Chapter 40
FORTY
Earlier, I was relieved when Jaxon’s assistant called to cancel our publicity stunt. After that kiss, we need a break.
I sit at my desk, waiting for the phone to ring. Kat should be calling any minute. I pinch my lower lip. I really liked our kiss. It was so… passionate. But why would I feel all this passion for Jaxon Wilde?
What he said to me after I stepped out of the back of that limousine still bothers me. I said I forgive him, and I do. But I can’t forget how low he made me feel. That feeling sticks to me like meat on ribs.
It’s funny, though. After the table read—which I slayed—I had this impulse to go for a walk. Not just any kind of walk—the dangerous kind. The kind that led me to that drugstore where I committed theft.
I’m trying to understand why the craving is here. Life is good. But life was also good then.
The abrupt chime of my phone makes me jump slightly. It’s Kat. She’s always on time. I slide the answer button and put our call on speaker.
“Hi, Kat,” I say.
“Hi,” she says, but not in a sprightly way. There’s a hint of doom in her voice, like she has bad news to deliver.
“Is there anything else I need to be aware of between now and tomorrow’s ten a.m. interview with SLAY Magazine?” I ask.
“So,” she finally says, dragging the word out.
I bristle.
“I received a message from Andrew, who handles your social media. A guy named Trey Morgan DM’d three of your accounts. Does that name ring a bell?”
I steel myself against the discomfort rippling through me. “Yes.”
“Okay… do you want to hear more?”
“What does he want?” I ask.
“He says he’s your brother. And that Theo is being kept alive by a breathing machine. If you want to say goodbye, you should go see him.”
Then, Kat—being the overly competent assistant—says she’ll add Trey’s number to my contact sheet. I’m still shaking my head. How can I tell her not to do that? I don’t want to see Theo in the hospital. Especially when I vowed never to lay eyes on him again.
“Unless you want me to make a call to Trey on your behalf.”
“No,” I say quickly, then take a settling breath. “Is there anything else?”
“No, that’s all,” she happily says.
She has no idea the weight of the news she just delivered. Why didn’t I just deny knowing Trey like I usually do? Like I do his two sisters.
“Good. Talk to you in the morning.”
We end our call with our usual goodbyes, and I remain in my chair, numb on the inside.
I know what I have to do next. There’s no fighting the urge.
I need...