VICTORIOUS (A Quantum Novel)(4)

Fluff is spazzing out, demanding my attention. I pick her up so she can see her Aunt Candace, whom she seems to remember. “I hope your place allows dogs.”

“It doesn’t, but we’ll sneak her in.”

“Um.” The rumble of a deep voice reminds me I’m not alone. “You’re not going to her place,” Seth says. “We’ve got reservations at a Marriott in town.”

“I’ll be staying with my sister.”

“No, you won’t.”

I want to snap back at him that he can’t tell me what to do, but he’s only doing his job. My anger needs to stay focused on Flynn and not on his messenger. To Candace, I say, “How do you feel about a night at the Marriott?”

“Sounds good to me! Let’s go.”

Candace doesn’t own a car and has taken a cab to meet me, so she comes with me as the security guys lead us to a pair of black SUVs. They must order them in bulk, as they seem to be everywhere I am lately.

“What’s up with all this?” Candace whispers, gesturing to the security guys and the SUVs.

“My husband. He’s paranoid about security.”

“I sort of hoped he might be with you,” she says with a silly grin that lets me know she’s a fan of his work. Who isn’t?

“He couldn’t make it this time.” I have no intention of ruining my reunion with Candace by airing out my marital troubles.

“Bummer. I can’t wait to meet him.”

Because I’m not sure now that’ll ever happen, I don’t say anything. The thought of never seeing him again makes my whole body ache.

“What’s wrong, April?” Candace asks when we’re settled in the back of an SUV and heading for the hotel.

I force a smile for her benefit. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m thrilled to see you.”

“Even though we haven’t seen each other in a long time, you’re still my sister. I took one look at you and knew something is very wrong.” She takes hold of my hand. “Let me help.”

“My baby sister isn’t a baby anymore, is she?” I’m saddened to have missed so many years with her and Livvy.

“I haven’t been since a monster attacked my big sister and ruined all our lives.”

It has never once, in all the years since I last saw them, occurred to me that what happened to me ruined their lives, too. “I pictured you guys going on like nothing happened.”

“That’s not how it was. We were heartbroken. Nothing was ever the same without you.” She covers our joined hands with her other hand. “I’d like nothing more than to be close to you again.”

“I’d like that, too. More than you could ever know.”

“Talk to me, Ap— I mean, Natalie. Talk to me, Natalie.”

“You can call me April. It’s okay.”

“You’ve made a whole new life as Natalie. That’s who you are now, and I want to respect that. Livvy does, too.”

“She’s so grown up, too. I can’t believe how amazing her grades are and that she has her pick of colleges.”

“Natalie…”

I sigh, realizing I can’t hide my torment from my sister. “Flynn and I are taking a break.” I keep my voice down so only she can hear me.

“You just got married!”

“Believe me, I know.”

“What could’ve gone so wrong so fast?”

“He kept something from me. Something important. And then when I found out about it and confronted him, he lied to me.”

“Oh damn. Wow. You guys looked so happy on TV. I watched every second of the SAG Awards. I couldn’t believe that was my sister on national TV!”

“It was a very exciting night.” Recalling Flynn winning two Actor awards, making love in the limo on the way home and then eating In-N-Out burgers and fries in Hayden’s living room brings me to tears again. The weeks I spent with Flynn had been the sweetest time of my life, and I have no idea what I’m supposed to do without him.

“So is it over, then?” Candace asks tentatively.

“I don’t know.” I don’t know anything other than he lied to me, and I had to get away from him to get some perspective.

“Well,” she says after a long pause, “if he’s making you stay at a hotel, I assume he’s paying, so we might as well take full advantage. I have to work tomorrow, but I don’t care. We can stay up all night watching movies, sleep in and order room service.”