Page 93 of Our Little Cliche
“Think of the career at stake,” I plead.
“Ugh.” She snatches her arm back hastily. “Holly was right. Screw the career if it means I can’t speak the truth. Holly made me see that clear as day, so it’s my place to tell him if I want to.” Renee turns on the heels of her pin-headed stilettos, and all I can do is watch her storm off, crossing her arms with a huff as she sits back at her spot.
Completely stoic, I consider that my soul has left my body. I’ve been in denial this whole time, telling myself it’s not going to happen, I’m not going to lose my career so soon. But this is it. This is the end. Why would Renee tell Quinn about us, though? It makes no sense. And why would she be so mad about me asking her not to tell Quinn?
“Mind if I?—”
Holly’ssweet like caramelvoice instantly buffs the sharp edges of my panic, but it lasts only a millisecond. “Wow, what happened to you?” she questions.
“It’s over, Holly.” My voice shatters, certain that Renee is moments from dobbing. She’s even squinting at me, and giving me thestink eye.
“What?”
“She’s the devil, Holly. She’s going to tell him everything.”
“What do you mean? Tell who? Who’s the devil?” Holly frowns as if she’s too many glasses of champagne down for this conversation. Not at all worried that our careers are dangling by a thread. “Who’s going to tellwhatnow?”
What do you mean what do I mean? You told her about us, am I the only one making any sense here? Does anyone know what’s happening anymore or have we all had too much to drink?
“Fuck. I need some air.”
“Wait!”
“I can’t, Holly.”
Chapter Forty-Eight
HOLLY
“What the fuck, Cyrus?!”I hiss, storming after him. His legs can carry him a lot faster than mine can, so I’m practically at a sprint to catch up, weaving through loud, drunken pedestrians by the bar. “Bloody hell.”
Since when does he storm off like a tantrum filled toddler?
And, while we’re on the subject, since when do we… fight?
“I’m sorry, Holly. I didn’t think it’d come to this.” He paces the wall beside the bathroom doors, his hand running through his hair, firm enough to pull strands out, making it obvious that he’s stressed about something. Something serious.
Have I done something to upset him?
For a split second a tear lingers right over my lash line, fear and panic racing a course through my veins. “I’ll be the first to admit I’ve had some alcohol, but I didn’t think…”I’ve done something stupid…again.My throat struggles to carry my words. “Have I done something wrong?”
“Y—” He stops himself as his eyes fan over every expression on my face, then sighs. “No. You haven’t, angel.”
“Well, then what’s up your ass?”
“It’s Renee. She’s going to tell Quinn about us.”
“What?” I don’t believe it for a second. How? Stacy doesn’t even know about us.
“She said that you told her something that changed her brain chemistry, and she doesn’t know what to think about it.”
“You mean Stacy? As in Stacy Pollac?”
“Yes. When we were on the dance floor just now.” He points in the general direction of where we were, but it’s out of sight… from my height, anyway. “I kind of tuned out in a panic because when I told her not to tell Quinn she gotreallyoffended. We’ve crossed a line, Holly and?—”
I can’t help it, but a snort trumpets from my nose, and I almost break into a fit of laughter.Changed her brain chemistry?It makes perfect sense now. He’s got this all wrong. I slap my hand over my mouth, seeing that whatever humor I feel is one sided.
“Really? Jesus Holly, I’m so glad that our careers ending is amusing to you. You shouldn’t have?—”
