Page 75 of How to Break My Heart 1
I press my lips together, holding back a smile as the words spread to every part of my body in a mad delight. With a deep breath, I control my need to text him back and place the phone on the nightstand, face down, on silent.
“What did he say?” Maddy questions in a tired voice.
“Um, nothing. Just that he’ll call me tomorrow.”
A thickness forms in my throat, prompting me to change the subject. I forgot to ask Maddy how her dinner with Myles was, so I ask now in an effort to distract her from my love life.
“It was fine. I guess Myles is overwhelmed with work, and his dad really wants him to take over the business.”
I raise my brows. “Would that mean leaving Broadway?”
“I don’t know what it means, to be honest. It’s a bit of a sore topic, so I’m trying to stay out of it.”
“Maddy,” I begin softly. “You can’t stay out of it if he’s going to be your husband. Things will change. Myles’s family will soon be your family, too.”
“Oh, trust me, I know.” She sighs, then turns to face me. “It just feels… complicated.”
I move a loose strand of hair away from her face. “Complicated for now.”
“What if it’s complicated forever?”
“It’s only complicated if you keep resisting the change. One thing at a time, okay? We need to get you to the altar first. Don’t get caught up in all this business talk.”
“It just feels like I’m losing myself to everyone else’s wants. I was on a video chat with my team about a production later this year. We were discussing the costumes because it’s a period drama, and you know how much I love that. In the middle of this, my phone is blowing up with Dad insisting I have a discussion with Myles about the future. How do I tell my father to kindly leave me alone when he’s paying for the whole wedding? It makes me sound ungrateful.”
“You pick your battles. Tell him your focus is on the wedding, which is just around the corner.”
“You’re right.” She nods, then turns to lie on her back with her eyes on the television screen. “Is my brother being a dick or actually helping? You can tell me the truth.”
My fingers twist the blanket as I clear my throat. “Um… a bit of both. You know him, controlling and busy with work.”
“You’ll tell me if he treats you like dirt, right?”
“Of course,” I mumble, trying to keep a blank face. “I canstand on my own. I’m a big girl now. Don’t worry about your brother. I can handle him.”
“Okay, the last thing I need is more stress on top of my ever-growing list of things stressing me out. I honestly don’t think I’ve been this stressed in my entire life.”
“It’ll be over soon, and you know I’ll help you with whatever you need.”
Maddy turns over on her side, gazing at me. “What did I do to deserve a best friend like you?”
My lips curve upward, but my indiscretion brings me back to reality. If it were Marco I fooled around with and not Aston, I’d be sharing all the sordid details. Instead, I’m hiding this secret just to protect my best friend. “Go to sleep, Maddy. You need to rest.”
Maddy expels another yawn, which then prompts me. We fall into a vicious yawn cycle until I glance over and notice she’s sleeping. With soft snores passing through her lips, I tug on the blanket to cover her body.
I watch her sleep, ignoring the guilt seeping into my conscience. Maddy is my ride-or-die, and Aston is someone who has piqued my sexual interest. That’s where this needs to end.
Despite the yawns, I struggle to fall into a deep sleep, tossing and turning for most of the night. All the while, Maddy is fast asleep, so I try not to wake her with my constant movement.
I give up when the clock hits five, deciding to take a shower and head downstairs early. It takes me forever to decide what to wear, but I opt for jeans and a black knitted sweater with cherries all over it. Before I leave, I write a note on a piece of paper and stick it to Maddy’s head, letting her know I’m downstairs in the café.
It’s still dark outside when I turn on the lights in the kitchen. The café doesn’t open until seven, leaving us time to let the dough rise before frying and icing. I throw all the ingredients into the mixer to prepare, but then my phone rings with Billie’s name flashing on the screen.
I press answer, putting the call on speaker. “Hey. Everything okay?”
“Not really,” Billie replies with a worried tone. “Mom’s had a reaction to her new medication, and I need to take her to the ER.”
My hand immediately reaches out for my phone to bring it closer. “Do whatever you need to do. I’ve got this covered. Will you be okay?”
