Page 140 of He's The Reason Why

Blake’s words had hit right in the deepest part of her heart, where that little negative voice lived. The one that told her she wasn’t good enough. The one that she constantly tried to prove was full of crap.

She worked hard, pushed herself even harder, and kept moving toward that elusive place somewhere in the distance where she wouldn’t hear that voice anymore because there’d be nothing left for it to say.

Much good it did her.

That voice had caught up and slapped her in the face tonight.

You’re not good enough to be the lead for anything.

“Piper,” Lizzie said softly. “You okay?”

She nodded and kept her gaze focused out the window. The sun had set. All she could see were lights blurred together as they moved onto the freeway and her own reflection staring back at her with wide, unblinking eyes.

“What an asshole,” Della said. “Can you believe that guy?”

“I didn’t see the whole article,” Mattie said. “What else did it say?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Piper muttered.

She was so tired. She just wanted to curl up in the dark somewhere and not feel anything.

“She’s right.” Lizzie’s calm voice of reason cut in. “Let’s drop the subject.”

“Well, she obviously can’t work with him on that stupid movie.” Della huffed. “He’s a two-faced prick.”

“It’s not stupid,” Piper said.

She sounded distant, even to herself, but she couldn’t let that statement stand. It was a good movie. She loved the story.

She loved him.

That’s what made all of this so much worse. She’d expected hateful things from Rachel, but not Blake.

“I know I couldn’t do it.” Mattie’s voice was soft and teary. “I wouldn’t be able to face him on set every day and pretend to be in love with him knowing what he really thinks.”

“She should walk out,” Della grumped. “Let’s see him finish his stupid movie without her.”

“It’snotstupid,” Piper said, a little louder. She tore her gaze from the window to glare at her sisters. “It’s going to be a great movie.”

Lizzie put a soft hand on her arm. “She didn’t mean it that way. She’s just defending you.”

“She nevermeansanything,” Piper snapped. “Doesn’t stop her, though, does it.”

She instantly wished she could call the words back. Della didn’t deserve her anger. Not this time.

Silence stretched. Mattie blinked at her with bright, shiny eyes, her brow furrowed. Lizzie squeezed Piper’s arm as if to say stop talking, or maybe apologize right now to your baby sister.

Della stared at nothing and looked…not hurt, exactly. Thoughtful? No. Guilty. That was her guilty face.

Piper glared down at her hands. “Sorry. That was bitchy.”

“It’s okay. It was true,” Della said softly. “Truth hurts.”

“Let’s all just calm down,” Lizzie said. “Piper’s hurting, and we’re all reacting to her pain, but let’s not turn on each other.”

They rode in silence until the car exited the freeway.

“Piper,” Mattie said, a little more sure of herself, “you can lean on us. We’ll get you through. You all helped me so much when…well, you know when. We’re here for you always. You know that, right?”

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