Page 128 of Deliverance

“She looks sixteen.”

It was a split-second decision to ask her if she’d be interested to come over and help around the studio. Not that I need help here. But at the moment, that offer made the most sense. She wanted to share her art. She wanted validation. And I wanted to give that validation. Because a couple of years ago, I was Preston.

There’s the sound of footsteps on the staircase. When I open the door, Preston stands there on the landing with her fists thrust in the pockets of her worn-out leather jacket. A tattered satchel is strapped across her torso.

“Hey.” I smile. “Come on in.”

Behind me, Santiago straightens. “What’s up?”

Preston’s eyes dart from me to him and back. “Hi” is all she says.

“He was just leaving.” I motion at Santiago.

“I’d love to hang out with you two beautiful ladies, but I got a bunch of errands to run. So I’ll leave you to it.”

When he’s gone, I escort Preston inside the studio and lock the door.

“I didn’t know you two were friends outside the group,” she says, staring at the canvas on the floor.

“We’re very close.”

“Is it hard?”

“What do you mean?”

“Being friends with someone who knows…everything about you. All your secrets?” She stares at me with those big eyes and I can’t seem to tell her a lie.

I don’t want to. I’m tired of hiding. I’m tired of being scared. I’m tired of looking over my shoulder. I just want to live my life and perhaps the first step to living it fully is accepting the ugliness surrounding us instead of trying to pretend it doesn’t exist.

“Sometimes,” I utter. “Sometimes, I don’t want people to know the scars I bear, because I expect they’ll like me less, but the thing is…the right person will see past the scars and past the darkness. Always.”

Preston is silent. A muscle in her jaw twitches and I half expect her to come back with something snarky or profound, but all she says is, “This is a sick space you have.”

“Thank you. Make sure to watch your step.”

“What is this?” She points at the canvas.

“Just something I’ve been working on.”

“Is this part of the new collection?”

“Possibly. Not sure yet.”

“Does it have a name?”

It does. I call it after a person who’s been making me feel like I’m walking on air these past few weeks, but being obvious isn’t part of my brand, so I pick a name that makes the most sense. “Yes.Deliverance.”

For I don’t need anyone to fight my demons for me. I’ll fight him myself. Until my last breath.

The day of theDouble Platinumpremier I’m a nervous wreck. Not because I’ll be surrounded by people I don’t know but because this is my first public appearance as Zander’s date.

“You didn’t have to keep it a secret from me,” Tina says on the line as I run around my loft in search of my jewelry box. Apparently, I misplaced it this morning while I was trying to decide what accessories would complement my new Dolce & Gabbana heavy-lace dress.

“He’s a very public person,” Tina goes on as I stumble around a roll of paper on my way to the kitchen.I need something to calm the nerves.“Especially now that he’s replacing Paul Ashby.”

“Honestly, I’m surprised you know who Paul Ashby is.” Even I had to Google him and I listened to Bleeding Faith at some point in high school. We all had that phase. Tina’s so straitlaced, I can’t fathom the idea of her doing online research on metalcore bands.

“You know me.” A pause. “I take care of my people and you’re my star. So if anyone is going to mistreat you, I’m going to bash their teeth in.”

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