Page 100 of Secrets in the Deep

“They used to sneak away together all the time. Now, they don’t even try to hide their cheating. It’s devastating for Preston.”

Prior has been in a rumored relationship with Preston Painter, two-time Golden Globe nominee, for nearly two years.

Anger gripped Emily so hard, she couldn’t breathe.

This “anonymous” cast member?

Her gaze returned to the photo of her and Ryan, the one only Faye could have taken.

It was her. It had to be.

Hurt cut her like that blade all over again. She didn’t care about the article. She didn’t worry about her image at all, because the entire piece was ridiculous. She cared that Faye had taken that picture, sold it to the media, and told lies about her.

A woman she’d almost considered a friend. A woman who’d stabbed her in the back.

Ryan tappedthe screen of his phone. No text from Nora. Where was she? She’d asked him to take her. Then she’d said she’d drive herself. Now she was late and the meeting was almost over.

He glanced at Emily again. She looked happy. He had no idea why, these town meetings were boring as shit, but she did. Maybe because she was sitting with the women. Polly tended to have that effect on people.

Jesus, when would the damn meeting be over? Did they really need to spend ten goddamn minutes talking about whether the streetlights were too bright?

Ryan was ready to go. Past ready.

Zac leaned close. “Does Nora look okay to you?”

“Nora’s here?”

“Back wall, to the right.”

Ryan found his sister. Even from the other side of the hall, he could see the dark circles shadowing her eyes and the way her skin looked too pale.

Shit. She wasn’t sleeping again. It wasn’t unusual for Nora. She went through phases where she barely slept at all. Usually, the anxiety meds she took allowed her brain to rest. But they weren’t a guarantee.

Ryan leaned close to Zac. “I’ll be back.”

“Sure.”

He slipped around the hall, stopping when he reached his sister. “You made it.”

“Yeah, sorry, I got caught up.”

Caught up? No reason as to why? “You’re not sleeping.”

“I’m fine.” The answer came quickly. Something she did when she was trying to brush off his concerns.

“Don’t do that, Nor. We don’t have secrets. What’s going on?”

Her lips thinned. “Imightbe having a little trouble sleeping these last few nights.”

“Are you taking your medication?”

There was the smallest crease beside her eyes.

“You’re not?” he asked, when she took too long.

“My prescription ran out. But I got more today. I’ll sleep tonight.”

“Why’d you run out?”