Page 72 of Hearts Adrift
“You should be taking notes. Should I write this down? Are you gonna remember all of this?”
“The best of which was our time on that secluded spot on the beach. Not because of … what we did …” I allow myself a smile. Why does my heart feel so light suddenly? “But because of how connected I felt to you. Finn, I’ve … I’ve never felt this connected to another person in my life.”
“River …”
I bring my hands to the sides of his face, cradling it. “I have had a thousand relationships in my life—as an actor. With every character I embodied. And every person that my characters encountered. On and off the screen, too. All the directors and costumers and acting coaches and costars and crew members who made the filming experiences special. Not one of them … not even one … compares to howseenandrealyou make me feel.”
“Why does it sound like you’re saying goodbye?”
I close my mouth and drop my gaze.
I wonder if that’s precisely what I’m doing. Preparing myself for the worst. Giving Finn my final words because after this live feed is over with, the fate of my future will be in the hands of the court of public opinion. And Trent Embers. And perhaps also my bloodthirsty agent, who told me to lay low and stay away from the internet.
And my dear friend Lexi, whose hell I can’t even begin to imagine.
“We’re ready when you are,” says Brooke.
I turn to find the sisters both looking at us. Heather’s eyes are misty. Brooke’s lips are twisted into a wistful, sad little smile.I wonder how much of my words they heard.
It feels like three breaths later that I’m already sitting in the chair with my phone before me. Finn’s dad stands behind it, finger at the ready. “Good to go?” he asks.
I take a short breath, then part my lips to say yes.
Until my phone buzzes with a video call.
Anya’s face appears on the screen.
Seriously, her timing sucks.
I roll my eyes and tap the screen. “What is it, Anya? I was just about to—”
“Your friend! Lexi!” she cries out—and it takes me a second to realize she’s overjoyed. “She just went live! She just fucking went live and spilled the whole damned truth about Trent Embers! And you’d better bet she hasreceipts!Proof he cornered her on set. Screenshots of texts he sent her.Receipts!!” She sighs with relief. “Riv … it’s over, it’s all finally fucking over.”
Chapter 20 - Finn
We watch the confession together, all of us.
Huddled up around the small screen of River’s phone.
Still propped up on a desk by books.
Lexi’s live stream was posted to her page. Then shared with the world. Over a thousand views. Then hundreds of thousands. The truth about River. The reality behind Trent Embers’s predatory nature. Now everyone knows the name of Lexi, the once invisible woman who bravely spoke out.
And there’s no doubt now that since her story’s been shared, others will come forward, too. They’ll have stories. A hill of evidence will soon become a mountain. Lexi will become a voice for many, River is certain of it.
After the confession is watched, River goes upstairs to make some calls—among them, his agent, who likely has a whole laundry list of things that need to quickly happen, but first and perhaps more importantly, to Lexi herself, as I imagine the two have a lot to catch up on after these weeks of tumultuousness and uncertainty. Anya, just before she hung up, congratulated River on what’s certain to be the start of a long road back to normalcy, then announced that she was departing Dreamwood at once, as she didn’t wish to test the patience of her firm, which desperately needed her back. “Don’t think this victory weasels you out of watching the rest ofCissy Sees!” she barked at River just before hanging up, and none of us know what she means except for River, whose smile lingered after Anya’s face fled thescreen of the phone.
While River’s upstairs making his calls, I stay with my (overly animated, relieved, and joyful) family downstairs. Heather is cuddling with Roman in her arms while Brooke floats around the room, beaming. “At least we don’t have to rebrand ourselves as Hopewell Harbor: Scandal Cove,” says Brooke as she puts away the books that were propping up River’s phone for the live feed that never happened. “I really did have ideas for that. Capitalizing on the scandal.”
Dad is gathering stuff in the kitchen for sandwiches when he calls out: “Do you think River would like to stay for a bite? After he’s off the phone with his people?”
“I think he’d love that,” I call back.
Brooke keeps going on. “We could have discounts if you bring clips or QR codes from any relevant article …”
Heather rushes up behind me for an ambush hug, still holding a somewhat annoyed Roman. “I’ve got my lil’ bro back!” she squeals uncharacteristically.
“Devious Discounts!” exclaims Brooke. “Wait, is that too creepy sounding? Oh!CreeperCoupons!Hmm, no…”
