Page 65 of The Last Dance

16

New Beginnings

Henry

I pull open the door; a delivery man stands on the other side with an envelope in his hands.

‘Henry Decker?’

‘Yep.’

‘Sign here.’

I scribble my name on the electronic screen and take the envelope from the guy. I don’t normally give clients my home address so I’ve no idea what this is. I didn’t order anything recently that I’m aware of.

There were a few months in LA that I was on Ambien to sleep. I once received a package containing a hot-pink spatula, a pot holder in the shape of a fish, and a Guy Fieri cookbook. I don’t like to cook, pink is not really my color, and I’m not great at fishing, so what I was thinking that night I’m not quite sure. Once that Ambien goes down, anything is possible, it seems. The exact reason I’m no longer taking it.

I tear open the envelope and pull out a white portable USB stick with the word‘enjoy!’written across it in black Sharpie marker. My laptop is already opened so I plug the stick into the port and hit the play button on the video that pops up.

‘Tell me what you all enjoy doing when you finally get a night off from being rock stars…’

It’s Ambri’s interview with Dangerous. I lean back to watch, a proud smile on my face. I’ve never seen her in action and it’s nice to see her so confident in what she’s doing. In a job she never even thought she had a chance at.

My eyes move to Matthew and Karmen. She keeps touching him, whispering into his ear, him reciprocating whatever’s being said.

‘Some of us go home to our families and others pine over the one that got away. I think she’s inspired at least half of our new album.’

‘You two dated?’

‘For four and a half years. But I was an idiot and I let my dreams get in the way. I put my dream girl on the back burner and now some asshole’s taken my place.’

The video stops on Ambri’s face. I know that face. She’s pissed. I take a breath; I’m the asshole they’re talking about.What?I rewind it and watch it again. Yup. I’m exactly who they’re talking about. Karmen dated Matthew? How did I not know this?

Matthew’s face suddenly fills the screen, him obviously now filming himself, an evil grin plastered across it.

‘You might have her now, but she still wants me. Looks like she’s not the good girl you thought she was…’ The video pans around what looks like a hotel room, landing on Karmen fast asleep on a bed, obviously not wearing much, if anything.

I slam the laptop closed. Wait…whyam I mad? I’ve packed up my things to leave her. But how the hell did I not see this side of her? Was Ithatpreoccupied for the last year? Or did this just start? If I hadn’t already made my decision on Karmen and me, I’d probably already be out the door on my way to find Matthew. I don’t love Karmen the way I should. Maybe she’s seen that? But then, why would he go to the trouble of sending this to me unless they’ve had something going on for a while and he’s ready for her to end things with me already? They’ve made this a whole lot easier for me.

When the door clicks open I start to get nervous. I know what I need to do but this new information has me struggling for exactly how to do that. Take the easy way out with the video or tell her why I’m really leaving?

‘Oh, my God.’ Karmen wraps her arms around my neck. ‘I wassoworried.’

‘Yeah? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you. I needed some time to think about things.’ She’s made my decision. I can’t believe she’d walk in here pretending to be so worried and in love when she’s been with Matthew probably the whole damn time.

‘Where were you?’ she asks, pulling the bar stool next to me out to sit.

‘I was at Ben’s. Hey, I want you to watch something I just got. It’s pretty interesting.’

‘Oh, yeah? OK.’

I lift the lid to my laptop, pressing play on the video again. Her face drops as it starts.

‘Oh, my God. Did Ambri send this to you?’

I shake my head.

‘Henry, I uh—’ she says still staring at herself on the screen.

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