Page 104 of When Stars Fall

“Nice to meet you too.” I accept her hand. “He’s told me a lot about you and how you single-handedly saved him.”

“No.” She gives a sharp shake of her head and purses her lips. “He’s not giving himself enough credit. He saved himself. No one saves you when you’re an addict. You have towantto save yourself more than youwantthe next drink, the next pill, the next whatever. The struggle never ends. Every day, he saves himself.”

Scary and comforting. I threw a lot of money at the biggest addiction charity on the island, but I never asked a lot of questions. The answers weren’t ones I wanted to hear when I didn’t have Wyatt anymore. I am ready to hear now, and I need to pay attention.

“He’s on set,” I say. “Anna’s in my trailer.”

“And you’re in Wyatt’s trailer.”

“Is that a problem?”

“No, I’m merely trying to determine what’s going on. It’s easier to work with people, to provide solutions, when I have the whole picture.”

“He probably had you sign some sort of contract?” I take out a cup for tea, and I hold up the kettle to Camila. “Care for a cup?”

“Tea isn’t strong enough if I’m dealing with Anna this morning. Coffee, if you have it, please.” Camila crosses her arms. “And yes, we have a few ironclad, very expensive contracts protecting him from leaks. I’m very careful. As much as he trusts anyone, he trusts me.”

“Good to know.” I flick on the coffee maker. “Anna was a surprise. She’s worse now than she was before. And we didn’t get along then.”

“He’s been very good to his sister over the years. His patience with her is unending.” Camila frowns, clearly holding something back.

“That might be coming to an end.”

“You two are back together?” Camila sinks into the closest couch.

“We are.” I sip my tea.

“And you’re asking him to choose?” She squints at me, as though she can’t fathom why I’d do that.

“I can’t have Anna around Haven.” My hand has fallen to my abdomen. “You understand what Anna is like—better than most. She showed up raging yesterday.”

“Yes, she does that. She’smostlyharmless, depending on what she’s immersed herself in.” She sits up straighter. “Wyatt would never agree to leave Jamal with her, so you’ve asked him to go after custody?”

“She’s not good for Jamal.” The trauma she’s causing her son might take years to fix if we don’t act soon.

Camila tips her head, leaning back on the couch again. She picks at the fur on her winter coat, which is piled in a heap beside her. Emotions flit across her face, and I almost smile. She does not have a poker face.

“You want to say something.”

“Yep.” Camila glances at me. “But he wouldn’t be happy. It’s a bit of a balancing act. When to hold your cards and when to play them.”

“There’s a lot going on between us right now. Our lives are complicated, but we want a relationship to work.” I give her a long look. “I can handle Wyatt if you play those cards.” I grip on to the counter behind me. Whatever she’s withholding might be vital.

“You remember the contract you mentioned earlier? There are certain cards Ican’tplay.”

I take a deep breath. I don’t have time for games and half-truths. In fifteen minutes, I need to be in hair and makeup. “Tell me. I won’t tell him you told me. But I’ll do something about it.”

“My house is the collateral for talking about these things.” Her dark brown eyes meet mine as she calculates whether to trust me. “Do you understand what I’m saying? I like having a home.”

“He won’t kick you out of your place.” I can probably talk him out of that vindictive move if I absolutely must.

“The last time Wyatt asked Anna to give him Jamal, she told him she’d kill herself if he took her son. I don’t think she was bluffing. He doesn’t either. If he has to choose between you and Haven or his sister, he’ll pick you. But at what cost?”

I chug my tea. He wasn’t guessing last night; he knows what his sister will do. I’m not a monster. I don’t want her to die.

“But the guilt he’ll experience for the rest of his life for choosing you over her will break him. Quickly, slowly, somewhere in-between. Big feelings are hard for him. He already feels partially responsible for Isaac’s death. Adding Anna’s death—his little sister, Jamal’s mother . . . He’ll use again or the two of you will fall apart because you asked and he said yes.” Camila comes to my side to pour her coffee.

“I’m not sure what to say.” I stare into my empty teacup.

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