as she wants to be. When she turns those cynical eyes on me, I know whatever she’ll say next will be for the camera so she can get what she wants, just like always.
After all, she can’t stand it when she’s not the center of attention.
“I’m really sorry about what happened, Reign. You have to know that. I hope we can meet up and discuss Tucker and me.”
And there it is.
I always thought that when I saw her again and her legs weren’t wrapped around my fiancé, that I would smack that smug smile from her lips, but that wouldn’t be enough. I won’t make her a martyr. I won’t be the crazy ex she wants me to be.
“No hard feelings, you did me a favor.” I smile, even as I hear the chatter. “Now, I have to get going. You know how it is, places to be. Those acting classes must really be working. by the way. Brava.”
“So we’ll meet up?” she calls as I climb inside and shut the door in her face. I hold it together as we pull away, and then it hits me and I can’t breathe. Tears fill my eyes.
How could someone I love be so cold?
