Page 74 of Camera Stays On

As I attempted to take notes, Ash passed one to me with a doodle of the professor talking. A giggle escaped my throat, and I did my own quick drawing, passing it back to him. Oh, how fun it would be to have a real friend to take classes with. My heart ached for the connection.

Finally, the lecture ended, and we left, walking back to his truck. Disappointment began to slowly seep into my chest, knowing our time together was almost up.

“How do you normally leave campus?” he asked.

“Well, usually I head to the bus stop. Most of the time Sawyer is still awake, so I call him and talk while I’m walking.”

He stopped dead in his tracks and turned toward me.

“He’s awake but doesn’t come get you?”

His mouth opened and shut, just like it had earlier. I looked at my feet, embarrassed. I knew it was pathetic when I told people about Sawyer’s and my relationship. It was sad, toxic, and I didn’t know how to get out of it.

He’d killed someone because they’d hurt me.

Would he kill me for hurting him?

Ash huffed and swallowed deeply. We didn’t speak until we were in his truck and leaving campus.

“What’s your plans for tomorrow?” he asked.

“Dress shopping.”

“Oh yeah? What you need a dress for—oh.” He frowned. “That’s great. I hope you find the right one.”

I forced excitement. I wasn’t all that into the wedding stuff, but Sawyer wanted the big, public show, so it was necessary.

“Thanks. I feel like right is subjective. I might go in and decide on a totally different dress than I’d planned on,” I said.

He offered me a polite smile that didn’t match the sadness in his eyes. For a brief moment, I wondered. Was it sadness that I was marrying Sawyer, or was it sadness I wasn’t marrying him? He cleared his throat.

“Well, I hope you find yourself surprised then. You’ll have to let me know which one you pick. The dress that is expected, or the dress you actually want.”

I blushed and turned to look out the window. He wasn’t talking about dresses. A heavy weight fell onto my shoulders as he continued toward my apartment.

If only what was expected and what was wanted were the same thing.

Chapter 32

Asher

ANDI WAS RIGHT, I’d had five years to explain myself—to come up with a plan, an excuse, a lie. But when finally confronted, I had nothing. I couldn’t lie to her. Not directly. So I’d lied by omission. I was no better than my brother, and the very thought made me ill.

When my mind came to, I flew out of the room, calling for her. I wasn’t sure what I’d say when I reached her, but I couldn’t let her leave.

And neither could Sawyer. I stopped short. Running after her and forcing her to hear me out was no better than anything my brother had done. My feet froze at the top of the stairs, and a moment later, Juliet saw me, and her expression turned cold. She started toward me.

“Are you coming? We’re ready to shoot.”

“Shoot what?” I demanded.

“The wedding. Purdy’s dress is already filthy at the bottom, not to mention the blood that seeped through on her thigh. I don’t know how to clean that. We can’t let it get worse before the wedding scene. Now come down. I see you decided to be the best man.” She snickered. I ignored her and started down the stairs. Something about this didn’t feel right. Reaching the ground floor, I found everyone but Andi and Sawyer, which instantly set me off.

“Where the fuck is she?” My fists clenched at my sides.

“Who?” Mick called from the living room. Even dressed in a suit, he knelt beside Bea. Her eyes were completely closed now, with a rag over her forehead. “Andi? Sawyer found some actual bandage wraps, so they went to go dress her wound. She’s fine. Bea is not,” he said impatiently. I understood why he was so frustrated. Bea wasn’t looking good. Her foot was completely mangled, and the rags they’d wrapped around it were soaked crimson. With Lux already dead, if we didn’t get her help, we’d be burning another body soon.

But, I couldn’t think about that right now as shitty as it was. I had a one-track mind, and hurt and shame were driving it. “Where did they go?” I asked Darius and Gavin. They shrugged, and I rushed past them, heading to the other side of the house.