Page 101 of Harrison's Wedding

“You should really think about it. What happened…I don’t think you’re handling it well, Harrison,” he says in a somber tone.

I purse my lips and nod. “Thanks for the assessment. I’ll think about it.”

There’s silence between us for a few moments, and I think that Sebastian is done with our conversation until he speaks again.

“If you ever have any really dark thoughts. Tell me straight away, okay? Don’t hide them.”

I know where this is coming from. I can hear the fear in his voice, and I wonder how badly what happened with Gabriel scarred him.

“You mean…like about hurting myself?” I clarify. He nods solemnly, and I frown at him. “I’ve been in a bad place lately, but I haven’t had any thoughts like that.”

“Which is good. I just want you to know that you can call me any time of the day or night if you do.”

I look at him again, and it’s clear that he means it. I’m grateful to have him as a friend, even though I know my visit today was not a healthy move.

“If I do have any thoughts like that, I’ll tell you. I’ll see you later.” I give him a quick smile and turn to walk over to where Michael and Daryl are very obviously looking away from us.

Michael escorts me downstairs and into the SUV. I’m feeling strange after the conversation with Sebastian. It’s an odd idea, and I realize that even though I’ve been feeling down, I haven’t been feeling anything like that, which I’m grateful for.

I get Michael to drive around for a while because I can’t bring myself to go home. When I do, I’m surprised to see Ariana’s bodyguard, Ross Weber, sitting in the entryway with Callum.

“Ariana’s here?” I ask him in surprise, and he nods at me.

I stride into the living room, and Michael follows me. I find Heather sitting on the sofa with Ariana sitting next to her. They’re talking and laughing, and my heart hurts because it’s so good to see them as friends again.

They look up and see me. Heather’s eyes roam over me, and I ache to have her in my arms. I want her more than I want to keep breathing.

“Hello, Ariana,” I smile at her.

“Hi, Harrison,” she smiles back, looking radiant, and it’s clear she’s ecstatic with her renewed friendship with Heather.

I look at Heather, then back at Ariana to tell her, “It’s good to see you here.”

“It’s great to be here. Heather and I have been catching up.”

“That’s wonderful.” I smile brightly at her because I’m truly happy for the two of them, then I allow myself to look at Heather again. “Hi, angel.”

“Hello, Harrison,” she says stiffly.

My small amount of happiness vanishes at the sound of the name I hate more than anything in the world. It’s a reminder that she’s not mine anymore. In some other reality, I could go and sit next to her and pull her into my arms and feel at peace. Not in this hell, though.

“I’ll leave you to it,” I say, and walk toward my bedroom, nodding at Michael as he heads toward the entryway.

I don’t close the door when I get there, and this turns out to be a mistake.

I can hear low voices for about a minute before Heather yells loud and clear, “Let’s not forget that ‘this Madeline thing’ is Harrison fucking another woman!”

It feels like my heart stops beating in my chest. I don’t know what Ariana said, but even my appearance has turned their happy conversation into some sort of argument. I feel sick.

I spend the evening in my room and don’t leave it at all. Dinner time rolls around, but I’m not hungry, so I skip eating. Instead, I lay on my bed, missing the woman who used to share it with me.

January

IS THE WORLD’S FAVORITE COUPLE FINALLY OVER?

After a cheating scandal rocked Cruise Control in November, many brands ended their business dealings with the band. The band still released a wildly popular new single this month, ‘Rules to Break,’ breaking records for the number of times it was streamed in a day on Spotify and clocking up massive views on YouTube, as well.

People have noticed, however, that Harrison Fletcher and Heather York haven’t been seen together in public since. Heather has been doing some serious promotion for her fashion line, but while she was spotted partying with Hayden Vega and an unknown brunette woman in New York, Harrison was nowhere to be seen.

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