Page 95 of Wild and Bright

I’ve blamed them both for my fear, when all along, I should have looked inward.

“I think you’re right,” I mumble.

“Of course I’m right.”

I inhale a shaky breath. “God, this is too much. It’s too fucking much. I’m too tired.”

“Aww, sweetheart.” It’s Brenna’s voice. “Do you want to go take a nap? Logan will let you use his bed.”

“No,” I say. “I need to go. I need to apologize to her. As soon as I can.”

“Yep,” Logan says.

When a thought occurs to me, I pin Logan with a hard stare. “I assume this means you’re going to tell me where she is.”

He frowns. “Fuck no. I can’t betray her like that, and actually, I’d be betraying two people in this case, but don’t worry. She’ll be back.”

“She’s with my ex-boyfriend, Armaan.”

My eyes dart to Brenna’s face.

Logan frowns at her. “Brenna, what the fuck?”

She winces apologetically. “I couldn’t help it. Just look at him.” She gestures over my body. “He can’t take a moment more of this.”

I exhale heavily. “Thank you.”

She smiles. “You’re welcome. I’ll give you the address. He’s staying at his parents’ beach house. They’re hella rich—probably even as rich as you—and he manipulates them into giving him whatever he wants. He has plenty of room for Lauren and Cadence.”

Jealousy rises, as usual, but I hardly feel it. I’m too exhausted and relieved.

Brenna sets her hand on my shoulder and shoots me a probing look. “But don’t do what you did here. Don’t break and enter. Think of a way to say you’re sorry first. Make sure she knows you’re really sorry.”

“I don’t even have to think about it,” I say. “I know exactly what I’m going to tell her.”

TWENTY-NINE

Lauren

I lift my eyes from the laptop. “All video content has to be of you,” I tell Armaan.

We’ve spent the last several days coming up with a social media plan for the launch of his new company, and it’s been surprisingly challenging. Since cannabis is a controlled substance, I had to do a lot of research about how to legally promote it.

I was grateful for the distraction. It kept me from giving in to that agonizingly sweet plea.

“For me, it’s not home unless both of you are there.”

“I don’t think so,” he says. “You’re so much better at it. You’re so much more sincere on camera.”

I shake my head sharply. “That’s only because I’m talking about the two loves of my life—makeup and skincare—but it wouldn’t be the same if I’m talking about cannabis cookies. They aren’t my passion, and people can sense insincerity a mile away. They’ll know it’s advertisement coming from me, and they’ll scroll past it. You can talk about the company and really mean it.”

He looks away, lifting a hand and scratching the back of his head. “I fucking hate being on camera.”

I smile. “You’ll get used to it. I’m as vain as it’s possible for a human being to be, and it took time even for me.” I halt at the sound of a loud knock.

Armaan’s eyes widen, his lips parting. “I think that’s your boyfriend.”

My pulse starts to pound, and it takes tremendous willpower not to rush to the door. The frantic texts and calls had stopped altogether after Cam’s trip to Indiana, and even though Logan told me he’s planning to apologize, I couldn’t help but fear that he had given up. As each day passed—now three and a half in total—I started to wonder if he finally decided I’m too much for him. That he can never trust me.

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