Page 105 of When Stars Fall

“For three years, I’ve listened to Wyatt tell me how much he loves you. You’ve let him in the door again. He’ll do anything to stay there. Anything you ask.”

“I don’t want Anna to die. The picture you painted—that’s not an outcome any of us wants.”

“You deserved to understand. He’d never tell you.”

He’d worry I wouldn’t stay. We’re in an impossible situation. “Was it hard?” I glance up. “For him to get clean?”

“Very.” She shifts her coffee cup to her other hand. “A lot of trial and error.”

“If I’d told him ten years ago when I was pregnant with Haven—do you think he would have gotten clean back then?”

“You don’t pull any punches.” Camila lets out a low whistle. “Did you ask him this question?”

“In a roundabout way, yeah.”

“And?”

“He said it wasn’t a fair question. But you’re the expert. Maybe you can tell me.”

“You want me to ease your conscience?”

“He’s so good now. Such agoodman.” My voice grows thick, and I have to pause to collect myself. “He always was, but the addiction gripped him so hard. I’ve loved him so much for so long that I want to be sure I did the right thing.”

“I can’t answer with any sense of certainty. We’ll never know.” She runs her hand up and down my arm in a gesture of comfort. “People are unpredictable. You made a choice based on what you saw in him then.” Sipping her coffee, she gives me a thoughtful look. “That’s the thing about a choice. Once you make it, you can’t ever go back to undo it. What’s done is done.”

I place my teacup in the sink, then I gather my hair up and let it fall over and over. “This choice with Anna and Jamal . . .”

“Is another one of those moments. It’s a big one. A row of dominoes.”

“I always hated that game.”

Already I’m in over my head with Wyatt. Being with him is all-consuming. Since he left this morning, he’s all I’ve thought about. Last night sparked something, and my feelings are burning down all my defenses. I want him, no matter the cost.

Nikki pads into the kitchen, yawning. “Don’t you have to be there in five minutes?” She glances at the phone clutched in her hand and then spots Camila.

“Yeah, I do.” I rub my cheeks, feeling emotionally drained yet again. Just when I thought I was on even ground, something else makes me wobble. “Nikki, this is Camila, Wyatt’s addiction specialist. And Camila, Nikki is my sister.”

“Nice to meet you,” Nikki says and extends her hand for Camila to shake.

“Nikki, make sure Haven stays away from Anna today,” I say.

“I’m with you there. She was scary last night.” Nikki pats my shoulder. “Haven shouldn’t be anywhere near her.”

“She wouldn’t hurt Haven on purpose.” Camila grimaces.

“Maybe not. But Haven’s not used to Anna. And we won’t have a chance to talk until there’s a break in filming this afternoon or maybe tonight,” I say.

“As the ex-other-parent, I agree with Ellie.” Nikki grabs a mug and fills it with coffee. “We keep Haven the hell away from Anna. She was unhinged.”

“You said she’s in your trailer?” Camila frowns and takes another drink of her coffee.

“She should be. It’s not like we put a guard outside the door or anything.” I grab my coat, hat, and mitts off the warming rack. “Security wasn’t very useful last night.”

“Noted,” Camila says. “I’ll go talk to her.”

“Alone?” Nikki’s voice fills with disbelief. “Nope. You need six Jedi masters with you.”

“Nikki.” I laugh as I tuck my hair into my hat.

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