Page 63 of For The Record

He lets the door of my office slam shut behind him.

Good riddance.

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@MarkLeong4: make no mistake about it, there is truth to the allegations #IStandWithAlina

@AJRostova: Thank you <3

@MarkLeong4 @VarietyMag: Check out our interview with Naoya Sugawa!

Chapter 29: Skye Holland

A pale stripe of moonlight slants through the living room window as I pace the floor, holding a dry cleaning hanger with a pink Herve Leger bandage dress on it. Poppy’s voice is deadly cold, this one piece of clothing straining our friendship. “I don’t know why you’re so upset.”

“I needed this dress for a work client, Skye! I asked one thing of you, and that was to have it dry-cleaned a week ago.” She shoves a drawer shut in the kitchen.

“I’ve already apologized, Poppy. I said I was sorry.” My voice trails off, and I twist the hanger in my hands, the wire digging into my palms.

“You are soselfish, Skye!” Poppy slams her unicorn-shaped coffee mug onto the island, almost shattering the vase of dried flowers next to it. “God, I can’t believe you.”

“I don’t know what you want me to say.” I hang the dress on a coat rack in the living room, the plastic crinkling.

“I don’t want you to say anything,” she snaps. “I want you todosomething for once in your life, for someoneotherthan yourself. There’s a fifty-dollar fine on all items that are taken out of the fashion closet for over two weeks.”

“I didn’t know.”

“You could have asked.”

The implication is clear.But you didn’t bother, because you can’t possibly care about anyone’s problems but your own.

“I’ll pay the fine.”

“I don’t want your money.”

“Too bad.”

“I have given you everything, Skye. I took your side over my brother, no questions asked.” Poppy slams a barstool into place, her blue-nailed hands clutching the leather-like a life raft. “I’ve always been your friend.Always.”

“Are you trying to guilt-trip me right now? Do you not remember that he’s in the wrong?”

“Yes, well, you weren’t perfect in that relationship, either, Skye. And I’m not a cheerleader who blindly sits by and watches as her best friend makes an endless string of poor decisions.”

“Good to know. So which one of my decisions, in this ‘endless string of poor decisions was the worst?”

“Ryder only asked one thing of you, Skye. And you couldn’t give it to him.”

“He still owes me money for a guitar that he bought with my credit card.”

“I’m not talking about the stupid guitar.”

“What is it, then?”

“You literallyknewNaoya Sugawa, Skye. What would be the harm in introducing Ryder to him or even to his agent? That’s what I never understood about you, Skye. So many opportunities, yet you let them all go to waste.”

“Congratulations. You sound just like my father.”

“Maybe he’s right about some things.”

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