Page 13 of Home Coming

Seen him in more than a few bar fights. Seen him lose his temper at the drop of a hat. She’d never pushed him far enough he’d gotten really angry with her—until today.

She didn’t intend to be his next assault victim.

Thank goodness she’d left her luggage outside in the hall. She cleared his apartment door, slamming it behind her and wishing she had a way to barricade it.

Luck was on her side. The elevator was still on his floor. She shoved the cage-like gate to the side, dragged her big wheeled bag inside, closed the gate and punched the button.

She didn’t breathe again until she was outside on the sidewalk, in public with witnesses and street cameras in case he did take his anger out on her.

Around the corner she pushed into a coffee shop. She peeked back outside to make sure he hadn’t seen her duck into the doorway.

He’d been so mad. She’d seen that expression on his face before but never directed at her.

Scared, she moved farther inside. All the way to an empty table in the back corner.

There she dropped the handle of her suitcase and collapsed into a chair, letting the bag on her shoulder fall to the floor.

Breathing heavily, she kept one eye on the door as fear began to be replaced with anger.

Fucker. How dare he be angry at her?Hewas the one cheating.

Okay, she had gone live—

The live!

She finally took the time to look at the cell clutched in her hand and glanced at the screen. The comments flew past. Dozens. Hundreds. All in support of her. At least the ones she read before she said, “I love you guys. I’m sorry. I’ll be back later.”

Her voice cracked as she held in tears. For the second time that day she cut her live short, punching the screen to end the broadcast with shaking hands.

Now what? Should she call Xander? He was her entertainment attorney, not her daddy. Or even her friend.

No. She was a twenty-seven year old woman. She could solve this on her own.

But right now she didn’t feel like an adult. She felt like a little girl. Without a home. Without even a friend since she’d left upstate New York and everyone she knew behind her to move to the city and try to make it big.

Her cell vibrated and she braced herself for who it might be.

Xander? Had his assistant already called him about the live and he was going to yell at her about her brand and the importance of preserving her reputation?

Or maybe it was Axel, calling to threaten her.

Heart pounding, she lifted the cell and let out a breath of relief when she saw the name on the text.

Josie Baldwin. Her old friend from home. Her best friend all through high school.

The friend she’d been pretty shitty to lately. Ignoring texts. Not returning emails.

But here Josie was, texting her now. Right when she was feeling alone and friendless. Just when she needed her most. And with an offer she couldn’t refuse.

Josie

Hey! Did you get the invite to the high school reunion this weekend? Are you going? I think it might be cool. Also if you want to stay here at my house you def can. My parents are away. It’ll be like old times!

Bailey didn’t hesitate. With her hands shaking and tears blurring her vision, she typed in a one word reply.

YES!

For the first time in a long time, she couldn’t wait to get back to upstate New York, the one place she never imagined she’d ever rush back to.

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