Chapter Sixteen
Anders stared across the set as a makeup artist worked to cover the large bruise on his face. The director stood next to him, clearly annoyed as he yelled at Anders for messing up the schedule.
Anders kept quiet. He could’ve smoothed things over, but he didn’t feel like bothering. All he needed to do was tell the director it happened while sparring at the gym to stay in shape for the film. While the part about how he got the bruise would at least be true, it wasn’t the real reason why. No, the reason why Anders ended up with a right hook to his face had nothing to do with staying in shape and everything to do with the girl who had just walked out of his life.
“Are we done?” Anders lifted his arm and pushed the makeup artist’s hand out of his face.
“It’s―”
“You’re done,” the director cut in.
Without a word, Anders stood from the chair and walked to his place on set. The scowl slipped from his face and his shoulders relaxed as he transformed into his character. All traces of the moody jerk from moments before vanished. He tucked his thoughts away in the recesses of his mind, where they’d fester and grow until he released them to torture him once more.
And torture him they would. It was all they’d done since Josie called him an asshole and slammed his front door. That evening after she drove away for good, one beer turned into two and eventually led him to a lounge chair by the pool with a bottle of gin. His body sagged from exhaustion, but no matter how much he drank, he couldn’t extinguish the gnawing feeling burning inside his chest that refused to let him slip into oblivion.
Trapped somewhere between regret and acceptance, Anders lost all concept of time. The sky faded into darkness, but Anders remained unmoving. It wasn’t until the first traces of dawn shimmered across the horizon that he finally stumbled inside. Pain radiated through his stiff muscles and his stomach churned with nausea, but his mind remained a deadened wasteland of nothingness.
He tripped around his bedroom in a daze before falling face first on his mattress. Flashes of memories, both new and old, played out like a movie in his head. He thought of nothing and everything. Before he could grasp the fringes around a single thought, it slipped away, replaced with another until sleep finally pulled him under. When he woke hours later, it was to the shrill ring of his cell phone.
Looming on the edge of consciousness, the only thought that registered was the possibility it might be Josie. When he looked at the screen and saw Nathan’s name, he tossed the phone on the floor and pulled a pillow over his face. He didn’t want to talk to anyone who wasn’t Josie.
After several failed attempts to fall asleep again, he dragged himself into the shower. Dressing in jeans and a shirt, he moved into the kitchen. He was physically and emotionally drained. Bracing his arms on the counter, he let his head fall forward as he closed his eyes and pulled in slow, deep breaths. Even though there was no logical explanation, his chest ached with each inhale.
Cursing, he shoved away from the counter. He needed to hit something, anything to distract his thoughts from Josie and how her absence had caused his mind to tailspin into the past. Grabbing his workout bag, he took off for the gym. He hated exercising, but the physical abuse he wanted to inflict and receive would be a welcome relief from the emotional war pummeling him from within.
Just as he’d hoped, the physical pain diverted his thoughts as he punished his body. When he left the gym hours later, it was with an ice pack on his side, a throbbing ache in his jaw, and the taste of blood lingering in his mouth. However, as soon as he stepped through the foyer of his house, his moment of reprieve ended. As the day slipped into night, and Saturday bled into Sunday, Anders’ mood only darkened. Anger twisted and burned as bitterness consumed his every thought—bitterness for Josie, himself, the paparazzi, but most of all for Aubrey.
The director clapped and the lights flashed on set causing Anders to blink in confusion. He looked at the director, who was smiling with both his thumbs in the air, all traces of his previous anger gone. Anders realized he was done for the day. No retakes. No tweaking. His performance had been flawless, his steps on cue, and his lines delivered with acute precision.
He nodded at the director and moved toward his trailer. As soon as the door shut, he breathed a sigh of relief. His character-coated exterior melted away, leaving him raw and exposed. Which was why, when Aubrey’s fingers brushed up his forearm and wrapped around his bicep, his reaction was uncensored and full of hate.
“I tried to call you several times this weekend.” Her wide smile and soft eyes did nothing to curb Anders’ rage.
“Get the fuck away from me,” he hissed between clenched teeth.
Aubrey’s eyes widened in surprise and her hands covered her mouth in an attempt to ward off the venom in his voice. “What’s wrong with you?”
He shifted toward her, his towering frame intimidating, his expression full of rage. Aubrey stumbled back. Her hands shot out behind her, softening the impact as her body collided with the wall. Ignoring her question, he asked one of his own. With dark, angry eyes and a menacing sneer, his words sent a shot of fear down Aubrey’s spine. “How did I get papped leaving your house?”
Aubrey’s mind spun as she tried to slow her racing heart. With pursed lips and slumped shoulders, she shook her head. To anyone watching, she appeared disheartened and hurt. “How would I know?”
Anders sucked on his teeth and shook his head in mock disappointment. “Don’t pretend to be innocent. We both know you had something to do with it.”
Aubrey bristled. “Right, Anders. I just let random people into my neighborhood to snap pictures of me in my robe with no makeup. That makes perfect sense.”
“This isn’t the first time someone has hidden on your property. Are you telling me both times were accidents?”
Aubrey laughed and pushed on Anders’ chest until he took a couple steps back. “Accidents? Of course not. Paps were probably hiding outside the gates the moment we stepped foot into that restaurant for our date and again when we went to the club. Those pictures no doubt were worth a lot of money. I’m surprised there weren’t more. Besides, I don’t have the exclusivity you enjoy in your neighborhood. If I remember correctly, something similar happened to you before you moved, did it not?”
Anders stiffened and his fists tightened. “You don’t know a fucking thing about what happened.”
“No one ever does,” she interrupted, her tone sharp. “That doesn’t mean people won’t stab you in the back and twist your words for their own agenda. I’m not new here, Anders. I know how this town works. What I can’t figure out is why it matters so damn much to you. We should have called them ourselves. This is what we wanted. It’s why we did it in the first place. So man the hell up and enjoy the ride. Look at all the attention we’re getting. It’s perfect.”
Her words delivered the blow she intended. He had no argument. They should have tipped off the paparazzi. They should have hung all over each other and played up every bit of attention they received. But they hadn’t, and his relationship with Josie was to blame. His throat tightened when her face came, unbidden, to his mind. Man up. That’s what he should have done. He should have told Aubrey and Clarence no. While he knew it wouldn’t make a bit of difference, he wouldn’t deny himself the opportunity to do it now. “I don’t want this kind of attention. I won’t put on a dog and pony show for another fucking second.”
“What are you saying?”
“What the fuck does it sound like I’m saying? I’m out. Done. I’ve already told you this once. Did you think I was joking?”
“Honestly, I thought you were just being an asshole. What’s your problem? Can’t you see how beneficial this can be for your career?”
Anders laughed. It was abrupt, loud, and caused his entire body to shake. As he regained his composure, he shook his head. With a demeaning expression and eyes full of insincere pity, he spat, “I don’t need this petty bullshit. I don’t need those gutter rat assholes chasing me around to make money. I’m Anders fucking Ellis. They need me. You need me. Not the other way around. Or did you forget I moved up from your pay grade a long time ago, baby. Ride somebody else’s coattails. I’m fucking done.”
“What if I don’t agree? What are you going to do?” The stubborn set of her chin and the challenge in her voice did nothing to dissuade Anders.
“You won’t fight me on this. You know why? Because if you do…” He leaned in closer and cupped her chin in his palm. Tilting her head until they were eye level, he smirked. “I’ll fuck my way through LA and make sure I’m papped every single time. I’ll make you the laughingstock of Hollywood and not give a single fuck.”
Angry tears filled Aubrey’s eyes as Anders sauntered out of the room, his shoulders squared and his hands thrust inside his pockets. He was exactly like she remembered when she first saw him at the beginning of filming: full of swagger and confidence. It incensed her that he was able to regain his footing by trampling all over her. Aubrey was never one to admit defeat, though, not when she had so much riding on their sham of a relationship.
She stormed out of his trailer and over to her own. Her cell phone beeped, the sound drawing her eyes to the screen. The display showed a text from her agent, Valerie. Licking her lips, she unlocked the screen and read the message.
Nice job on making the papers again. We might save your career after all. Sending you two scripts this afternoon. Whatever you’re doing, keep it up.
Backing away from the counter in a daze, she paced the length of the room. There had to be another angle, a way to stay in the spotlight without Anders casting her as a doormat. A smile broke across her face as she devised a plan. She had to expose Anders’ relationship with the stripper. She would be seen as the victim and, as a bonus, get the retribution she craved. She wasn’t the type of woman who accepted defeat. She wanted Anders, and he had pushed her aside like yesterday’s trash. She would come out on top one way or another. Picking up her phone, she called the one person who could help.
“Well, hello, love. What wicked things are we up to today?” Levi asked.
Aubrey giggled and straightened her hair in the mirror. “Oh, more of the same. Torturing your favorite celebrity.”
“What did he do this time? Any word on who the girl is?”
“He thinks he’s done, that he’s walking away from our arrangement, but I’m not ready for our game to end. I want you to print the story about Ivy, flush her out. I want the world to know the tramp Anders cheated on me with, and I want to be the supportive, brokenhearted girlfriend. Make me the story.”
Levi hummed into the phone. “You sure you want to go there, Aubrey? Wouldn’t it be better to walk away? Why make everyone think he cheated on you? I know all publicity is good publicity, but this is going a little far, even for you.”
Aubrey rolled her eyes. “I don’t pay you to think,” she spat. “I pay you to do as I say. Anders has made a mockery of me from the day I stepped on set. I’m done letting him think he has the upper hand, and I won’t play second fiddle to some two-bit whore. It’s not about getting rid of her anymore. It’s about showing him, showing them all, I will not be fucked with.”
“You got it, sunshine. You’ll have all their hearts bleeding at your feet.”
“Oh, and Levi? You’re going to make a handsome paycheck from the mags on this one. Consider what I owe for taking the pictures paid in full.”
The next morning while Aubrey, full of sick satisfaction and anticipation, readied herself for the day, Josie sat across from Madison in her living room sipping coffee.
“What are you going to do?” Madison asked, her voice gentle.
Josie shook her head. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she fought back the hot tears burning her eyes. “There’s nothing to do. It’s over.”
Madison shifted and looked at her hands. She hated seeing her best friend in pain and not be able to do anything about it. “You don’t believe him?”
“I don’t,” she whispered, her voice full of regret. “How can I? My God, he slept with her and never even told me. The thing is I’m not even mad about that part. It happened before we met and I’m under no illusions when it comes to Anders. I’m angry because he never told me. I’m angry because I can’t bring myself to believe him. Obviously his no repeat rule is complete bullshit. I’m proof of that.”
“I still can’t believe he slept with her and didn’t tell you. What if you had found out through Aubrey?”
“Exactly. How can I put any faith in someone who’s never been willing to do the same for me?”
“What do you mean?”
“He doesn’t trust me.” Her tone was matter of fact and left no room for argument. “He never let me past the surface. He gave what he had to and nothing more. Maybe if he’d been a little more forthcoming, maybe―well, it doesn’t matter now. It’s for the best.”
“So that’s it?”
“That’s it.” Josie nodded. Even though it hurt to admit, she had to stick to her guns. Her relationship with Anders had run its course.
“What if―”
“I can’t do what ifs, Maddie. I have to get my shit together and move on. It sucks, and it hurts, but I’m not broken.” Just brokenhearted, she added silently.
“Okay. No what ifs. Just don’t forget that I’m here for anything you need, and I’m still willing to be an alibi.” She tried to laugh, to lighten the mood, but the joke fell flat. Josie didn’t want to joke about alibis, lies, or anything to do with deceitfulness.
Clearing her throat, Josie stood from her couch and straightened her shirt. “Holden is going to kill us if we don’t leave now.”
Madison rolled her eyes but nodded in agreement. “I still can’t believe this is happening. I can’t believe he’s opening his own restaurant.”
“It’s a big risk, but he’s done the research. He knows what he’s getting into. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s able to cut costs with free labor,” Josie deadpanned, a wry smile twisting her lips. The truth was she didn’t mind helping Holden paint the building he leased. If things went well, he’d buy the place in a year. It was an excellent distraction from anything to do with Anders.
“Indeed.” Pulling Josie out the front door, Madison led them down the steps and to Josie’s car.
For the next several hours, Josie painted walls and exchanged quips with Madison, Holden, and Philip, who would also be joining the staff once the restaurant opened. The distraction was nice, but it didn’t last. Every time silence settled over the group, her mind drifted back to Anders.
She wondered what he was doing, if he was thinking about her, or, better yet, if she even wanted him to be. In the four days since storming out of his house, he hadn’t contacted her once. The incessant questions filled her with self-loathing. It was her decision to walk away from their relationship, and with good reason, but time had a way of softening anger, distancing the hurt. That was the worst thing that could happen because he wasn’t going to change and she didn’t trust him.
She’d shut down as best she could, but no matter how much she fought to hold onto the anger, she just felt hollow. She missed him. She missed his smell, his touch, and way he breathed her name against her skin.
Her arm felt heavy as she lifted the paintbrush and dragged it across the coarse drywall. When her vision blurred from the tears shimmering in her eyes, she knew she was done for the day. It made no sense to be so hurt by someone like Anders. Bitter and closed-off, he’d fought harder to keep her at arm’s length than he had to hold her close. Nothing about their relationship had been logical.
Feelings she never experienced sucked her under and swept her away. It was as if she was truly living and experiencing life for the first time. It made her realize how empty her life had been before Anders.
He made her feel anticipation, fear, longing... Love. It was maddeningly perfect and tragically flawed, but it was real, tangible. She could touch it, breathe it, and feel it in every part of her. Now it was gone, ripped away as quickly as it had come, and the hole its absence left behind was gaping and jagged. The place where he sank into her soul, unbidden and unwanted yet perfectly fulfilling, would never be the same.
“You okay?” Philip asked.
Josie dropped the brush and scrubbed her hands over her face, unnerved by the way they slid over her skin, slickened with tears she didn’t realize had fallen.
“Yeah. I’m just tired. I’m going to head out. Do you mind letting Maddie and Holden know?” She moved her brush to the murky bucket of water and stood.
“Yeah. Sure,” he stammered.
After thanking him, Josie grabbed her things and walked to her car. Tossing her purse in the passenger seat, the contents spilled out the top. With a sigh, she pushed the items back inside, stiffening when she noticed a familiar key.
“No,” she exhaled. With trembling fingers, she wrapped her hand around the key. Dropping her hand to her lap, she stared at the silver object lying over her palm. She didn’t realize she still had it. The memory of the last time she used it replayed in her mind. She lifted it between her fingers and pressed her thumb in the grooves, imprinting its mark in her skin the way he’d done on her heart. With a stuttering exhale she pulled her finger away and stared at the hollowed indentions. The sunken holes a perfect replica of how she imagined her heart must look.
A feeling of restlessness washed over her. She didn’t want to have anything of his. As insignificant as the object was, what it stood for was anything but. It was a link, something that connected them and left the door open for communication. She could throw it out, but what if he called and asked her to return it? What if she kept it and he never called? She wasn’t sure which would be worse. With a determined exhale she changed her destination and headed in the direction of the studio. Leaving the key in his trailer would be for the best.
While Josie cursed traffic, Anders threw his sweat-soaked towel into the laundry room and downed a third glass of water. After leaving Aubrey in his trailer, he headed straight to the gym. On the drive over, he called Nathan and recounted his confrontation with Aubrey before informing Nathan to handle the rest. Nathan tried to ask questions, find out how things were with Josie, but the very mention of her name caused Anders to lash out and put an abrupt end to their conversation.
It felt good to tell Aubrey what he’d wanted to for weeks. A little of himself reemerged, the part that didn’t take shit from anybody, but as cool and collected as he appeared on the outside, on the inside he was a wreck. The thought of following through with his threat to Aubrey made his stomach turn which in turn pissed him off. There was no reason he shouldn’t or couldn’t do what he threatened. His relationship with Josie was over. He was free to do as he pleased.
There was no going back. It was final just like when his relationship with Eva had ended. However, this time, he wasn’t the one hurt and betrayed; it was Josie. Even though he didn’t do what she had accused, it pained him to know she felt the same hurt he’d experienced when it had happened to him.
Shaking his head, he set his glass in the sink, retreated to his living room, and fell on the couch. The situation with Josie wasn’t the same as with Eva. He’d known Eva almost his entire life. He’d loved her, and she’d screwed him over in every way imaginable. Which is the reason he couldn’t understand why the very thought of not being with Josie hurt so much more.
Maybe if he told Josie about Eva, Nicholas, and his parents, she’d understand why he’d never cheat. Or maybe she’d tell him to fuck off, and he’d look like a pathetic fool all over again. After all, the last time he made himself vulnerable to a woman, she almost ruined him.
The buzzer for the gate yanked him from his thoughts. He walked to the intercom, his heart beating a little faster when his first thought was that it could be Josie. When a masculine voice crackled over the speaker, Anders’ jaw clenched with annoyance. He didn’t need Josie to make him feel like a pathetic fool, he was doing fine on his own.
He opened the front door and waited as a courier pulled up the driveway. Rolling his eyes at the gawking boy, he signed for the package and shut the door in his face. The large manila envelope was unmarked except for his name printed across the front. Unfastening the top, he reached inside and pulled out a magazine. The color drained from his face as he read the headline across the cover. Dropping it like it burned, he ripped open the envelope to see if anything else was inside. There was no note, no return address, nothing. He bolted for the front door and yanked it open, but the courier was already down the drive and pulling onto the street.
“Fuck,” he exhaled. Running a hand through his hair, he retrieved the magazine from the floor. After sucking in a heavy breath, he flipped through the pages until he found the article. His heart hammered in his chest as he read the headline again.
He’s In Love With A Stripper?
No, not T-Pain. It seems Hollywood playboy Anders Ellis is back to his old tricks. A source has revealed exclusively to OK! magazine the details of Hollywood’s latest scandal: “Anders has been cheating on girlfriend and costar, Aubrey Nash, with a stripper who goes by the name Ivy.”
Oh, no he didn’t!
“They’ve been seeing each other secretly for quite some time,” the source divulged. “Aubrey’s beside herself.”
The relationship was discovered after a series of text messages between the secret duo was uncovered. “The texts were of a very explicit and intimate nature. Jealousy is most likely the motivating factor for the release of these private exchanges. It’s obvious the mysterious Ivy was less than pleased with the budding romance between Anders and Aubrey.”
So what will become of the new It Couple?
“Aubrey is a very understanding woman. She also has very strong feelings for Anders. They’ll get through this.”
So who is this mystery girl? Will she destroy Hollywood’s newest golden couple before they even begin?
Stay tuned for the latest news!
Anders tightened his hands around the edges of the magazine before ripping it in two and sending the pages fluttering to the ground. His nostrils flared and his chest heaved as anger and betrayal swelled inside his chest. Disgusted, he grabbed the page with the article and shoved it in his pocket. In a red haze, he stormed out the door and jumped into his car. As he peeled onto the road, he focused on one destination, one person.
He couldn’t believe it was happening all over again. The first time he tried to open up to someone again and she turned out to be just like Eva. A sudden thought hit him, and when he looked in the rearview mirror, the air in his lungs froze. Whipping his car into the first parking lot he saw, he slammed on the brakes and gripped the steering wheel. The car behind him slowed to a crawl, the guy in the passenger seat turning his body toward Anders as his camera flash fired in rapid succession. The anger simmering below the surface faded, and in its place was all-consuming rage.
Yes, it was going to be exactly like last time.
Josie was punishing him. This was her way of getting back at him for the wrong she believed he’d done. For a second he questioned if she could really be behind this. Shaking his head in disgust, he let his doubt go. He never thought his childhood best friend, his first everything, would bleed him dry and break his heart either.
Ivy.
The article said Ivy, not Josie. She kept her name out of it. She made it so the one thing he hated more than anything would happen: the paparazzi would follow him everywhere. They would be relentless. The past he worked so hard to bury would be resurrected. He looked around, realizing that the car following him had pulled into the lot across the street. They were waiting to see where he would go so they could follow.
“Goddamn it,” he roared, slamming his hands against the steering wheel. He ripped his phone from his pocket, sneering as the name Ivy glowed back at him. Pressing call, he waited as her phone rang over and over before connecting to voice mail. The sound of her voice vibrated against his skin, burning below the surface as his chest ached with each syllable. He hung up, cutting off the sultry cadence of her voice. He wasn’t giving up.
Where are you? We need to talk.
Each second dragged like sandpaper across his skin. He called again, her voice mail picking up once more. His mouth ached from the tight set of his jaw as his teeth ground together. She didn’t get to ignore him. She didn’t get to ruin his life and walk off into the sunset.
Answer the phone. Don’t make me come to your house.
Josie stared at her phone like it was a bomb, each text and call, a tick of the clock counting down to detonation. Her eyes drifted to the plain white envelope in front of her and the silver key lying next to it. She assumed that was the reason for his call. He realized she had it. There was no other reason for him to be so persistent. Her jaw ticked with annoyance. He had no right to be angry or demanding. Before she could talk herself out of it, she texted him back.
Fuck you, Anders. I don’t have to do anything. Go to my house. It’ll be a waste of time. I’m not there.
It took less than thirty seconds for him to respond.
WHERE ARE YOU?
Fire burned inside her and all of a sudden she wanted to give him the key. She wanted to scream at him for being an asshole, even if it only inflicted a small measure of the pain he’d inflicted on her. She wanted a moment’s reprieve from the turmoil twisting inside her.
I’m at the studio. If you have something to say, I suggest you hurry. I won’t wait for you. Not ever again.
Anders clamped his hand around the phone before jerking his arm back and sending it flying against the passenger side door. He looked at the car across the street and smirked. “Fuck you, assholes,” he growled. They could follow him to the studio, but they wouldn’t be allowed inside. They wouldn’t get their money shot.
In less than ten minutes, Anders pulled through the gate, his breaths nothing more than angry pants as he stormed inside. The moment he saw her, the world melted away. Her stance was both casual and defensive as she leaned against the front of Craig’s desk. With her arms crossed over her chest it was clear she was ready for a fight, and he was going to give it to her.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” The words were out of his mouth before he crossed the threshold.
Josie’s lips parted in shock and her pulse thundered in her ears. “Excuse me?”
“Don’t act like you have no idea what I’m talking about, Ivy.” He spat her name like it was poison. Maybe it was. Maybe it wasn’t harmless ivy inked across her skin, but the kind that made flesh burn and weep as it spread like a disease.
Her flinch wasn’t visible on the outside, but inside her chest cracked at the hateful way he spoke her name. Every doubt and insecurity she ever felt hit her full force. He didn’t care about her. He never had. Josie shut down, her vision tunneling into a black hole of anger, sorrow, and regret. “If you have something to say, asshole, I suggest you say it. I’m not going to stand here and try to figure out what’s going on in that fucked up head of yours.”
Anders shook his head in disbelief. “The magazine, Josie. The motherfucking magazine. Did they pay you well? Did you enjoy selling me out? I never pegged you for a malicious bitch, but I guess I was wrong. Big fucking surprise there.”
The last word hadn’t even fallen from his lips before her hand connected with the side of his face. “You’re a piece of shit, Anders Ellis. You treat me like I’m nothing, you cheat on me, and now you have the nerve to insult me? Fuck you.” She spun around to grab the envelope when the rest of his words registered. Turning back to face him, she ignored the look of shock still etched across his face. “And for the record, I have no fucking idea what you’re talking about.”
Anders snapped out of his daze. “I’m talking about the magazine delivered to my house today about my secret affair with you. Nice touch making yourself a stripper, by the way.”
The color drained from Josie’s face as confusion and dread sank like lead in the pit of her stomach. “What?”
The drastic change in her demeanor caused Anders’ throat to tighten. When he spoke again, his voice was more uncertain but no less angry. “Stop playing games. I know you’re the one who talked to those leeches. No one else knows I call you Ivy.”
Angry tears burned Josie’s eyes as confusion turned to panic. “Stop being so dramatic and tell me what you’re talking about!”
“Stop pretending you don’t know! You went to a reporter and told them about us. The article mentioned you by name. It wasn’t just bullshit gossip.” He pulled the crumpled page from his pocket and thrust it into her hands.
“Oh my God,” Josie choked as she scanned the page. She didn’t know what hurt most: the article referring to her as a stripper, the way it painted her as the other woman, or Anders’ belief she had something to do with its publication. “What is this?” Tears welled and slid down her cheeks, each one draining the anger from her body.
Anders laughed, the sound harsh and angry. “I can’t believe you’re still denying it.”
“Why? Why would I do this?” she screamed. “Are you out of your fucking mind? I have nothing, nothing, to gain from this.” Her hands shook and her heart...was decimated. He didn’t know her at all.
Anders’ throat constricted when Josie’s face crumpled. He squeezed his eyes shut, wanting to erase the image of the tears streaking down her cheeks. For a moment, his doubt resurfaced before it was replaced with a feeling of déjà vu.
The scene was almost identical. He stood in the middle of his living room, clutching the glossy pages of a similar magazine. Tears shimmered in his eyes as Eva stood before him, begging and pleading him to believe her. She said it wasn’t what he thought. That she wasn’t fucking his best friend behind his back. He’d come so close to falling for Eva’s lies, but he wouldn’t make that mistake again. He wouldn’t allow Josie to make a fool of him too.
“Hurting me, that’s what you have to gain. You think I cheated and refuse to believe me when I say I’d never do that to you.”
“Hurt you?” A sob tore from Josie’s throat as she shook her head. “I can’t hurt you. You’re dead inside. You take and take until you suck the life from everyone around you, until they’re as broken and barren as you. Believe me,” she choked, her palm pressed flat over her chest. “I have experienced firsthand how you break people.” She grabbed the envelope from her desk and turned to face him. The paper shook as she shoved it and the magazine page into his hand. “I didn’t do this. I could never be this vicious. It would be too much like you.”
Anders stood frozen long after Josie had left, his eyes fixed on the article. His mind fractured as it jumped from the past to the present. The reality of what he said and how he acted made his knees buckle. On unsteady feet, he stumbled to the desk and leaned against it. He ripped open the envelope and let the key fall into his palm.
“Ivy,” he whispered into the silence. “I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.”