Page 135 of Cherry Beats

Janey and Presley kissing.

Janey and Presley touching.

His hands on her waist.

His mouth on her skin.

I made it all the way to the door when I heard Janey’s voice on the laptop again, and I froze, gripping the door handle tightly as I held my breath in my chest.

“And that, people, is life in the world of celebrity, where what’s presented to you isn’t always the truth, and where cover-ups go on every single day. That’s why I, Janey Dominic, make it a priority to bring you the truth. I think you’ll agree that the truth is there for all to see. This fairy tale, Cinderella love story between the world’s most wanted man and a woman who wipes down tables for a living isn’t real. It never was, and it never will be. Fairy tales only exist because someone makes them up.”

It isn’t real.

It never was and it never will be.

“And for those of you who are wondering what happened with Presley and I that night, the answer is yes. It happened. I sometimes think I’m the inspiration for the band’s bestselling song My Greatest Mistake.” She laughed smugly. “I guess we’ll never know. Something tells me Presley West won’t be rushing to sit beside me again after this. I’m Janey Dominic, bringing you the latest celebrity news. Thanks for watching.”

The room fell silent—the air thick with tension.

“Cherry,” Presley eventually whispered, his voice breaking.

“Don’t you dare call me that,” I hissed, staring at the floor beneath me.

“Please. Don’t do this. Don’t leave. Just wait.”

“No.”

“That was another life. It’s not how it…” He paused and sighed heavily. “Fuck.”

“You know,” I whispered back, my chin down and my eyes closed. I pushed down on the handle and opened the door, pausing to look back at him only once before I shook my head and let the tears fall down my cheeks. “You knew why she was coming after you—after me, and you never once thought to tell me the truth.”

His eyes were red; his lips parted, all the confidence he’d once worn as casually as his jacket now gone, replaced by this hollow, lost version of a handsome little boy. Presley took a step forward, stopping himself as he held a hand out to me, only to let it fall straight back down by his side.

“Don’t,” I finally said, as a heavy tear fell down my cheek. “It’s too late. Everything’s tainted now.”

“I won’t let this be over.”

“You don’t get a choice.”

Then I walked away, not knowing where to go or what to do.

Only know one thing: You can’t survive off the high alone.

The high will kill you eventually. It’s just a matter of time… and our time was done.

Chapter Forty-Three

Three Days Later

The apartment I once loved seemed too small now, leaving me claustrophobic as I stared out of the window and looked up at the grey, cloudy sky. It was the only peace I got. I couldn’t look down. My name was everywhere, and the media were camped outside. The crowd had diminished since my arrival back in Hollings Hill, sure, my resistance to leave irritating most of them. But a few lingered, waiting to get their first picture of a broken-hearted young fool who’d fallen for the promise of a life beyond her imagination.

“At least your body looks bangin’ on these pics,” Molly said, breaking my reverie.

I glanced over at her sitting on my sofa, her feet tucked under her bum, and her attention on the magazine she was holding up in front of her.

“He’s sucking on your tit, and you’re just lying there lapping it up, looking like a goddess.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled, not really hearing her words, each day of my life now a blur.

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