Page 101 of Secrets in the Deep
She huffed and leaned toward him. “You don’t need to worry about me, Ryan.”
“I willalwaysworry about you, Nor.”
“Worry? Or watch over? The way you watched Mom? Because you’re worried I’ll…”
He frowned. “You’ll what?”
She shook her head. “Never mind. I’m sorry I asked you to come, then ghosted you. I think I’m just going to head home and have an early night.”
“I’ll drive you.”
“No. Emi’s here. You should talk to her.”
At that exact moment, the room got loud. People started to stand from their seats, some already filtering out of the room.
“Go.” Nora gave him a little push. “I’ll get a ride with Polly.”
He didn’t like it. But then Emi passed him, head down, not looking happy in the least.
What the hell was in the air tonight?
He looked back at Nora. “Are you sure?”
She rolled her eyes, the old Nora slipping back. “Hurry, before you lose her.”
With a sigh, he turned, squeezing Nora’s arm before following Emily outside. She stood in the middle of the green beside the gazebo, phone to her ear.
He’d just reached her when she cursed.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
“Defineokay.” She hit something on her phone and touched it to her ear again, then frowned. “Preston? Where are you? It’s loud.”
Ryan shoved his hands into his pockets, scanning the area, making sure they were alone.
Emily paused before she spoke again. “Is Faye with you?” Another pause. “Great. Thanks.”
By her tone, he wasn’t sure that was so great.
Emily hung up and started walking. He matched her step for step. “You gonna tell me where we’re going?”
“You know, for a second, she actually had me fooled. I feel so stupid.”
“Who?”
“Faye.” She crossed the street.
He followed. “Emi, you’re gonna have to give me a little more information.”
“I thought I’d actually found a friend in her. Not a best friend. I wasn’t delusional enough for that. But someone who could actually just hang out without wanting anything from me or stabbing me in the back? Yeah.”
“Did something happen?”
“You obviously haven’t seen the article. I’m not surprised. I didn’t see it myself until my mother so kindly sent it to me. And I don’t even care that Shaun wrote it. He’s a reporter, that’s what they do. And I don’t care what America thinks of me, or if this taints myperfect image. What Ihateis that I trusted her.I considered her a friend. And she goes and takes photos of uskissingand gives them to a reporter? And the lies she told him. Why’d she do it? To bring me down? To turn movie fans against me?”
“I was in this article?” They crossed the road to Trap.
“Oh, you were front and center, Ryan. Maybe you can add that to your list of reasons to break up with me.” She pushed inside the bar, music blasting through the room.
