Page 81 of Out of the Shadow

“You never responded to my loan request. I need the funds for a sure thing.”

“I’ve heard that before.” I’m about to tell him about the demise of my trust fund, but decide against it. It’s none of his business, and it’s beside the point. I should never have given him any “loans” in the first place, turning into his enabler.

“You won’t miss it.”

His words hit home. Before, I wouldn’t have missed the money because it wouldn’t have come from me. Dad’s trust fund was an endless source of funds, and if it ever got low, I could always hit him up for extra cash. With my new appreciation for how hard it is to make my own money—and the satisfaction that comes with it—I realize it’s time for Trevor to figure his own shit out.

“The gravy train is over, Trevor. Please get yourself to rehab.”

His face transforms into an ugly scowl that punches me in the gut, but it vanishes a second later.

From across the room, Blaine waves me over. Ignoring Trevor’s bizarre reaction, I toss over my shoulder, “Gotta go.”

Part of me feels bad for Trevor. He’s obviously gotten himself involved in some bad shit, but I don’t want to get submerged in it. From now on, I’m planning for the future. With Angie.

Angie

SUNLIGHT MAKES ITSway through my foggy brain, causing me to peel my eyes open. If only alcohol were the cause of this awful hangover. No. I cried myself to sleep last night and woke up twice crying from the injustice of it all. I did what Juliana urged me to do—casual sex, no strings attached. With King.

Why didn’t my heart get the memo?

I throw my arm over my head, willing tears not to fall down my cheeks again. I need a distraction. Picking up my phone, I open Instagram and scroll through my feed.

Pretty book covers.

Makeup hints.

Party photos of beautiful people.

My finger hovers over the last photo, when my puffy eyes land on someone familiar.Twosomeones. I zoom in, ignoring the people in the foreground for a better look at the ones in the background.

I shoot up to sitting in bed. That’s King and Poppy Mayflower! And they’re…kissing!

Rubbing my eyes, I double-check the photo. That’s them. I click on the hashtag, which takes me to another site, and scroll through all of their photos. Not that one. Nope. Nope.

Bingo. Poppy’s lips are fused with King’s. Or is it the other way around?

Blood rushes through my veins as if I just closed another million-dollar deal. Which I’m in the process of doing now, twice, thanks to the show. That’s beside the point. “How dare he!” I shout, the words ripping free from the base of my soul.

I’m about to scroll through more photos—as if I need additional proof—when the phone rings in my hand. It’s Juliana, and I’m tempted to give her a piece of my mind. I pick up the call.

“Juliana.”

“Hey, sis. I was onThe Gossipthis morning and saw all sorts of photos of King out last night. Were you there?”

No, because my heart was breaking from the realization that I’ve fallen for my casual hook-up. At her urging. “No.” My voice is flat.

“The pictures show him with all sorts of women.”

My voice turns sharper. “More than Poppy?”

“Yeah, honey. There’s a ton of him with the Toalle twins. You know, the Greek heiresses?”

Looking down at my phone, I bring the site back up while she drones on about something. I catch the words “back on that horse” and “proud” and “moving on,” but I don’t pay much attention. Ignoring her, I scroll through until I come across a spate of pictures with King in them. With Lacey and London hanging off his gorgeous body. Which belongs tome.

Stop it, Angie! His body belongs to him. Plus half the female population, apparently. As if I needed any further confirmation that he’s not good for my mental health, I stop on a particularly damning one where both Toalle twins have intertwined their arms with his. Imaginethatthreesome.

“I’m so sorry. I know you were doing the casual thing and—”

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