Page 18 of Beautifully Scarred

I chuckle and walk over to the cabinet that holds my glassware. “Oh, yeah?”

“I took them both home, and let’s just say they work well as a team.” He waggles his eyebrows.

I laugh. “Maybe I was the one doing you a favor then?”

Tripp’s attention darts behind me, then his eyes narrow at me. Lilah must have made her entrance.

“Didn’t realize you had company,” he says dryly, setting his beer on the counter.

“Nice to see you too.”

I circle around to Lilah. She’s fully clothed with her bag in her hand. She’s taking advantage of Tripp’s interruption to make her getaway, as I knew she would. Anything to avoid arealdiscussion.

“I’ve gotta go,” she says, directing her words to me.

“By all means, don’t let me chase you out,” Tripp says with a sneer.

She glances at him. “Like I give two shits about anything having to do with you.” Lilah looks back at me. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

I step forward with my hand outstretched, wanting to lead her to the door—to be able to touch her again.

But she busies her hands with her bag. “Stay out of trouble.” She turns and practically bolts out of the room.

A few seconds later, I hear the front door open and close.

“Nothing’s changed there, I see,” Tripp says before taking another swig of his beer.

Shaking my head, I walk over to the fridge and grab myself a beer. “I wish you two could get along.” I twist off the cap and toss it on the counter near Tripp’s.

Tripp narrows his eyes at me. “Are you serious? Out of the two of us, I’m not the one who needs to get my shit together. The only reason I have a problem with her is because she drags you down.”

Needing fresh air, I make my way over to the sliding doors that lead out back.

When Tripp stands beside me at the edge of my patio, overlooking the water, I say, “You have no idea what her childhood was like.”

“Maybe not, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay for her to pull you down with her.”

There’s no easy way to make him understand. Not without betraying Lilah’s confidence. And not without exposing myself.

I swallow a swig of my beer. “She’s a part of my life, so either you accept her or not.”

“Whatever, man.” Tripp shakes his head, and we’re both silent for a minute. “So, you all set for filming to start in a couple of weeks?”

“Should be. We have a table read this week, and I have my final fitting for the costume.” I lean my back to the glass rail, staring at my house. Even now, I can’t believe it’s mine.

“You don’t sound like a guy on the verge of having his career blow up.”

He’s right, of course. My lingering worry about Lilah dulls even the shiniest moments in my life these days.

The one thing nice about hanging out with Tripp is, I can be excited about this film and the fact I landed this role. It’s not that Lilah isn’t happy for me, she is, but lately when we’re together, all we do is talk about her latest antic.

“I’ve just got a lot going on, that’s all.” I tip back my beer.

“You mean Lilah has a lot going on.”

“Christ, is it impossible for you to let her go?”

Tripp is a good friend, but Lilah is a permanent fixture in my life. If he can’t accept that,he’llbe the one to go.

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