Page 70 of Off Script

Shehad hung up on Avery. Had she completely lost it? She’d pay for her audacity next time she met up with her ferocious agent. But that was a problem for another day. Today’s dilemma included whether or not she should have a giant margarita or a big-ass glass of wine. The only people who could help her decide were her cousin and Alia.

Hence, that Sunday evening, the three of them ended up in Jada’s living room, clad in their pajamas. They’d ultimately decided on experimenting with a whole lot of rum and a wee bit of strawberry daiquiri mix.

“Not that I’m not happy to have a girl’s night, but what brought this on?” Alia looked on quizzically as Jada refilled their glasses.

“What else? Tristan!” Mikayla snorted.

“My life doesn’t revolve around Tristan,” Jada said, but it certainly felt like it did these days.

“Maybe not but he’s the reason you bailed on me last night.”

“I didn’t bail. I couldn’t find you to tell you I was leaving. Where were you by the way?”

“You first,” Mikayla insisted.

“Fine. You guys were right. The Maxwell magic is working. Unfortunately.”

“Called it!” Mikayla raised her glass in triumph while Alia stifled a giggle.

“It’s not funny. He’s the worst guy I could fall for. Our whole nonrelationship is built on a lie!”

“Lies and the truth can sometimes become the same thing.” Mikayla said, slurring her words. “Besides, if you like each other, then fucking be together.”

“Oh, that’s a great idea, Mikayla, except for the huge messed-up thing we did! Which you seem to have conveniently forgotten.”

“What are you two talking about?” Alia asked.

“The video that came out about The Incident? I did that,” Mikayla confessed, guiltily fiddling with the stem of her glass.

“Kayla, how could you?!” Alia frowned.

“She let me!” Mikayla pointed an accusatory finger Jada’s way. So much for family loyalty!

If Alia’s sensibilities weren’t scandalized before, they were now. “Jada!”

“I know, okay, but I was a little drunk.”

“Then God only knows what you’ll do tonight.” Alia snatched Jada’s glass away from her.

“See? It’s such a mess, and even if I wanted something to come of it, it can’t now. Not without it all blowing up in my face later.”

That was the other darker part to all this. Jada had been suppressing it, but how could she have anything real with Tristan without telling him the truth? Finding out she’d been involved with releasing that video would be the final nail in any relationship coffin. Deciding she didn’t want to go over her plethora of mistakes more than she already had, Jada redirected their attention to Mikayla.

“I told you. It’s your turn. Where were you last night when I couldn’t find you?”

“In a hidden corner somewhere . . . making out with Ren.” Mikayla had the gall to cockily sip her drink as if she hadn’t dropped a bombshell on them.

“Damn it. Why is everyone else’s life so much more interesting than mine?” Alia pouted.

“Because you work too much. I always tell you—”

“Don’t you try to change the subject, Mikayla. Details, stat!” Jada said.

“I ran into him later on. He made me angry, so I kissed him.”

“The old revenge kiss.” Alia hummed in understanding.

“And he kissed you back?” Jada asked, stunned.

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