Page 3 of Great Pretender
When we first came in and saw what was happening, she called Hollis, her husband, straightaway. He’s always great with dealing with people, but I didn’t want to get him involved in my crazy situation. It was embarrassing enough for Elodie to witness what an asshole Heath was.
“Okay, thanks,” I accept, only because I’m too embarrassed to tell her I can’t afford anybody they’d know. Besides, Heath is practically the law. He wouldn’t have come here and done what he did if he couldn’t. He would have known his rights. “You should go. It’s late, and I don’t want to keep you out any longer.”
“Are you sure there’s nothing I can do? I could cook.” She looks toward the kitchen door, and I take in the emptiness of the house. Nearly all the furniture is gone from the living room.
I’m so embarrassed. This is just one more thing to add to the brewing shit of my life.
“No, I’m okay.” My voice quivers, and she gives my shoulder a little squeeze.
“Do you want me to call Chad?” she asks nervously.
I shake my head. “No, I’ll call him.”
Chad Holdsworth has been my best friend for as long as I can remember. Nobody hated Heath more than Chad. I didn’t want him to be right about Heath, even though I knew he was.
He doesn’t know I caught Heath cheating. The whole event fell straight into the bag of secrets I’ve been keeping about my dad.
There are so many secrets.
What am I going to do now?
“Call me if you need me,” Elodie says, but I can barely hear her. “And please take the day off tomorrow if you need to. Dr. Damson and I can hold down the fort for one day.”
“Thanks, I’ll think about it.”
“Piper, please, promise me you’ll call me if you need me.”
“I promise.”
She gives me a quick hug and leaves. As soon as the door clicks shut, my shoulders shake, and I break down.
Voices echo from upstairs, and I remember I’m not alone. I remember this isn’t my home, and I don’t belong here. I can’t stay here tonight.
I can’t stay here at all.
Just like always, when life throws disaster my way, I think of the one person I always run to. Chad. I think this situation is going to need more than a phone call because the only thing I have the strength for is to leave.
2
Chad
“Damn it,” I seethe as the phone rings again.
I stare down at it, vibrating against the polished wooden surface of the coffee table.
It’s Dad. This is probably the hundredth time he’s called today.
The sleek silver seems to ripple against the phone’s body as it buzzes, reminding me of one of those cartoons where you can tell the person calling is furious from the way the phone blares.
I think my father is beyond furious, though, and on this occasion, he’d have every right to be. Because I fucked up bad this time.
Murray chuckles opposite me, shuffling on the sofa when he sees I have no intention of answering the phone.As he stares at me, curiosity forms in his unusually colored eyes—one green, the other an iridescent blue.
I run a hand through my already ruffled hair, mulling over the range of excuses I had lined up for my father.Each runs through my mind. One worse than the other, but none sufficient in explaining my reckless actions last night.My actions which undoubtedly embarrassed my family yet again.
I was on my way to work when I saw the first article inThe Chronicle.I’d just gone to get coffee and noticed that people were looking at me more than usual.I always go to Carla’s Coffee Hut because it’s the only coffeehouse on Park Avenue where I don’t get the rush of fans asking for my autograph.
As nearly every head turned, I had to ask the barista if something was going on that I didn’t know about.That’s when she showed me the paper.
