Page 68 of Let Me Win You

“Shaun.” Jess smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. The expression in them was troubled.

Maybe it wasn’t the best time for me to speak to her now. Maybe I should wait until after the challenge. But I couldn’t help the feeling that I shouldn’t have waited at all. I had kept silent for days to spare my friend’s feelings, but now, I couldn’t stand to keep the truth away from her any longer, not even for another moment, because lying by omission was still lying, even if it was done with the best intentions.

Before Shaun came close to hear us, before he got another chance to place his lying lips on my best friend’s mouth, I spoke up.

“Jess, he’s been cheating on you,” I blurted out the words that had been burning on my tongue ever since I’d found out about the cheating son of a bitch myself.

Her breath tripped, but she didn’t seem as shocked as I would’ve expected.

“Did you know?” I asked.

“Well…” She rubbed her throat as if trying to help her words pass through a lump lodged inside. “People talk. It doesn’t mean it’s true.”

“Not just any people, Jess.” I took her hand in mine, with her fingers feeling as cold as icicles. “I’m not repeating any rumors by someone else here, though there are many. But he propositioned to me last week.”

“You?” Tearing her eyes away from the lying asshole coming our way, she stared at me with a pained expression.

“He was shocked that a ‘fat, ugly chick’ like me turned down someone like him because he gets lots of “hot ones” whenever he wants. He also said he was confident I’d never tell you because I’m too kind and I love you too much to hurt you. Those were his exact words, Jess. And for a while, I was afraid to tell you because I didn’t want to upset you. But I think you’ll be hurt much, much worse if you stay with him. He’s bad news. And you deserve so much better.”

“Babe!” Shaun leaped from the bottom stair of the first row of seating and ran to us. “You look fantastic on TV. I told you, you were born for this. I bet there’ll be lots of offers coming our way now. We’ll be rich! Anyone who sees this ass?—”

He swung his hand to give her a slap on the rump, but she caught his wrist before his palm touched her body.

“We need to talk,” she said, visibly composed, but I could tell by the trembling of her fingers and the hard set of her jaw that she was hurting inside, and it was because of what I had said.

Doubt slithered into my chest, bringing along a bitter taste of regret.

Maybe I should’ve taken my time with this?

Maybe things would’ve still worked out between Jess and Shaun, somehow?

Maybe he could’ve changed?

“Talk about what, babe?” He seemed confused, batting his eyelashes at her innocently.

As she turned toward the glass doors out of the studio, however, he shed his innocent expression like a wolf would slip out of a sheep’s clothing. The glare he tossed my way was filled with hatred but also with a hint of surprise. He had honestly believed that I wouldn’t tell her.

Shaun had thought that my kindness was my weakness, that it would stop me from telling the truth to my friend. And now, I realized that my reluctance to be honest with her actually was making me the accomplice to his lies.

All my doubt disappeared, as did the regret. I was no longer sorry that I spoke up. I was glad I did. My only regret was that I hadn’t done it sooner.

“Nicole!” Geoff hurried to us from a side entrance for the crew. “I’m so sorry! Did I miss it?”

He looked devastated in more ways than one. His shirt wasn’t tucked in properly. His pants were missing a belt. And his bright orange hair hadn’t seen a brush or a comb today.

Invi arrived with two bottles of water for Jess and me. Spotting Geoff, he positioned himself between me and him.

“Are you alright?” I asked Geoff as he propped his hands on his knees, bending over to catch his breath.

“I tried…” he squeezed between the short, shallow gasps for air. “I tried to make it here this morning, but I…” He scraped a hand down his face, making me worry in earnest.

“Geoff, what happened?” I placed a hand on his shoulder.

With a low growl, Invi moved even closer, trying to wedge an arm between Geoff and me.

“Invi.” I brushed him off. “I need to find out what’s going on. We’re okay, Geoff. We found a temporary replacement. But where have you been?”

“I…” Geoff began again. “I was locked in a utility closet in the hotel.”

---