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“Augustus,” I shout through my cupped hands. “Get your ass out here.”

A moment later, a shadowed figure appears in the doorway, and Augustus steps into view. My stomach churns at the sight of Hollywood's golden boy.

He’s wearing khaki trousers and a light blue Oxford shirt, buttoned up and tucked in, not a wrinkle in sight.

He smiles at me. “Kira, it’s so good to see you.” His eyes rake down my body as he seems to take me in. “I see you’ve been eating well this summer.”

I ignore the dig at my weight. It’s low-hanging fruit. If anything, the fact that he felt compelled to make it, tells me he didn’t have anything original lined up, and he was grasping for something to humble me.

He’s not wrong. I have put on a little weight this summer. I think back to all the moments where I indulged and lived in the moment—the breakfast in bed and margaritas by the pool. Every single one added a little more joy to my life. Every single pound a reminder of the peace I’ve felt these past twelve weeks.

It’s hard to imagine trading that for a smaller dress size. Especially when I know I’ll be picked apart no matter what. It’s a never-ending loop and one I’m no longer choosing to be subjected to.

“Come down here,” I demand, keeping my tone neutral. “I need to talk to you about something.”

“Can we not do this inside?” Augustus doesn’t even try to hide his irritation as his head falls back dramatically. “You’ve held us up long enough. We have the shoot first thing in the morning, and I have a feeling you’re going to need every bit of time in hair and makeup.”

Once again, I ignore the dig and stand my ground. “No. We can’t.”

I know what he’s doing. He’s trying to bait me into giving him a reaction, pushing me little by little until I can’t take it anymore and I snap at him. It’s his signature move. I don’t know how I never realized it before.

He tucks his phone in his pocket and moseys down the metal stairs, like a surly teenager.

“I’ll just give you two some privacy,” the red-haired woman says nervously, excusing herself before rushing off, like I’m a ticking time bomb.

Maybe there are a few advantages to being seen as unhinged? Maybe if I had lost my temper years ago, people wouldn’t be so bold coming up to me, or feeling like they could say things to me that would get them punched in the mouth if they were to say to someone’s face.

Augustus shuffles over at a snail’s pace, holding his arms out when he finally reaches me. “Happy? Now what’s this about?”

Before I can respond, I see another shadow moving through the doorway. “Kira!” My mother’s voice calls. “Honey, what’s going on out here?”

Her stilettos clink against the metal as she carefully descends the steps in her pencil skirt, the opening so narrow she can hardly take a full step. “What are you doing?” she asks. “We’ve been waiting here for nearly two hours. You’re holding everyone up.”

I should’ve known she wouldn’t sit this one out. It’s not like she has a life of her own. Everything she does revolves around me and my career.

The sad part is, I know it has nothing to do with me and everything to do with the life she always dreamed of having for herself. You could trade me out for anyone—apparent by the way she lost all interest in Greer the moment she decided to keep her pregnancy—and she wouldn’t even blink.

If she can’t be famous herself, at least she can be close by association, which in her eyes is the next best thing.

I shake my head. “Mom, what are you doing here?”

She crosses her arms, looking defensive that I’d even question her presence. “I haven’t seen you in months, and you’ve been ignoring my calls. Forgive me for being worried about you,” she scoffs.

“Why are you here?” I say, my voice tight.

“Besides wanting to make sure you’re okay…” she says. “Obviously I wanted to make sure you don’t try to do anything stupid.” She holds my stare. “I know you have a penchant for self-sabotage.”

And there it is. Somewhere deep down, she must’ve sensed that her worst fears were about to come true. Maybe she has more maternal instincts than I realized?

Augustus stands there, staring between us, looking bored. “Now that we’re all caught up. Do you mind getting on with whatever the hell this is about?”

I shove the stack of papers toward him, then pull the ring out of my pocket and place it in his palm. “Here you go.”

“What’s…” His voice breaks off as he flips through the pages, his fingers moving faster like he can’t believe what he’s seeing.

“Kira?” My mother says, her voice panicked. “Kira, what are you doing?” She reaches for the papers, but Augustus snatches them away.

“I’m done,” I say. “I’m tired of dragging this out. I signed the paperwork. Now go enjoy the rest of your life.”