FOURTEEN

Sylvie

So just like Holly and Danny, you ghosted your adoptive parents, too?

The accusation stings but I’m careful not to show it. The trick is to keep him off balance. That’s why I shared my parents’ disappointment that I left High River but not how they feel about my chosen profession. Plus, actually seeing it will be more powerful.

Danny’s voice in my head whispers every dream has a price. Shame bites at the lining of my stomach. Danny was right . . .

When I called Lucas that first time, he agreed to fly both Danny and me down to LA. We assumed that was because we were a package deal, and we spent the night in an expensive hotel, where we hit the minibar like locusts and ordered more room service than we could possibly eat. The next morning we took an Uber to our meeting on the top floor of a skyscraper . . .

“Let me do the negotiating,” Danny murmured as we nervously sat in reception. “This could be huge for us.”

But when an assistant, dressed in a tight white T-shirt, black jeans, and high heels came to bring me into Lucas’s office, she told Danny to stay put. She’d come get him next. But she never did. When I returned, she told Danny that Lucas was done for the day. Danny kept his cool until the elevator doors closed and we were alone.

“Did you convince him?” Danny asked.

“Yes.”

“What’d he offer us?”

“Representation.”

Danny leapt into the air then hugged me. “Syl, that’s amazing! We’re in, kid!”

“What about your dream to be an actor?”

“This is a huge stepping-stone. I’ll get there eventually.”

“I . . . He only wants me.”

Danny’s face crumpled. “So you told him to fuck off?”

“Once I’m established, he’s open to helping you, too.”

“He’s open?” Danny stepped back, eyes wet. “You and me, we had a deal.”

“I know but—”

“But you’re screwing me over for your shot.”

“That’s not true!”

“Bullshit. We were supposed to be a team.”

“Come on, Danny. We still are!”

“You wouldn’t even be here without me.”

“I know. But Danny, I can’t go home. I promise that I’ll help you if I can . . .”

We were both crying when the elevator reached the lobby. Danny walked away. When I tried to follow him down the street, he ran. I was too much of a coward to return to our hotel room. By the time I worked up the nerve to face him, he was gone. I stayed in LA. Danny didn’t return my calls or cash the checks I sent in care of Gigi. He deserved better from me. So why’d I do it?

“What are you thinking about?” Thomas asks.

My voice catches as I say, “I’m looking forward to seeing my parents. I mean, I’m nervous, but hope they’ve forgiven me for leaving. I’ve missed them.” But what I’m really thinking is that maybe I ditched Danny not because his knowledge about my origin story makes him a liability, but because he’s a reminder that there’s a part of me that wonders if I’m just someone who takes advantage of both the people I’m supposed to love and strangers.