Chapter 38
DANNY
Getting off the flight at LAX forces me to walk through a parade of paparazzi. My hat and glasses do little to prevent people calling to me. I can usually ignore the voices but I can’t help my ears tuning in, searching for Anya’s name.
“Danny, anything to say about your father?”
“Danny, have you spoken to your father?”
“Danny, where’s your sister?”
“Danny, who’s the girl?”
I tell myself that if they didn’t have Anya’s name yet, I broke things off at the right time. I have to hope that the crew won’t out her either. Everyone on set liked her, no one would willingly throw her under the bus like this. Hopefully.
I was a fool to think that I could have anything good, that I could meet a normal girl and have a normal relationship. We couldn’t even go out in public once without it falling into the hands of anyone with a camera phone.
A car service picks me up and drives me to Pip’s house. I have my own key so let myself in.
“Pip?” I call, dropping my bag at my feet.
“Danny?” she calls from upstairs, and she descends in a baggy sweatshirt and leggings, her usually styled hair pulled into a messy bun. She envelops me in a hug and I lean on her a little too much. Our whole childhood, we have never had a relationship like we’ve had the last few years. Now it’s us against the world. Literally.
Pip pulls away and looks behind me. “Where’s Anya?”
I clear my throat. “Paris.”
Pip blinks. “I thought she would have come with you.”
I ignore her and walk to the kitchen.
“Danny,” Pip says, disappointingly.
“Did you see it?”
“See what?”
“What people are saying about her.”
“About who? Anya? What are people saying?”
“Nothing,” I’m forced to admit. “Yet. But it’s only a matter of time.”
Pip’s eyes narrow. “So you broke up with her?”
“It was always going to end this way.” I wonder if I keep saying it, it will eventually hurt less.
“You’re an idiot.”
“Excuse me?”
“You pushed her away now, when you need her the most?”
“Yes, I pushed her away now,” I snap. “Our family is in the middle of a huge scandal because our father couldn’t stop taking advantage of his employees.” I make an angry gesture at myself. Can’t she see what I can?
Pip gasps. “Danny, you can’t seriously think that there is any similarity between what he” –she stumbles over the words– “has done and your relationship with Anya.”
“Of course I do!” The anger inside me bursting out. “Everyone will think that.”
“Let them think it! As long as you and the people who love you know the truth, it doesn’t matter.”
I raise my hands, “I can’t listen to this. It’s not enough.”
“You love her Danny, of course it’s enough.”
I freeze and stare at her.
“You love her, don’t you?”
Words stick in my throat. The air in the room evaporates.
“I’m tired,” I manage to grit out. “I’m going to bed.”
I let my bag drop to the floor in the bedroom Pip keeps for me in the house. I don’t bother to open the blinds or turn on the light before collapsing onto the plush bedding.
Pip hired an interior designer to craft every inch of her house, including my room. Mahogany furniture with soft white furnishings give the room a cozy feel, but I can’t get comfortable. The bed is too soft, the duvet too silky, the room too quiet. I close my eyes and picture Anya’s bedroom, noises from the bustling street below filtering through the Juliet balcony, her warm body curled around mine and her hair tickling my nose.
You love her, don’t you?
The question spins in my head.
Falling in love with Anya was easier than falling asleep. Falling out of love with Anya will be the hardest thing I’ll ever have to do.