And the image is so much worse.
Breathing a fiery exhale out through my nose, I take a step closer, desperate to drive her away from this cesspit. From my mother—fromme. From all the things that will steal her magic. “You don’t belong here, Nicks. Never have, never will.”
“Maverick might disagree.” Her chest heaves with every backbreaking breath. “Or maybe Julian West. I should give him a call.”
My blood runs cold.
What the fuck?
Before I can respond, she’s spinning around and stalking off into the piano room, like the instrument is calling to her, a piece of home. A sweet, familiar treasure.
The opposite of me.
I follow her, every muscle tensing to cement. “Call him then. Or I can save you the trouble and tell you exactly what’s going to happen.”
She stops in front of the piano, her back to me.
No response.
“He’ll have you come into his office for a meeting,” I continue, closing in on her from behind. “He’ll butter you up, say some pretty words, tell you how talented you are, how he’s never seen anyone like you before. You’re unique. A rare find.” Volatile veins of heat funnel through me as I push the words out. “You’ll be starry-eyed, your head in the clouds, calling everyone you know,thinking you’ve just hit the fucking jackpot. Then he’ll call you back for an audition. Assure you you’ve got the part, no doubt in his mind.”
She remains silent, her whole body vibrating before me.
“And you’ll be so fucking proud of yourself, Stevie. Crying buckets of happy tears. You’ll be on top of the goddamn world.”
I reach for her wrist, spinning her around to face me.
Her eyes are hooded, dark.
“Maybe he’ll invite you to a party or a dinner for two. He’ll whisper sweet things into your ear, harmless compliments. Your beautiful eyes, your smile, your soft hair.” I flick a strand of her hair. “Then he’ll touch you. Subtly at first, just a hand to your hip, a finger grazing down your arm.” I trail my index finger along her bare upper arm, watching her skin come alive with goose bumps. “The physical contact will escalate, and you won’t see it coming. A kiss to your cheek, your neck. A lingering peck on the lips.” Leaning in, I brush my lips to her cheekbone, featherlight. “Next thing you know, you’ll be underneath him—naked, confused, too scared to say no. And the real kicker?”
Her eyes are slammed shut, tears flowing through clenched lids.
Bending lower, I whisper against her ear, “You don’t even get the damn part.”
I watch her throat roll with a hard swallow before her eyes shoot back open.
She swivels away from me, but I pull her back. “If that sounds like a good time, by all means, give him a call.”
“Let me go.”
Frowning, I quickly release her. Her balance teeters in her heels, and she stumbles back against the piano, a jumble of chords breaching the air.
We stare at each other.
Stevie shakes her head, still pressed against the keys, her lips parted, wobbling. “If you’re trying to drive me away, all you need to do is say it. Break up with me. I’ll pack my bags.”
My teeth grind together.
She’s right—I should let her go, send her away. A clean break. That’s what’s best for her. I know that. I feel it in my goddamn bones.
But I can’t get the words out.
“You’re not ready to let me go yet, are you? We still have more lies to weave,more people to manipulate. The story isn’t finished.” Her chest contracts, eyes glossing with more tears. “Just when I think you…” She falters, looks away. “Just when I think…”
“What?” I murmur.
“Just when I think youcare,” she spits out. “Just when I convince myself there’s a good man hiding behind the shell. Someone who sees me. Someone who—”
