“Not here.” He wipes his damp brow. “Please, can we go to your room to talk?”
“Turn on the TV,” Mom suddenly shouts, surprising us all. Her eyes drill into Reeve as she clutches her cell to her chest. “Turn on E-News, Jonathon,” she commands, in a voice that tells him not to question or challenge her.
“It meant nothing,” Reeve whispers, clutching my hand. “Just let me explain.” The panicked expression on his face matches the mounting hysteria in his tone.
Dad looks between Mom and me as he holds the remote out in front of him.
“Turn it on, Daddy.” I know this is going to hurt, but I won’t shy away from the truth.
“No!” Reeve jumps up, holding on to my hand. “Don’t look at that. Please, Viv. Come with me and I’ll explain.” He already knew this was going to happen, and yet he said nothing. Looking at him, I wonder if I know him at all anymore.
I wrench my hand from Reeve’s, turning around so I’m facing the TV mounted on the wall behind us, just as Dad turns on E-News.
The headline bores a hole in my skull, and my heart instantly cracks into a million broken shards.
REEVERON HOT KISS! WE’VE GOT THE EXCLUSIVE VIDEO THAT PROVES THEIR LOVE IS REAL!
24
“Baby, please. Don’t look at that,” Reeve pleads again, dropping to his knees in front of me. “It looks worse than it is.”
I don’t know how that is even possible.
Ignoring him, I stare in a state of numbed shock as the hideous recording plays. It’s at some club, in Boston, I’m assuming, and while it’s dark, you can clearly make out Reeve’s and Saffron’s features. I spot Rudy and a few of the other cast members drinking and dancing in the background. Christmas decorations hang from the ceiling and adorn the walls, confirming it was a recent night out. Most likely, just before he left Boston for the Christmas break.
Silent tears stream down my face as I watch them kissing. It’s no chaste kiss either. Their arms are wrapped around one another as they lock lips, and they are devouring one another like it’s a new Olympic sport.
Pain races through every part of me, and I’m struggling to breathe. I sway on my feet when I stand, clutching a hand to my mouth as I rush out of the room. Reeve calls after me, chasing me down the hallway. “Vivien! Stop, please! Let me explain! I love you!”
I slam to a halt at those three little words and spin around to face him. “Stop fucking lying!” I scream, my entire body shaking as rage takes control. “Stop saying you love me when your actions prove you don’t! How could you do this to me?” A sob rips from my chest, and my upper torso aches. While the pain from my concussion has subsided and my broken ribs are healing, I’m still in physical pain, and the additional heartache is most unwelcome. “Haven’t you humiliated me enough?”
“I was high,” he blurts. “It was stupid. I never should’ve taken molly, but everyone was doing it. Filming was over. I was coming home to you, and I was happy.” The words tumble from his mouth in desperation.
I bark out a bitter laugh. “Yeah. I saw how happy you were.” I slam my unbroken hand into his chest, shoving him. “How long has it been going on, and have you fucked her?” I bend over, clutching my stomach as my half-eaten dinner threatens to make a reappearance. “Oh God. We had sex last night.” We never use condoms because I’m on the pill, and I never thought Reeve would cheat on me. “That slut is probably riddled,” I shout. “Now I’ll have to get tested!” The thought of that additional humiliation ignites a fresh layer of pain.
“I didn’t fuck her, and that was the only time I’ve kissed her. I swear.”
I throw my hands in the air, swallowing bile. “Like I believe a single fucking word coming out of your lying mouth!” I scream.
“Baby. I know you’re upset. I’m upset too. I’d never taken molly before. It made me horny as hell, and she pounced on me when I was wasted. I didn’t push her away at first, because I was confused. I thought she was you!” He puts his hands on my shoulders, beseeching me with his eyes.
He’s upset? He has the fucking nerve to say that to me after what he’s done?! Shoving his hands away, I swipe at the hot tears running down my cheeks, vowing this is the last time I’m crying over Reeve Lancaster.
“As soon as I realized who I was kissing, I pushed her away.”
“A likely fucking story.” In the distance, I spot our parents holding back but listening to every word.