He yanks open the door to shout, “I just don’t like to see you cry!”
“Get over it!”
“I’m trying to help you!”
“Well, stop!”
The door slams again.
She rubs her forehead, muttering, “Jeesh.”
The door opens, we hear thunderous footsteps marching across the hall. Another door slams a second later as he presumably sulks in his bedroom.
Marion locks eyes with me and waves her hand like she wants me to get on with it already.
I’m speechless. “Uh…uh…”
“Just spit it out!”
“It’s kind of a sensitive subject. I’m not sure if you’re in the right headspace.”
Her chin dips as she looks at me from underneath her slender eyebrows. “If you hold me back from watching my super sad drama movies, I am never going to be in the right headspace. What is it you want to tell me? That Samantha is going to Broadway? Do you think I don’t already know that? Do you think those tears were because you are going?”
My mouth was hanging open. I clamp it shut, shrug, and launch in, “What do you think about Asher, Marion?”
“I think he purposely let me fall so that Samantha would get the shot that I was made for. That’s what I think of Asher. I think he’s a scheming fuckhead who deserves someone to take him back to his knees — that’s what I think of Asher.”
I stammer, “Wait, hold on a second. You believe he did that and you’re not pursuing any kind of legal action against him?”
“There’s no way of proving it. I can’t even be sure. But I have a sneaking suspicion that snuck in right as it happened!”
“He’s going to Broadway after doing that to you!”
She throws her disgusting tissue at me. “Logan, you better get thicker skin if you’re going to be in show business.”
I dodged the goo-ball, and now I’m staring at it on the floor by my sneaker. “That’s what Galloway said.”
“She knows what she’s talking about, obviously. That’s why we listen to her. What I don’t get about you is how your head can be so far up your ass.”
I stand, getting angry. “Because I have some integrity, my head’s up my ass?”
Marion’s eyebrows fly up. “Yes!”
“Whatever. If you don’t care that he did that to you, then I don’t care either.”
“Oh I care that he did it. I just know something you aren’t capable of knowing.”
“What’s that?”
“If I were in his shoes, maybe I would’ve done the same. Asher and me, we’re the types who go places.”
I sneer in disgust, “Looks like you’re not going anywhere anytime soon,” and walk right out the door.
Chapter Twenty
SAMANTHA
“I t’s the last show, Lexi, and I still haven’t told Mom and Dad I’m moving to New York indefinitely.” My head drops onto my dressing room table, fresh flowers to my right and left.
“I brought reinforcements.”
With my eyes closed and forehead pressed against the cool wood, I groan, “Zoe can’t help me with this. God bless her but she keeps urging me to drive over there and tell them. Or call them. Or text. I can’t!”
Our baby brother’s voice surprises me. “You need a few lessons, Sam. Learn from the best.”
I sit upright to discover Hunter standing next to Lexi, the two gingers with their arms crossed like they mean business.
“We don’t have a lot of time, so let me cut to the chase.” He locks the door, muttering to Lexi, “Can never be too careful.”
“Are you going to teach me how to live under the radar?” I gasp, excited I might learn about Hunter. He is like a stealth ninja, living a life of secrecy. None of us even knows where he lives. We’ve never met his friends. When he and I were at the same high school I saw them walking with him sometimes, always in silence with the kind of masculine strut you see in action movies when there’s something blowing up behind the hero.
He jogs his square chin to Lexi. “I’m not the only one who sneaks around, not that I call it sneaking. That’s more what Lexi does.”
“Hey!”
“Don’t play dumb. It insults me. It’s a good thing you called me, because if Samantha learned from you that would be a joke.”
Lexi drops her hands. “Hey!”
“We all know who Brad is. You have any idea who I am dating? Have you ever heard of any person I have ever dated?”
“You didn’t have Samantha running around with you as a witness.”
I defend myself, “Never once have I ratted on you and Brad. You’re the one who always gets caught. I always play innocent.” Pointing at her, I remind her, “How many times have you seen me acting dumb when Max or Caden grill me?”
Hunter chuckles, “This is your problem. Both of you. Your emotions rule you. How do you think you're going to live covertly if we can read everything you’re thinking on your faces, or you fly off the handle at the slightest provocation?” He holds up one finger. “Lesson one. Hide your feelings.” Another finger pops up. “Lesson two. Don’t ever tell anyone what you’re up to.” A third finger. “Lesson three. If they ask, don’t answer.” He crosses his arms, cuts a superior look to Lexi before landing it on me.
I’m staring at him, soaking it in. Dryly I ask, “That’s the big stealth ninja webinar?”
He frowns, “Well, it’s not a webinar. I’m standing right in front of you.”
“Hunter!” I cry, throwing my arms out. “That is not helpful!”
“I’m catching what you’re throwing down,” Lexi smirks.
“Lexi gets it. The reason you don’t is because you are too good for this.”
“Are you calling me stuck up?! I’m not stuck up!”
“I meant good as in sweet, Sam. Untaintable.”
Lexi cocks her cherry eyebrows. “Is that a word?”
“You knew what I meant, didn’t you?”
“This has all been very educational,” I begin. “But we are talking about Mom and Dad. It’s not like I can move out of the city and have them not notice. At least not for long.”
Hunter says, “Why not? If they
