Page 102 of Secrets in the Deep

Shit, it was busy.

He stayed close, shadowing her as they wove through the crowd.

“There she is.” Emily sped up her steps.

Just ahead, Ryan spotted Faye, Preston, and two other cast members sitting in a booth by the back wall.

“Maybe you should wait until…”

“I’m not so angry?” Emily shook her head. “No thanks.”

This wouldn’t go well.

When they reached the booth, Faye looked up first. “Emily, hey. You joining us?”

“Why’d you do it?”

Preston lifted his beer to his lips. “Uh-oh. She saw the article.”

Faye cringed before climbing out of the booth. She wobbled.

Great. Faye was drunk and Emily was angry. What could possibly go wrong?

“I’msosorry, Em!” Faye lifted her hands, palms out. “He caught me on a bad day. I was feeling sorry for myself about the attack in the bathroom. I was scared this movie wouldn’t continue and jealous about where you are in your career and where I’m not.”

“Was it ever real?”

“What?”

“This friendship. Were you ever actually my friend?”

“Of course! I just…I’ve worked sohardand I never seem to get anywhere. While everything just falls into your lap!”

“You think this life just fell into my lap?”

Ryan scanned the crowd, noticing phones pointed their way. He slipped an arm around Emily’s waist. “We should go.”

Faye lifted her shoulders. “Kind of. Most of the time you act like you don’t even want it. While other people—people likeme—would kill for it.”

“Well, maybe you’d have it if you weren’t such a backstabbing bitch.”

Faye gasped, and snickers sounded throughout the crowd.

Preston made awoofsound.

Idiot.

“Excuse me?” Faye whispered.

“You pretended to be my friend while spying on me in the forest and taking photos. Then you sold photos of me to a scummy reporter and told him lies. It was to hurt my reputation, right?”

Faye’s cheeks turned pink and she fiddled with a flame pendant on her wrist. She looked around like she was only just realizing how many people were filming.

Yeah, this woman would be getting some attention, but not the kind she was after.

“Come on, Emily,” she tried. “I?—”

“Lied,” Emily interrupted. “Told Shaun I was cheating on Preston when you were fully aware he and I were never dating. All in an attempt to tank my career.”