Page 95 of Perfect Pursuit

Austyn swears ripely.

I’d let Austyn read the years’ worth of texts between myself and Ethan before I told her what happened. It gave me time to go shower and wash the slimy feeling of being dirty off my skin. Pulling my knees to my chest, I lower my head and sob.

Austyn scoots closer and murmurs, “Men are assholes.”

Sniffling, I manage, “Not all men. Just your uncle.”

She amends her statement. “Uncle Ethan is an asshole.”

“Promise me you won’t tell him about why I did this.” She hesitates. I turn ferocious eyes on her. “Promise me, Austyn.”

“I promise…until after.”

“Fair enough.” Following a long silence, I whisper, “I gave up my pride in an attempt to save my mother’s life and lost the man I love.”

“Then I just have one thing to say to you.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s the same thing you said a long time ago.”

My head cocks to the side.

“Forgive me for paraphrasing, but the situation calls for it.”

I wait while she clears her throat. “You’ll be fine. You want to know how I know? Because no matter what, I’ll be right by her side. Fallon doesn’t need fame or fortune. She just needs love to heal. She’s been my best friend since we were fifteen.”

Tears fall down my face unheeded as I recall the words I said to Austyn’s therapist when she was hospitalized after the car accident. I can’t speak. “Let me not forget my favorite.”

Swiping madly beneath my eyes, I push out, “What’s that?”

“You fell in love with a douchebag. Someone you’re better off not having in your life.” Then her mask of evil fades, leaving her just as devastated by her uncle’s actions as I am. “He’s going to regret making you hurt, Fal.”

If only I thought he would care. Instead, I lean forward, wrap my arms around my best friend, and rely on her to help replenish my strength since all of mine was depleted.

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

KENSINGTON, TEXAS

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. CEO Leanne Miles is pleased to announce a new internship program for Castor Industries. One internship per semester per location will be granted. Details regarding the application process must be located by applicants on the Castor website. The information is not under the standard ‘Careers’ link.

—Castor Newsroom

It’s two days later. I’ve stayed drunk most of the time and finally, after coming up for air, I reply to Thorn. What he tells me has me retching over the bowl. After rinsing my mouth out, I croak, “What?”

Thorn’s voice is unmistakably cold when he replies, “I told you to wait for a reason.”

“She wasn’t there? Not for any of the calls?” My hand nudges my mouse to the side, waking my computer up. There she is, beautiful and smiling. Not blank and emotionless the way I left her two days ago in the parking lot of Devil’s Lair.

“Not. A. Single. One. Q?za triple checked her personal cell’s movement. Although her extension was used, she, herself, was only at Devil’s Lair for a few hours at night.” A sneer enters his voice. “You know, long enough to field a few calls, including yours.”

“Don’t. It was part of a job.”

“Did you tell her your role in it?”

My silence is the only answer that’s needed. Thorn sneers, “Seems she wasn’t the only one keeping secrets, was she, Ethan?”

“My secrets were classified!” I shout.

---