Page 18 of Unholy Confessions (The Paper Rings Trilogy #1)

Montgomery

I 'm running late, which I fucking hate.

It's a pride thing, being on time. I can remember when I was younger and my dad was having a relapse, before anyone really knew, he would make me late for everything.

The shame of walking into class an hour late, trying to tell them that I'd been ready, but I was trying to get him up, while Mom was out of the house working with Hannah.

It still affects me, to this day. I love my dad, that will never change, but I'm not sure I'll ever be able to forget those dark times. He's apologized and we've moved past it. However, there are moments in life where those memories come barreling back like a train.

Glancing down at the clock on my dashboard, anxiety tightens my chest. I'm already five minutes late, and it'll take me about fifteen to get there. Slapping my thumb against the button on my steering wheel that'll ask me for a voice command, I wait impatiently.

"Call Hayden."

Even saying those words make me feel as if I'm doing something wrong, as if it's directly cheating on RJ.

"Hey, where are you?" He asks before I can even say anything.

It puts me off. Hardly anyone talks to me that way, even RJ. "Excuse you, I'm running late. I'll be there in about twenty minutes. I was just calling to let you know."

"Sorry, I was worried that something may have happened to you. You're typically not late."

Inhaling deeply, I count to ten in my head. "It's okay, I know. Today's been a bit of a clusterfuck, but I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Alright, I'll let everyone know."

It takes everything I have to be polite after the stress of the argument with RJ, and him giving me attitude. "Thank you."

When the line hangs up, I let out a scream, and hope I can get through this meeting.

"The question is, should we do a movie script, or should it be a TV show script, like the whole season?" Skylar asks, her blue eyes landing on each of us as a smile spreads across her face. "You know what I want."

I dig a hand through my hair. "Because you're a fuckin' overachiever."

Skylar snorts. "You know my family. It's expected. But honestly, I feel like it'll set us apart from everyone else. This is a major part of our grade. It would make a much bigger impact, and we could use it for our portfolios."

I'm glancing around the table at Hayden and Sarah.

They look overwhelmed, but I've known Skylar for a long time.

She's Micah's sister, and a friend of the family.

Her dad, Gavin, is Black Friday's producer, and she's seen it all, including her Dad having the same type of addiction as mine.

We've been close because we know what each other has lived through.

She's got a point though. If it's a strong script, and for an entire season of a TV show, we're assured an amazing grade. "I'm down if you are."

She shoots me a thankful glance. "It'll be more work, and we might have to meet a couple more times, but most of it can be done through Zoom if we need to."

"Alright." Hayden claps his hands. "Let's do it."

Sarah looks like she's about to puke, but agrees. "Alright, let's get to work on planning this."

After an hour all of us need a break. Hayden goes to grab some more coffee, and Sarah runs to the restroom, which leaves Skylar and I at the table. "Micah texted me, he and RJ are writing today. What's going on with the two of you? Micah said he seems sad."

I sigh, throwing my head back in frustration.

"He's annoyed that I'm here. Actually he's annoyed with everything.

It reminds me of how annoyed my dad got when he was high all the time," I say with a chuckle.

But a cold chill works its way down my back.

It's not exactly the same as my dad, but that's because dad abused opiates.

Maybe that's not what RJ is doing. Skylar's voice sounds like it's coming from a million miles away, and when it stops, she smiles at me. "I'm sorry, what?"

"He probably just misses you. Being on the road is hard. We both know that."

We do, but this is something different. I can't bring myself to tell her that though. "You're right, I should be more patient."

"Patient with what?" Hayden slides a latte over to me as he has a seat across from me.

"RJ is a little on the touchy side." Skylar takes a drink of the coffee he hands to her.

Hayden raises an eyebrow, setting his coffee down with more force than necessary. "Touchy is one way to put it. From what I can see, he's making you miserable."

My spine stiffens. "You don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't I?" He leans back in his chair, his dark eyes fixed on mine. "Montgomery, you deserve so much better than someone who makes you walk on eggshells."

The words hit me hard. Heat floods my cheeks, and I can feel my hands trembling slightly. "Hayden, you have no idea what my relationship is like."

"Actually, I do." His voice is calm, but there's an edge to it that makes my stomach clench. "You keep bringing it into our group projects. You're late because you're fighting with him. You're in a bad mood because he's giving you grief about being here. We can see it, Montgomery. We're not blind."

The truth in his words makes me want to scream. Instead, I lean forward, my voice dropping to a harsh whisper. "You're being a dick."

"Hey, hey." Skylar's voice cuts through the tension like a knife. She reaches across the table, placing a hand on my arm and shooting Hayden a warning look. "Both of you, stop. We're here to work on this project, not psychoanalyze each other's relationships."

Hayden has the decency to look slightly ashamed. "I'm sorry, Montgomery. I just... I care about you. We all do. And seeing you like this?—"

"Like what?" I snap.

"Unhappy," he says quietly.

The simple word breaks something inside me, but I force myself to hold it together. Skylar squeezes my arm gently.

"Let's just focus on the script, okay?" she says, her voice soothing. "We've got a great concept here, and we all want to do well."

Sarah returns from the restroom, oblivious to the tension that still hangs in the air like smoke. We spend the next hour working through character arcs and plot points, but my heart isn't in it. Every time Hayden speaks, I can feel his words echoing in my head: You deserve better.

When we finally wrap up, agreeing to meet again next week, I gather my things with shaking hands. Skylar gives me a quick hug.

"Text me later if you need to talk," she whispers in my ear.

I nod, not trusting my voice, and head for the parking lot.

Once I'm safely inside my car, the dam breaks. Tears pour down my face in hot, angry streams. I grip the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turn white, my whole body shaking with the force of my sobs.

The worst part is that Hayden was right. I am bringing my problems to the group. I am miserable. And somewhere deep down, in a place I don't want to acknowledge, I'm terrified that RJ might be heading down the same dark road my father once owned.

The thought makes me cry harder, until I'm gasping for breath between sobs. Because if that's true, I don't know what I'm going to do. I don't know if I'm strong enough to watch someone I love destroy themselves again.