Page 109 of The Love Rematch
Except…
Emily glances at Nina again, then at Sam, then at the camera. They’re not alone. Far from it. Millions of people will be watching this scene in a few short weeks. Millions of people will hear everything she says. Millions of people will find out the truth.
Who cares?
The thought comes sudden and swift. Emily knits her brow and swallows, surprised to realize the constant pit of worry in her gut is gone. Because the reason for the big secret was always Jake.Hewas the one she didn’t want to find out.Hewas the one the truth would get back to if it got out.Hewas the one she was worried about.
And now she’s not.
Because she’s everything.
Every. Fucking. Thing.
And for the first time, she truly believes it.
“I—”
“Shh,” he cuts her off. “Don’t say anything. Sorry, I didn’t mean— I wasn’t— This isn’t about me right now, Em. It’s about you, and the secret that is entirely your right to keep. Don’t give Nina the satisfaction, or Trish, or any of those assholes. That’s not why Sam and I planned this. Tomorrow, you have your final date with Ethan, and then the day after that are the proposals, and then you’re done. You’ll get an extra week at the resort as a customary gift, but once filming wraps, they won’t monitor you anymore. You’ll get your phone. You’ll get access to the real world. It’s just two more days. I convinced Sam it was okay to wait, to give you the time you need, but only on one condition. I’m supposed to tell you that Dr. Laghari called, and you need to call her back as soon as you can. And yes, it’s taking all of my willpower not to Google search that name right now, but no, I won’t. I’ll wait until you’re ready to tell me, if you’re ready to tell me. Dear god, I hope you’ll tell me.”
He groans softly into the phone.
She can easily picture the grimace distorting his handsome features. Guilt pinches her chest, dwarfed only by the wave of fear the sound of that name unleashed.
Dr. Laghari.
Emily curls her fingers into a fist to stop their trembling. Her hand moves unbidden to her stomach and hovers over those three little scars puckering her skin. Her pulse pounds. She finds Sam’s eyes again, but this time, she can read her sister’s expression perfectly. Dark and draining memories flash as a plug closes her throat, like a hand around her neck.
She forces herself to breathe.
To calm down.
To take a moment before jumping to the worst possible conclusions.
“Thank you, Dr. Hughes,” she mutters.
“I booked a room at the airport hotel for the next three days. I’m not going to leave this phone, okay, Em? Call me when filming is over. If you want to. If you can. If you— Dammit. I’m doing it again. Just…” He sighs heavily. “Know that I love you and I’ll be waiting. Always.”
The phone clicks.
Emily lowers it from her ear.
She turns.
The silence hangs there, full of anticipation. That red light blinks, capturing every quiet beat of her heart. Everyone waits for the storm to hit, for the explosion, for the cinematic reveal.
“I, uh, have a cavity.”
It’s the first excuse Emily thinks of—and it may as well be a nuclear bomb with the way the entire room bursts into action. Nina falls back against the cushion with a sneer. Phil snickers into the camera with a shake of his head. And Sam, with the dedication of only a true ride-or-die, leaps theatrically from the couch and clutches Emily’s arms with a look of utter devastation.
“A cavity!” she cries. “Are you going to be okay? You fuckers!” She rounds on Nina and Phil, her pointed finger as threatening as a knife. “I told you assholes it was something serious! I told you, and you wouldn’t listen. Do you hear that? A cavity? Do you know what happens if you don’t treat a cavity? It spreads. And spreads. And spreads. She might need a root canal! Oh my god, what if she goes septic? If she dies—”
“Sam.” Emily grabs her sister, trying her absolute best to keep it together. “It’s okay. I’m fine. It’s just a cavity—”
“Just a cavity? Just a cavity!” Sam whirls on Emily. It takes everything within her not to burst into laughter the second she sees the mischievous twinkle in her sister’s eyes. “Did you listen to a word I said? Root canals! Sepsis!”
“I’m fine,” she cuts in, silently adding,Shut the hell up before I crack.
Sam folds her lips into her mouth to hide her grin and stays quiet. Twin telepathy for the win.
