I do.
I trust you.
I get up and barrel towards him; his arms are ready to catch me as I throw myself against his chest. Despite everything we’ve said tonight, he feels steady and safe, like an anchor rooted at the centre of every storm. I hold on for as long as I can.
We gently detach, and Kye gives me a long look, a sheen of tears glimmering on his lashes.
Then, taking my heart with him, he turns and leaves.
CHAPTER 25
Kye
Dear Jace,
I wanted to say all this in person rather than in a letter, but since you told me you don’t want me to visit you again, which I completely respect, I am going to try putting pen to paper instead. I know you probably don’t want any contact with me, but all I ask is that you please read this one letter—or at least look at the photo I’ve enclosed. If I don’t hear back from you, I promise I won’t bother you again.
Excuse the dumb mug belonging to your less attractive brother; what I want you to focus on in the photo is the leather strap around his (my) wrist. Do you recognise it? You made it for me when you were younger and sent it to me in the mail. So many years have passed since then, and I’ve worn this strap every single day. That’s why it looks like it’s seen better days. Theonly time I took it off was when I visited you because I wasn’t allowed to wear any jewellery inside.
Jace, I can’t put into words how sorry I am that we didn’t grow up in the same house and family the way we should have. I’m sorry that you were robbed of not only two loving parents but also a brother. It’s entirely my fault that we didn’t stay close growing up, and my fault that you’d rather hurt me than talk to me right now.
I’m not expecting you to forgive me for all the years that we’ve lost. I was too young and scared and damaged back then to make better, less selfish decisions, and I’ll always regret that. But I do want you to know that I miss you, even though I know that doesn’t really make sense when I haven’t been able to get to know you. It’s obvious that you’ve had a difficult start to life, and while I’m not trying to make that about me, I do consider myself partially responsible because I wasn’t there to offer you the love and support you deserved.
Of course, we don’t get to go back in time, but if we could, my only wish would be to spend every day of my childhood with you. To share a bedroom, build forts, fight over TV remotes, laugh over stupid shit, race our bikes … just make happy memories. My wish would be to be the brother to you that I should have been.
Right now, I’m on my way to Melbourne because I’ve taken a job there (one in the foster care system, strangely enough). But if you ever feel like you want to see me, please write to me or call me on the number atthe bottom of this letter. I promise you that I will drop everything to come and see you.
I love you.
I’m sorry.
Kye
CHAPTER 26
Evie
Twelve months later
The car door opens, I set a glittery heel on the red carpet, and a sharp surge of high-pitched screaming overwhelms my ears.
It’s impossible not to blurt out a disbelieving laugh at the mass ofMovingfans, who are three rows deep behind the strings of rope separating them from the premiere’s attendees.
‘Evie! Evieeeee!’ A chorus of young voices shrieks my name, and I turn and wave in what I hope is the right direction. I see another cluster of fans eagerly holding up notepads and pens behind the red rope barrier, and I dash over to them while the film’s publicist, Leyla, trails after me.
Austin has already walked the red carpet leading into the art deco State Theatre and disappeared behind the façade adorned with lit-up posters and banners advertising Australia’s latest hit movie.
I thank as many supporters as I can and scrawl my name below Austin’s on their notepads until Leyla gently guides me away.
‘Careful, or you’ll be here all night,’ she says, giving me a supportive smile.
‘It’s unbelievable, isn’t it?’
She nods, casting her awed gaze down the city street, which is blocked off from traffic and crammed with spectators.
This morning over breakfast, Martina reminded me how rare it is for a film to attract this much interest before its release. Olivia Floros—the director whom my father persuaded to take over from Buzz—did an incredible job of turning Buzz’s weird, wannabe-neo-noir film into a fun, music-filled rom-com. Not only did Olivia pull off a magic trick in somehow making the cheesy dialogue sound compelling and believable, but she also convinced the producers to send us back to the farm to film a series of high-octane, colourful dance sequences. Those scenes lifted the film’s energy, turning it into something that wouldn’t be out of place in Baz Luhrmann or Lin-Manuel Miranda’s catalogues.
The best part is, when Olivia suggested we bring in amateur dancers to play some of the townsfolk who take lessons from Constance, I convinced Usher, Bliss, Snuggles, Avalanche, and even Mayday to come and star in their first feature film. Now, their real names are in the credits, and tonight they’ll strut the red carpet, too.
