Page 171 of Happily Never After

“Let’s make it a brunch at Luke’s,” Claire said, voice slightly muffled against Mindy’s hair. “I don’t know about you guys, but I desperately need to wash the blood of misogynists off me.”

“Preach,” Brianna’s voice came from behind them.

“Bri! Did the paramedics finally let you go?” The group hug shuffled over and encompassed Brianna. The paramedics must have donated a pair of scrubs to her, because she looked like she had just gotten off a hellish shift.

“They were just being helpful.”

“Uh-huh. How many selfies did they ask for?”

“Only a few. And some autographs. And I may have agreed to make an appearance at their daughters’ soccer game this week.”

Claire shook her head, and the group hug broke apart. Classic Brianna. “Can I talk to you?”

“Of course.” Bri followed her out the gate and into the street. She looked visibly relieved at having some distance between her and the house.

“How are you doing? Really?”

“I’m fi?—”

Claire cut her off. “Don’t give me a sunshiney, bullshit answer. I know what you just went through.”

Brianna took a deep breath. She was quiet. The silence stretched for nearly a full minute. Her lower lip trembled. A tear slid down her cheek, and she hurriedly wiped it away. “It was awful,” she said in a hoarse whisper. “They grabbed me while I was getting my pre-premiere drink.”

“I know, I saw the footage. Your aim was really impressive,” Claire said gently.

Brianna’s shoulders shook. “I woke up in the basement already tied to the chair. I was so cold and everything hurt. I don’t know if they did anything to me before I woke up. I had only met Big Z once at an album drop party like two years ago. I couldn’t believe it. The things he said they were going to do, all because of a stupid movie?—”

“Look at me,” Claire said, grabbing her sister by both arms. Brianna raised her watery blue eyes. “It’s over. You’re safe, and you’re going to be okay. You will not allow this night to define who you are. But you do need to get a therapist. Like, today. Don’t make the same mistake I did. You need someone to help you process this trauma, and that’s something only a professional can do.”

Brianna nodded tearfully.

“Also, don’t let them stop the movie. Have your premiere. Keep taking roles like that if that’s what makes you feel happy and fulfilled. Or take a break from acting entirely. Whatever you choose to do right now is the right choice. Except for getting back together with Sebastian Yearling. Don’t do that. He’s an idiot.”

Brianna laughed and drew her sister into a hug. They stayed like that under the moonlight until Brianna stopped quivering.

“Do you want to be alone, or do you want brunch?” Claire asked quietly.

Brianna considered for a moment. “Brunch.”

“Okay. Can you use your celebrity powers to get us a police escort home? I’m pretty sure our limos are long gone by now.”

“Done.” Brianna wiped away her tears, straightened her shoulders, and marched back through the gates like it was her house.

Claire’s heart lurched as her sister disappeared. The emotional journey Brianna was about to take wasn’t going to be pretty. Maybe she should invite her to come stay with them in Pennsylvania for a while. She resolved to talk to Luke about it and followed her back through the gate.

“Coming to brunch?” Claire asked Jack and Tanya. “I’m sure we could grab some vegan pastries from an all-night market somewhere on the way home.”

“That would be nice,” Tanya said. Her eyes were red, and her bush of blond hair had become even more unkempt.

It had been the longest of nights. It was almost impossible to believe that ESA had been caught. What started as one gentle rejection in college had transformed into a handful of near-death experiences and a straight-up Excel spreadsheet full of enemies. Would things ever truly go back to normal? How could they move forward? There was time to worry about all that later. Priority number one was food.

Two hours later, Claire carried a stack of dishes down the deck steps into Luke’s backyard. The sun was creeping up into the sky, casting a golden glow over everything.

Rosie and Winston napped underneath a palm tree, worn out from doggy daycare. Jack and Sawyer were talking security tech. Brianna, freshly showered and wearing a pair of Luke’s old sweatpants and one of Claire’s Venor T-shirts, sat at the head of the table, reassuring her mom for the hundredth time.

“Are you sure you don’t want some lavender oil for your bruise, darling?” Tanya reached out to stroke the discolored bit of skin around Bri’s left eye.

“No, I’m fine, Mom. I just need some food and a nap.” She smiled across the table at Claire.

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