Page 32

Alexis,

I heard you woke up from a coma and are in recovery. I wish you all the best and hope you recover soon. May this movie giveyou some distraction during a challenging time and may you reclaim what you’ve lost.

Best,

N. S.

The author of the book behind the movie left me a note. A personalized note. My eyes cloud with moisture—a sudden urge to cry.

How does he know my favorite movie? And then, there’s the personalized message.

It has to be a lucky guess. He probably sent his assistant to get this. Don’t overthink it.

A searing pain hits me behind my rib cage, and suddenly, I’m winded.

Somehow, I feel like I’ve lost something irreplaceable.

Chapter 10

Past: Two Years Before the Accident—Twenty-Two Years Old

“Dude, did you fallin or something? You’re missing your own celebration party!” Rex pounds on the bathroom door. We’re at Mystique, a new nightclub that opened inside The Orchid last week.

Deep, rhythmic thumping of the bass reverberates through the walls, followed by the cackling of my brothers and friends on the other side of the door. The atmosphere is electric, the alcohol adding fuel to the fire, but instead of hanging out with everyone in the private room, I’m hiding away here.

I was promoted to senior analyst last week at work.

Trey clapped me on the back as he handed me a glass of whiskey in his office. “What did I tell you, Delaney? You rose from failure and came back stronger. You deserved this.”

There was pride in his eyes. After losing the company three hundred grand, I doubled down on my research, testing, and retesting theories with my own money before I suggested investment changes at Fleur.

I checked my work three times—on a computer, by hand, and even reading it aloud—before submitting my official recommendations.

It paid off. The investment changes yielded a two hundred percent return, a nice sum of two million dollars in three weeks. The Deliminator was back in his game again and the office rejoiced.

“Thanks.” I raised the glass at him and took a sip.

“I only gave you advice. You did all the work. Don’t sell yourself short, D. Keep this up and someday I’ll be worried about my job.” Trey chuckled.

When I take the helm of this department, Trey would get a promotion—I’d make sure of it.

“Ethan! Dude, seriously. Did our parents swap the numbers in your birth year or something? Why are you hiding in there like an old man?”

Rex the menace. Rex, the nuisance.

“You eat your meals on a set schedule, the same healthy green stuff every day. Shouldn’t your bathroom breaks be on a schedule too?”

I roll my eyes and ignore him.

“You’re so gross, Rex. And Ethan’s been better with his routines now. He’s here, isn’t he? And at the family dinner last week, I saw him wolfing down lasagna with a goofy smile on his face.” Lana’s dulcet voice travels through the door.

“Fuck, you’re right. But who the hell eats moldy cheese with lasagna?”

I bite back a grin. I had Dreamer to thank for that. I should be upset at her messing with my routines, but oddly, I’m not.

It made me feel closer to her.

“Ignore him, Ethan. I know it’s hard to introvert at a party!” Lana giggles.