Page 143 of Shattered By the Currents

“No one else on your team has expressed any concerns, so we’re moving ahead againstyourjudgment.”

“I’m the team leader. I speak on behalf of my team.”

“It’s already done, son. Contracts have been signed. Cast and crew arrive in two weeks.”

Ryan’s fingers curled around the edge of the desk. He couldn’t stop this. No matter how loud or angry he made his voice, Ferris was going ahead with it.

He straightened and turned. Out. He needed to get out of here before he did something he’d regret, like break that damn desk between him and the mayor.

“Come on, Ryan, don’t be mad,” Ferris called.

Ryan ignored him, storming out of the office and down the hall.

He wasn’t mad. Mad was when he’d stubbed his toe on the doorframe of his bedroom this morning. It was learning his food was going to be late, or he’d let his coffee go cold.

This, right now, went far beyond that.

Blood rushed through his veins as he drove home.

Inside, he knew he was overreacting. They’d come. The movie would be filmed. Everyone would leave. Yes, there’d be more work for him and the guys to do, but Ferris was right—they could handle it.

So why was he so fuckingmad?

Because it would all remind him of Emily. Of the world she lived in. The life she was living withouthim.

His fingers tightened on the wheel.

He didn’t watch much TV. But if she was in it, he couldn’t fucking stop himself. He watched any and all of her movies, likeshe was a drug and he was an addict. He could recite so much of her dialogue by heart. He wasn’t sure what that said about him, but it was nothing good.

No one else knew that. Not the guys on his team. Not Nora. It was like his dirty fucking secret.

For a single second, Emi flashed in his mind. Her beautiful hazel eyes. That wide smile that had the power to light up an entire room.

It hurt. Every time he saw her,thoughtof her, it hurt so damn much it felt like a fist reaching into his chest and pulling his heart apart.

But it also felt good. Like he was remembering the best days of his life. The time his heart had been full and intact. When everything and everyone he loved was within arm’s reach.

He frowned when he pulled into his driveway to see Zac sitting on his porch.

“I’m fine,” Ryan said, as he climbed out and moved to the door.

Zac stood slowly, eyes wary. “Are you?”

“Yeah. I’m pissed because I just had the most unproductive conversation of my life with Ferris, but I’m fine.” He unlocked his front door and walked into his house. The interior wasn’t his taste. There was floral wallpaper in the hall and peach-colored tile in the kitchen.

He’d get rid of it all…eventually.

He stopped in the kitchen and pulled out two beers before handing one to Zac.

Ryan frowned at his friend. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You haven’t seen it yet, have you?”

“Seen what?”

Before Zac could respond, a text came through.

Nora: Oh shit.