Page 114 of Nothing to Do

“OH MY GOD!”

Alessia’s exclamation brought her around in the kitchen. Not an unusual thing for her to say but given she hadn’t known her sister was even in her apartment, yeah, it was a surprise.

“What’s going on?” she asked, quickly washing her hands. “Did something happen?”

Alessia dumped her purse on the counter. “Yes, something happened.”

“What?” A million potential disasters rushed her senses. “Is Mom okay?”

“Lark broke up with her boyfriend.”

She deflated. “Really? That’s not a something happened.”

“It is! She told him how she really felt, sooo much tea. And did you hear about Roman?”

“No. Hear what?”

Instantly she regretted asking. The question just slid out in reflex to Alessia’s query. This week had been sans Roman Lowe so far, and she’d have been happy for it to stay that way.

“He posted this video online…” Alessia rummaged around in her purse and produced her phone. “It’s him, talking to the fans, talking to us. Showing us how much he cares. We mean something to him. He really puts himself out there, it’s just beautiful.”

Alessia turned the screen and there he was, as stated, close to the camera, not much background.

He started by clearing his throat. “This is a message you all deserve to hear; one I should’ve sent long ago. I’ll never be ableto explain every incident in my past or justify my actions. Some of the things I’ve done have been… despicable. That doesn’t get me off the hook. I apologize, and I should’ve apologized many times already. Why did it take so long? I don’t know; there’s no justifiable answer to that. I was broken, in so many ways, unprepared for the trappings of fame, I guess you could say. Cliché, maybe, yeah, it went to my head. I took advantage of the faith and trust others put in me,youput in me. To anyone who ever watched a second of me on screen, to those who expected more, to those I’ve disappointed: I’m sorry. I hope you can forgive me and that we can move on… together. Thank you to those who have stuck by me, supported me, continued to follow me and my career even when it was a hot mess. You deserve better and I should’ve given you better. I’m sorry, to everyone, I hope you can all forgive me.”

The image paused then cleared.

Alessia snatched her phone to her chest and sighed. “Isn’t that amazing? He really put himself out there! He’s vulnerable, just like the rest of us. Can you believe he did that?”

No, actually, she couldn’t, though didn’t get the chance to say it, which was probably just as well. Zane appeared from the bedroom sparing her the confession, that one anyway.

“Sorry, babe, I—” He stopped when Alessia whirled around, shock written all over her loose face. “Hi, Alessia.”

“Oh my God,” her sister said again, jaw still swinging. “Zane Dyce is here.”

“Yeah, I noticed that.”

“You ladies need a minute?”

“No,” she said, gesturing at the stove. “You started with the sauce, finish before I ruin it.”

Accepting the task, he passed Alessia to take over at the stove. She moved on to gathering flatware and napkins. Her bootwas just part of her life now, though on it, she was less than graceful.

“Are you living together now?” Alessia asked, coming in close as she went to work setting the table. “Is this permanent?”

“I don’t know,” she said under her breath. “We don’t know, it just is.”

“Have you told Mom?”

“Less, don’t make a big deal of it.”

Alessia prodded her waist. “Not so bad bagging yourself a billionaire.” Her sister whirled around and raised her voice. “You better plan to do right by my sister. It’s so weird, seeing you here.” Alessia bumped her with a hip. “It’s like you brought some of the island back with you.”

And if she could go back there now and let it swallow her whole, she would.

Her guy took Alessia’s reaction in stride. “How have you been doing since you got back home?”

“My life is completely boring,” Alessia said then squealed. “Oh! But Roman! Did you know about his video?”

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