Page 169 of By His Play

I walk through the large room that’s full of everyone’s desks until I get to the management offices at the very end.

A smile spreads across my face as I step up to my door.

My name is still there.

I stare at it for a moment before pushing my door open and stepping inside.

It’s just like returning home last night.

Everything is exactly as I remember it.

I wasn’t aware whether Jasmine had moved in, in my absence, but looking at it right now, it’s obvious she hasn’t.

Knowing that Henry kept it for me makes my chest swell.

He knew I’d come back, and he wasn’t lying when he said my job would be here no matter how long it took.

Rubbing at the spot over my chest, I walk farther inside and take it all in.

Sitting in the center of my desk, right in front of my chair is a pad of paper.

Welcome home, Effie.

We’ve missed you.

41

EFFIE

After getting sucked into work, it’s long after lunch by the time I emerge from the building to the bright, blinding sunlight.

I take off toward home with the good intentions of showering and then mustering up some courage to speak to Kieran.

Just the thought of hearing his voice again sends a rush of nerves through me. I have no idea how I’m going to face him.

I stop at the store and buy myself some essentials and dinner, and just as I’m walking out, a flier on the neighborhood noticeboard catches my eye.

Adult dance classes for skills of all ages at a local dance company.

Shaking the crazy thought away, I keep walking.

I’ve got yoga now. Once work starts again on Monday, I’m not going to have time for anything else.

Thankfully, the walk back to my apartment is short, and I ride the elevator up with my arms loaded full of bags, more than ready to switch off for the day.

You still have to call Kieran, a little voice says.

Ignoring it, I begin putting my groceries away, but before I know it, I’m rearranging my cupboards. I know I’m only putting off the inevitable, and no matter how long it takes me, the same conversation will still be waiting.

He’s told me numerous times since he left that he wasn’t the one to give the media the story. He’s assured me that despite having told the publicist the truth, it was an intern who sold the story they’d agreed to cover up.

To begin with, I was angry and hurt. I guess, a part of me still is, and maybe always will be. But now that a little time has passed, I can see that all that really came out is the truth. Sure, there was no mention of Grams or my reasoning, which might have made me seem a little less unhinged. But ultimately, I did lie. I did make up a fake engagement with my best friend for my own benefit.

I may not have spent a lot of time online recently, but the few times I have logged in, I’ve cringed hard whenever a new article about it has appeared.

It was a stupid and naive thing to do.

Maybe it would have been okay if my best friend wasn’t a name that everyone knew. Maybe I could have gotten away without being America’s most-hated woman for a few days.

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