CHAPTER 040 : Hidden Cameras *** ~~FINN~~ *** Delilahispantingandbouncingontopofme,hermanicuredhandsbracedon my chest.Shethrowsherheadbacklikeshesinthemiddleofsomekindofreligiousexperience,butallIfeelistheweightofherskinagainstskin,motionwithoutmeaning.
Mymindiselsewhere.
Imnotevenintheroom.
IminAsheville.
Stillinthatdamnhouse.
StillstuckinthemomentSloaneslammedthecardoorandrefusedtolookbackatme.
ItrytofocusonDelilahshandsonmy chest,onthe wayshegaspsmynamebuteverytimeIclosemyeyes,IseeSloane.Herexpressionblank,hersilencelouderthananygoodbyeshecouldvegivenme.
Shesnotansweringmytexts.Notmycalls.Itsbeenoverfortyeighthours,andallIvegottenis radiosilence.Myfatherhadpracticallychasedmeoutof hishouse,redfacedandyelling,threateningtoseteverythingonfireifDelilah didntleaveimmediately.Ihadntevenargued.IpackedupinahurryandcaughtthefirstflightbacktoNewYorkthatsameafternoonwithDelilah.
Delilahhadrefusedtotakeofftheweddinggown.
Notthroughthedrivetotheairport.Notwhilewaiting attheterminal.Notevenwhenboarding.Shesatbesidemeontheplanelikeascornedbrideinagothicmovie,mascarasmeared,tulledragging,drawingcuriousstaresandwhisperedquestionsfrompassengersandflightattendantsalike.
Ididntcare.
AllIcouldthinkaboutpainfully,obsessivelywasSloane.
Shedvanished.
Andworstofall,sheleftwithKnox.
Ibetsheswakingupbesidehimrightnow.
God,IthinkImgoingtobesick.
Delilahsmoansgetlouder.Herrhythmstutters,andshetrembles,collapsingontomewithasatisfied,breathlesssigh.Thatbreathishotagainstmyneck.

Didyoufinish?sheasks,stillpanting.
Istareattheceiling.No.
Sheliftsherselfupwithasluggishgroan.Wantmetosuckyouoff? No.Youvedrainedalmost allthesemenfrommybody.Wehadsexliketentimesyesterday.
Shechuckleslikethatsacomplimentandflopsbesideme,draggingthesheetshalfwayoverherlegs.Thatsusuallyneveraproblemforyou.
GuessImgettingolder.
YouknowImgoingthroughaheartbreak,Finn,shesays.ThisishowIcooloff.
Imheartbrokentoo,youknow.
Sheturnsherhead.Heartbroken?BecauseSloaneleftyou? Idontanswer.Ipushthesheetsoff,swingmylegsoverthesideofthebed,andstand.TheflooriscoolbeneathmyfeetasIheadtothebathroom.IalreadyknowhowthisgoesDelilahbringsupSloane,andweenduparguing.Idonthavetheenergy.Nottoday.
ThelightflickersasIturniton.Ibrushmyteethinsilence,lettingthesoundofthebristlesbrushingagainsteachtoothmutethescreaminginsidemyhead.
Successfullyunlocked! Toggingtheglass.Myhandspressagainstthe Afterwards,Istepintotheshowerandturnthewateron58tilewall,headbowed,lettingthewaterbeatdown.
Afewsecondslater,IfeelherbehindmeDelilahsarmssnakearoundmywaist.
Youshouldbehappyshesgone,shesayssoftly.Youwerebeingcharitableevenkeepingheraround.
1/3 CHAPTER040HiddenCameras Lila,Ijustwanttoshowerandgettowork.
Sheleftyouforyourbrother,shesays.Thatungratefulbitch.Whycantyoujustlethergo? Ifeelherhandstarttomovedown,slidingovermystomachwithafamiliarintention.Icatchit,grippingherwrist,stoppingher.
ThenIturnaround.
IpromiseIllgetoveritsoon,Isay,eyeslockedonhers.Butforthisweek,letmegrieve.Okay? Shestepsback,lipspursed.Fine.Whileyouregrieving,Illfigureouthowtogetmyfiancéback.What? Hunter,shereplies,tossingherhair.Hesaskingfortheringback.Idontwanttogiveittohim.
Whyareyouwithmeifyouwanttogobacktohim? Shedoesntanswer.Justrollshereyesandstepsoutoftheshower,herwetbodygleamingasshepurposelyswaysherhipsonthewayout.

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Isigh,restingmyheadbackagainstthetiles.
IcantletSloanego.
Ishowerquickly,getdressed,andheadtowork.Mybodymovesonautopilot,butmymindisnowhereneartheoffice.Itsstuckonher.
Hourslaterintheconferenceroom,Iwrapupameetingwithournewestsigning,somefreshGenZrapperwhosalreadygoing viralonTikTok.Hewaslatetothemeeting,obnoxious,andclearlyhigh,butwhateverhehasafanbase,andthatsallthisindustrycaresabout.Myonlybusinesswiththekidisdoingmyjobashistalentmanager.Afterall,thatswhatthemusicproducingcompany Iworkforpaysmetodo.
Afterthekidleaves, Joeoneofmycolleaguesleansinthe doorway.
Youknowthatkidstrouble,right?Joesays,armsfolded.
GenZersloverapartistswithissues.
Thisonesgotpsychoissues.Lastyear,hisexaccusedhimofbeingastalker.Saidhehidcamerasinherbedroom.Myheadjerksup.Cameras? Yeah,butnothingwasproven.Herstorydidntholdup.Hisfanschewedheraliveonline.Youknowhowitis.Imjustsayingkeephimonaleash.And maybestirupalittlechaosbeforethealbumlaunch.Youknow.Somethingjuicyforthepress.
ButImbarelylistening.
Mybrainhasalreadyclickedintomotion.Theideaissuddenandintrusive,butitsettlesinlikeitbelongsthere.
Hiddencameras.
IblinkslowlyandturntoJoewithasmile.Thanksfortheadvice.
Hesquints.Seriously?Youneveragreewithme.
Ishrug.Theresafirsttimeforeverything.
WhatImeantosayishenevergivesanyadviceanovicewouldntknow.
Joelaughsandstartstalking again,butImalreadywalkingaway.
Imheadingoutforlunch,Itoss overmyshoulder.

CanIcome? No.
Joesalwaystryingtobecomepalswithme,buttheonlyfriendIveeverhadorwantedwasSloane.Andnowshesgone.Iwalkoutoftheofficebuildingandintotheopenair,lettingthenoiseofthecitywraparoundme.Thehumoftraffic,thehonks,thechaoticshuffleofbodiestryingtogetsomewhereitshouldallbedistracting.Butnothingisloudenoughtodrownoutthestaticinmybrain.
ImakeaquickstopatahighendsurveillanceshopinMidtown.Thekindwithalow, unassumingsignabovethedoorandachimethatsoundswhenyouwalkin.Abaldguybehindthecountereyes melikeImeitherlawenforcementortrouble.Fourdiscreetcameras,Isay.Somethingsmall.Motiontriggered,highdef.AndIwanttoviewthemremotely.
Hedoesntaskquestions.Justnodsandmovesbehindacurtain,returningwithaslim blackboxfilledwithgearandasmallinstructionmanual.
Ipayincash.
CHAPTER040:HiddenCameras Backinmycar,IstudytheguidebrieflylongenoughtounderstandwhatconnectswhereandthenIdrive.Straighttoherapartmentbuilding.Everytrafficlightisabeatofguilt.Everyturnisanotherstepofftheedge.
ButIcantstop.
IpulloutmyphoneanddialSloanessistersnumber.
Finn,Serenaanswersafterthesecondring,warinessalreadyinhertone.
Hey.HaveyoutalkedtoSloanelately? Why? Iwaswonderingifshesgoingtoyourmomsbarbecuethisweekend.
Shemight.
CanIcomeovertoo? Shepauses.Umm,youcouldjustfollowyourbestfriend.
See,thethingis…wereinthemiddleofabreak.
Sheleftyou?Shesoundsshocked.Andthen,delighted.Good.
Itsundercontrol,Isaytightly.
Uhhuh.Ivebeenwaitingforhertobefreeofyou.Dontruinthisbreakup,Finn.
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