Page 89 of How To Plot a Payback

He lifts a brow. “Must have been agony.”

“It actually was. Because,” I say, then pause for emphasis, “suddenly one day I found myself believing it was real. That I was hilarious, wasn’t I? That I was just so extraordinarily witty and pretty and talented and all of these ridiculous things, that I maybe did deserve a human who would hold my cup of coffee for three hours while another did my hair. That maybe I was the best thing since sliced bread.”

“I don’t disagree that would be annoying. But, Lavender—”

“It’s a simple enough leap from there, Finn. I became mean.” He starts to interject when I rush on, “Nothing outright, maybe, but subtle enough to get what I wanted. People took on menial tasks for me and I let them. People were thrown to the back of the queue on my account. And I let it happen. But then someone close to me got sacked over something so stupid that I had let happen. And when I saw how it shattered them, the glass shattered for me as well. I woke up. And since then, I’ve made it my highest priority to keep things in perspective. It’s why I choose not, at this point in my life, to live in Hollywood Hills. Or have a PA. Or do a lot of the things I could get away with. Some people can handle it just fine, but it wasn’t good for me.”

I take a breath, remembering.

“Speaking of,” I say. “I need to find Sonya before she gives the story to CNN. Walk me out?”

I’m not sure he’s going to let himself off the hook.

There’s an expression on his face as he looks at me. Something I’ve never seen on him before. His forehead has this long, thin crease across the middle, and his eyes are studying me as if I’m a porcelain doll come to life.

He’s silent the whole way out.

Too silent.

Downright broody.

I’m going to have to help him get over this, I can tell.

At the building’s exit, I stop him.

“You know what? I’ve been on the hunt for a way to make it up to you for that trapdoor incident. Now, it probably doesn’t carry the same weight, given the whole surgery—”

“Double surgery.”

I wince. “—but how about we call it even?”

He’s shaking his head. “Forget about it, Lavender. You didn’t even mean to hurt me. I’m the one—”

“I’ll throw in a bonus,” I say, smile widening. “Consider it your lucky day, Finn Masters, because I’ve got a winner of an opportunity for you.”

He looks dubious. “What is it?”

“Bernie misses his buddy. Miles, of course, feels the same. So how about I’ll bring lunch, and we’ll have a puppy playdate to make amends?”

Chapter 18

Finn

Never again.

I’m done.

I tried multiple paybacks and failed every time. There is quite possibly no quicker way to sober up than to see the fallout of your revenge and realize how horribly out of control your head is.

Yes, I suppose I can call it what it was. Revenge.

And to see her reaction to it all, her face as Adam drew near and then clutched her.

She was frightened.

Actually frightened.

And I caused that.