Page 72 of Camera Stays On

“I didn’t say it was me. Andi, listen to me—”

“Why? You lied to me, Asher!” I closed my eyes and turned away.

“Andi, please!”

His hand fell onto my shoulder, and I shrugged, brushing him off me.

“You’re a bastard!” I went to the door. “You walked me down the aisle, knowing Sawyer had plans to embarrass me in front of the entire town. You know why I left? Not because of Sawyer, because everyone hated me!” I turned back and shook my head. “You led me to believe you were the good guy.”

“I am!” he shouted over me. “Andi, don’t be like this. Let me explain.” He grabbed my left hand. Instantly feeling the oversized rock on my finger. He raised it up, disappointment flooding his expression.

I yanked my hand back. “You’ve had five years to explain, Ash. Time’s run out.”

I limped back downstairs, utterly crushed. I did not want to believe that Asher, of all people, could treat me so cruelly, but it was true. For once, Sawyer wasn’t a liar. His brother had hurt me. In another lifetime, I would have married Sawyer and—

My nose scrunched at the very thought of being five years into a marriage with Sawyer. Despite seeing how bad a decision that was now, that hadn’t been Ash’s decision to make. It’d been mine, and while I was glad I didn’t say “I do” then, it didn’t make the public humiliation go away.

Even now, five years later, his mother and some of the other townsfolk had given me shit.

And I really hadn’t done anything. I never cheated on Sawyer. Not even when I should have.

Chapter 31

Andi

Five years ago

“OH, PURR-DEE!” SAWYER drew out my name as he stuck half his body out the window of Ash’s truck. I raised my gaze off the ground as my fellow classmates brushed past me, eager to leave. Our professor had given a long lecture on the history of the transatlantic accent in film, and while I found the topic interesting, the delivery had been so monotone and unenthusiastic I’d almost fallen asleep. Waving to the boys as I walked their way, I looked up at the sky. The sun was just starting to set.

“Get your boots off my seat.” Ash scolded his brother as I grew near, swatting him inside the truck.

“Oh, shut it. A little dirt ain’t gonna hurt this shitbox.” Sawyer opened his door, nearly hitting me with it as he hopped down. Sliding his arm around my waist, he pulled me to him. “Come on, darlin’. Let’s blow this joint.”

I shifted awkwardly. I always felt weird being cozy around Ash. Not that Sawyer’s brother made me uncomfortable. It was quite the opposite. I loved Ash. I just didn’t like how extra Sawyer got when Ash was around. Gently, I pushed Sawyer away and waved at Ash still in his truck. He waved back, then squinted.

“Is that my sweatshirt?”

I blushed and looked down, tugging on the black hoodie with a faded logo from the movie Good For Her.

“This? Oh, yeah. Sorry, I was running late and just threw on clothes this morning. It smelled good.” I tried to play it cool. I could have picked other sweaters, but I liked Ash’s scent. Ash and I looked at each other, his eyes widening.

“Well, it probably doesn’t smell good now since you’ve been sweating in it all day.” Sawyer interrupted our brief moment. “Come on, they’re having a Simon Says marathon on the other side of campus. Free popcorn until it runs out.” He slapped the door to emphasize the urgency. I jumped at the loud sound and shook my head.

“I can’t. I’ve got Script Analysis in an hour, and I need to work on this paper for my Film Theory class. I’m swamped right now.”

“Oh, come on, Purdy Doll,” Sawyer crooned, leaning toward me. “Don’t make me sit in that dark theater alone. I might just have to snuggle up to someone else.”

I rolled my eyes and sighed deeply. This was not the first time he’d threatened to step out on our relationship. The first few times, it’d worked. I dropped what I was doing and went to him. Now, I was tired of it. But, telling him this would do nothing. Sawyer didn’t care about stuff like that.

My thoughts. My feelings.

“I really can’t. I’m already behind and lost because of the last time you made me miss.”

“You need help? In which class?” Ash piped up from the truck as Sawyer crossed his arms with a scowl. I turned to Ash.

“Script Analysis.”

“Is Tod Westley your professor? I took that class last year, I might be able to help you.”