Page 38 of Lights, Camera, Love

‘Whatever. But the fact that you did that to Evie at the showcase and then took off without apologising for it is deplorable, man.’

His eyes scrunch up. ‘Did what to Evie?’

‘Tell the whole goddamn world who her father is!’

‘And why wouldn’t I?’ he asks as if I’m speaking in tongues.

‘If it wasn’t me, someone else probably would’ve found out and leaked it—obviously Nadia found it online.

Plus, you know it’s brilliant publicity for the movie—for me —if people think I’m dating Hollywood royalty.

Everyone loves a celebrity heir. You’re my manager; you should be all for this. ’

I lean forward and peer right into his face until he flushes. ‘She didn’t want anyone to know. I should’ve fucking told you that more clearly when you got the text from Nadia.’

Austin blinks fast. ‘Wait. You already knew?’ When I don’t reply, he physically recoils. ‘How many secrets have you and Evie been keeping from me?’

‘This isn’t about you! Or me—this is about Evie. This was her truth to tell if she wanted to. You had no right to do what you did without talking to her first.’

‘So, she did tell you,’ he confirms, looking me up and down. He tuts with irritation and turns to face the wall of potted plants.

‘She didn’t tell me. I figured it out, just like Nadia did. When I mentioned it to Evie, she said she didn’t want anyone to know. So, I dropped it.’

‘You didn’t even tell me ?’

Again, he’s focusing on all the ways he’s been wronged, rather than the mistake he made with Evie.

‘Austin. You’re being a selfish—’

‘You’re obsessed with her,’ he spits.

‘I’m not obsess—’

‘Stop lying! I caught you practically humping her like a dog on heat in that stinking hallway. Now you’re acting as if nothing happened. You’re a fuckin’ liar.’

I bite the inside of my cheek so hard it almost bleeds. ‘I’m not a liar.’

‘No?’ He folds his arms at me, clenching his fists so tight that his knuckles whiten. ‘If you’re so honest, then tell me what’s really going on with you and Evie.’

I let out a breath and look away.

He shakes his head. ‘See? You’re a fuckin’—’

‘I slept with her,’ I blurt out. ‘Okay? Is that what you want to know? We fucked. Last night. Over and over.’

And I’d do it again without a moment’s hesitation because it felt like so much more than sex. It felt like joy and honesty and freedom.

Austin stiffens all over. Slowly, his eyes expand, as if they’re adjusting to the scale of this revelation. ‘What did you just say?’

Oh, shit. This is gonna be worse than I thought.

But it’s too late to back out now. ‘Evie and I slept together last night,’ I repeat. ‘After the wrap party. That’s why I didn’t come home.’

He blinks at me, his breaths growing louder and more uneven, but he still doesn’t say a word. Every bit of his skin has turned ashen.

‘I know you said you liked her,’ I say shakily. Even if you’ve got a funny way of showing it. ‘And I’m sorry about that. But Evie has told me very clearly that she likes me. And the truth is that I really like her, too. I like her a lot.’

A sheen of tears coats Austin’s eyes.

‘I’m sorry if that upsets you,’ I add, baffled by the intensity of his reaction. ‘You know how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. The last thing I want to do is hurt you.’

‘Then why do you keep doing it?’

‘Are you really that into Evie?’ I challenge. ‘You hardly know her. And I know I could say the same thing, but—’

‘No, you can’t,’ he snaps. ‘You and she have been hanging out, doing your little dance. Acting like best buds, without including me.’

I roll my eyes. ‘Come on, man, you sound like a three-year-old. Grow up, Austin.’

‘Oh, and you’re the poster boy for maturity, are you?’ His bottom lip quivers. ‘It’s real mature to make out with your best friend’s wife . You’re lucky I still speak to you.’

The words shock me into silence. While the disaster with Nadia hangs over me and Austin every day, he hasn’t brought it up like this in a long time.

He huffs out a breath and grips his thighs. ‘Why do you have to go after the women I’m into?’

My face twists. ‘I don’t.’

He stands up so fast that his chair scrapes against the tiles.

‘Yes, you do. It’s like a competition to you or something.

You feel like you have to show that you’re every bit as good as me.

Maybe it’s because of your screwed-up start in life—I don’t know.

All I know is that you don’t need to prove your worth to anyone, Kye.

You don’t need to try to copy everything about my life to feel good about yourself. ’

‘Christ, Austin, could you be any more vain? This has nothing to do with you.’

‘Bullshit. You’ve been living in my shadow since you were nine years old. Right through to you following me to LA.’

I jump up so that we’re shoulder to shoulder, although I’ve got a couple of inches on him.

‘You wanted me to come and work for you!’ I argue.

‘You basically forced me into it. You said it was the only way you would forgive me for what happened with Nadia; if I moved to LA with you and became your manager.’

He waves a hand. ‘Don’t try to gaslight me, man.

It was no skin off my teeth whether or not you joined me; you’re the one who wanted to come.

You’re fuckin’ obsessed with me. As a matter of fact, I take back what I said about Evie—it’s me you’re infatuated with.

Everything I have, you want.’ He gestures at the luxury apartment with its multimillion-dollar view.

‘And I get why. You grew up with nothing. But if you keep screwing me over, that’s what you’ll end up with, Kye—nothing. Back to your roots.’

I snatch up my mug, my fingers shaking around the porcelain. Austin calls out after me as I pace inside and dump my cup in the sink before pulling on my bomber jacket.

‘Oh, come on, man, you know I didn’t mean that,’ he mutters from the doorway of the balcony.

My eyes shift up to his for a moment; the distress in his face is like another knife to my gut, which is already shredded to pieces with anger and shame.

It’s just like Nadia all over again. Except this time, I can’t understand why he’s so damn upset.

Yes, Evie is more than special, but the interactions I’ve seen between her and Austin have seemed so surface-level.

I can’t help but think that he’s just mad because he’s feeling the betrayal Nadia and I inflicted all over again.

Or because he’s never stopped feeling it.

Because he’s been pretending to me—and himself—that he’s forgiven me for what happened with her when he hasn’t.

And that’s something I just can’t face. Not head-on like this.

‘I’m taking a few days off,’ I mutter, my voice thick. ‘I’ll be back to pick up some stuff later.’

Austin lurches towards me, but I’m already at the door. From the corridor, I ignore his cries for me not to leave, jabbing my finger into the lift button and jumping between the doors before he can follow me.