At Dylan. At his dad. At my dad. At Wendy. At everyone really.
They were all acting like this was normal. Like it made sense that he’d pushed me out—literally a minute after I’d defended him over our fathers’ jail brawl. I felt sick to my stomach every time I thought about that scene. Me standing there getting attacked by James and defending Dylan meanwhile everyone else in the room knew about the blow Dylan was about to slay me with.
They all knew and didn’t say a word. No one spoke up for me.
So, work was awkward. Austin gave me a company car, so I didn’t have to worry about bumming rides, but everyone treated me with kid gloves like I would dissolve into tears at the smallest provocation. Joke was on them—I was all cried out.
Instead, I was moving around life like a spectator, not really involved, and didn’t really give a shit about anything.
Everything had changed in a short amount of time. I moved out of Dylan’s condo that day. The cameras never came back. And the guys were hoping I’d join them in a lawsuit against the network and James. Honestly, I was having a hard time caring about anything.
Everyone in my life was connected to Dylan. I didn’t know where to turn or who to talk about it that wasn’t biased toward him.
Anne.
She wasn’t Team Dylan. She’d listen to me.
Only problem was I didn’t have her phone number or a way to contact her.
Maybe she was on at the diner tonight?
I threw a glance at the clock on Sabrina’s wall. It was nearing eight on a Friday night. Exactly the kinda shift she usually took. I scrambled into action.
I was weirdly excited when I walked into the diner. Maybe excited wasn’t the right word. Really, my stomach was in knots and my shoulders stiff with tension.
But I deflated as a quick scan of the interior didn’t turn up my favorite waitress.
Dammit.
“Just you tonight, sweetheart? Or are you meeting someone?”
I turned at the unfamiliar voice and found a bottle-blonde in her forties holding up a menu and looking at me. I wasn’t exactly in the mood for food, but my fridge was empty, and I definitely wasn’t in the mood to shop, let alone cook anything.
So I nodded. “Um, is Anne working tonight?”
“Yeah, she is. This way.”
My heartbeat kicked into high gear as I followed the blonde waitress to a booth along the windows. She slapped the menu onto the table then sashayed away without another word.
I didn’t know where to look. I hadn’t really thought through what I’d say. What to ask.
I was at a loss.
Maybe this wasn’t a good idea.
I pushed away from the table, hoping to slip out without having to face her when I heard a loud gasp followed by, “Indy?”
I dropped my arm and gave Anne a weak smile. “Hey Anne.”
“I’m so glad to see you, kiddo. I was worried about you. How have you been? Where did you land?”
“I, uh…” I shrugged as tears burned my eyes. I don’t know what it was—the concern in her voice, the kiddo—it was just so nice to have someone give a shit about me.
I covered my face with my hands and sobbed.
“Oh shit.”
There was a loud clatter followed by a squeak from the booth, and then Anne’s arms came around me.
