Page 11 of Flawless

“You’re hurting Mama and Dad. You’re killing them, Dani.”

Flipping over again, I glare at him and say, “I’m killing them?”

“They can’t take the stress. They’re up in age now, and they thought that by this time, their kids would be settled down. You’re thirty-six, and you’ll be thirty-seven if you live to see it this year. The DUIs were bad enough, but...”

“But what? Say it, Onyx,” I ask, trembling and looking around for my purse.

“Look at you,” he says, pointing at me.

“What about it?”

“Your hands are trembling, your pupils are small, your skin is pale, and your hands are cold. Are you on something, Dani?”

“No!” I deny. I’m unable to control the trembling of my hands.

“These last two years you seem high every time you come around, you’re antsy, short-tempered, and you stay away from the family all the time. I swear it feels like I saw you more when you lived in Italy than I do now. And our houses are only twenty minutes from each other.”

“Is this why you came? To lecture me?”

“No. I came because I received a phone call that my baby sister had passed out on set in front of a live audience, and thatshe was unresponsive. I came here because I was scared shitless at what I might find, and I needed to make sure you were okay.”

“So that you can do what? Call Mommy and Daddy and report to them?”

“If that’s what needs to happen.”

I groan, closing my eyes and pressing the heels of my hands against my eyes.

“How are Cove and Summer doing?” I ask of my three-year-old nephew and one-year-old niece, changing the subject.

“They’re growing, busy learning and getting into everything. I think they miss their Tee-Tee DD,” he says, referencing the name that Cove calls me.

“They don’t need to see me.”

“What makes you say that?” he asks.

Shaking my head, I say, “I’m tired, Onyx. I need some sleep.”

“Fine. Get some rest. I’ll be sitting right here waiting for you when you wake up.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I want to, Dani. Because I love you, and you need to know that.”

He presses a kiss to my forehead as my eyelids drift closed.

3 – DANICA

“Nica, over here! Can you tell us what landed you in the hospital?” A reporter shouts.

“Nica, what happened on the show? Your viewers are concerned about you passing out!”

“Nica, when are you returning to the show?”

“Nica! Is it true that you’re pregnant?”

“Nica, there are rumors that you have been suffering from substance abuse! How long have you been struggling with your addiction?”

“Nica! Nica! Is it true that the network is dropping you and replacing you on your show?”

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