Page 14 of Last Chorus

My brow furrows. “What does that mean?”

Martin shakes his head like he either doesn’t have an answer or can’t tell me. He clears his throat. “I stashed her in a bedroom and told her I’d look for Clay. But I don’t see him. Do you?”

Confusion deepening my frown, I turn and scan the throngs of people. I haven’t seen Clay at all tonight. While wandering the party, I was half-expecting him to appear and try to get me to leave. I can’t say I’m not glad I’ve avoided him so far, but…

My gaze snaps back to Martin. “What are you getting at?”

His jaw firms. After a few seconds of internal struggle, he says tensely, “He went inside before you got here.I didn’t see him in the house, which means he’s probably in a different bedroom.”

“What—” I start, then stop as the words click. Rage unfurls under my skin. “He’s cheating on her at a party they’re attendingtogether?”

Martin gives an agitated shrug. “Even if he isn’t, he’s still the piece of shit who threatened to end my career if I didn’t quit working for Glow. More to the point, he’s a toxic asshole who doesn’t deserve Eva.”

Reeling, I open and close my mouth a few times before managing to speak. “Does Eva know? About him threatening you?”

Martin shakes his head. I’m somewhat relieved until he says, “I’ve been where she is—with a partner like him—and knew there was no point in telling her. That’s not to say I didn’t try early on to get her to dump his ass. The red flags were waving from the beginning, if you know what I mean.”

Cold snakes down my spine. “I don’t, actually.”

His eyes probe mine. “Do you still care about her the same way you did when you gave that talk?”

“Yes,” I say without hesitation.

His sad smile makes me think he can see the fractured heart beating in my chest. “I figured when I saw the way you looked at her tonight. You’ve got the whole broody, pining thing down pat.”

I huff a humorless laugh, and his gaze shifts to the lights of downtown.

“I’m ashamed to say it took me a while to see what was happening. Clay is really good at camouflaging control as care. Better than my ex, that’s for sure. But after months of perfect behavior, he started slipping up when I was in the room. Making comments about her diet, clothing, who she was spending time with.”

“What the fuck,” I whisper, but Martin doesn’t seem to hear me, his gaze turned inward.

“Eva started second-guessing herself over the littlest things. Withdrawing from me, from Lily and Rye, and relying on Clay’s opinion for everything.” His haunted eyes find mine. “She doesn’t see it because she can’t. He spun his web around her so slowly she didn’t notice, and now she’s wrapped up tight. Dependent on him. I don’t know what to do.”

Mud replaces blood in my veins, making my heartbeat sluggish. I stare at the lights of downtown, wavering like a mirage—like my entire reality.

This is a lot fucking worse than I thought. Than Lily and Rye thought. And Sophie and Matt’s distress suddenly makes a lot more sense.

“I just spoke to Lily and Rye a few days ago,” I murmur. “They’re not fans of Clay’s, but they have no idea it’s as bad as you say.”

Martin hears my unspoken question. “When Clay came into the picture, Lily was about to pop out a baby. She was nesting and shit. I was around Eva a lot more.” His mouth pinches with guilt. “When I saw them in Seattle last year, before I quit, everything seemed great.Evaseemed great. I convinced myself it was all in my head, that I was projecting my own trauma onto her. And I stupidly let it go, forgetting how good these motherfuckers are at playing the long game.”

Dipping his chin, he makes a choked sound. “I didn’t even know Eva moved down here until I read it online. She hasn’t returned my calls for months. When I saw her tonight, I wanted to throw up. She looks unwell. There’s no spark in her eyes. And that dress and those heels? Come on. My Eva would never. God, I don’t know what to do.” He covers his mouth, muffling a sob.

Bouncing thoughts coalesce into a roiling mass of fear. My scalp prickles in warning right before vertigo hits. I swing forward, bracing my hands on my knees.

Breathe in. Hold. Breathe out.

Miraculously, my panic stalls at a rolling boil instead of overflowing into a full-blown attack.

“Oh God, are you okay? Shit—I’m an idiot. I was already planning on calling Lily tomorrow, but then I saw you…” He makes a shrill, distressed sound.

“I’m okay,” I grunt.

Martin pats my back. Hesitant, light taps like he’s afraid I’ll take a swing at him. The thought brings a burst of caustic hilarity, which in turn dials my anxiety down another notch.

Waving him off, I straighten my spine one vertebra at a time. When I’m upright, I dig my fingers into my hair, clenching them and concentrating on the slight burn until my mind clears.

“I’m really sorry, Wilder. I shouldn’t have dumped all that on you. Especially since?—”

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