Page 16 of Always a Chance
Johnny’s gaze snapped up in a scathing rebuke. “It’s a seizure, Talia, which she gets. We only call if it lasts too long. Just let us handle it.”
Time ticked by at a snail’s pace as I stood helpless to protect my sister. My dad hadn’t looked to me for help, and Johnny knew what to do without being asked. If I’d been here over the years… if I’d been with her…
After what felt like an eternity, Gianna’s shaking stilled. A moment later, she let out a whimper.
“You’re okay, honey.” Dad pulled her into his lap.
“Just under two minutes,” Johnny said.
“Good.” Dad brushed a hand over Gianna’s braids. “Let’s get you home, okay?”
She nodded against him. “I’m sorry I ruined the night.”
My heart broke at her words, and I blinked back tears. I spent so long running from my own problems in Gulf City, being selfish in my guilt, and she’d needed me.
Once Dad had her back in her chair, the two of them went for the doors. I pulled out my credit card to take care of the bill, but Johnny was already dropping cash on the table.
“You don’t have to—”
“It’s fine.”
“But—”
“Talia, just let it go.”
So, I did. But how much would I have to let go of before I could live with myself again?
9
JOHNNY
No.
A one-word email from my agent. That was never a good sign. Just no. I’d sent a lengthy email about wanting to do an interview myself for once. Even if the publisher wanted Sheryl to be there. We could claim she had a throat problem, and I needed to do the talking. Then, the publisher couldn’t get angry I broke my contract.
Yes, they put all of these lies in the contract. What a load of crap.
So, I did the only thing I could: texted the only people who’d let me sit and not ask questions. Who was I kidding… They’d ask all the questions. But I didn’t have to answer them. I had spent years completely hiding my career from them, after all.
Opening the group sibling chat, I sent one word.
Johnny:SOS
Before anyone responded, Aidan walked in, laptop balanced on one hand. “Box came for you this morning.” He set his computer on the coffee table and threw himself onto the couch beside me.
“I saw.” I rubbed my eyes, thinking of everything I had to do for the upcoming release. Really, I just wanted to write, to meet the deadlines for the next book. I should be grateful they already bought that before the current release at all, but sometimes it was hard to find gratitude for the company forcing me into this lie.
“Tip sheets?” he asked.
I nodded, already feeling phantom pains in my hand that mimicked how I’d feel after signing thousands of them. They’d bind them into a select number of books. It was part of the job.
“Aidan.” I settled back against the cushions, trying to figure out how to broach the subject. I might be the man behind the words, but this was Aidan’s career too. From dealing with publicity to plotting the novels, he had just as much to lose. “Do you ever wonder if any of this is wrong?”
“Wrong?” He wasn’t an idiot. I knew he’d thought of it too. “The writing?”
“No, that part is never wrong.” I didn’t care what anyone said. Some people claimed men shouldn’t love romance, let alone write it, but it spoke to me. The hope. The joy. “Even when I’m blocked, I know this is what I’m supposed to be doing. It’s the lies…”
Aidan was quiet for a long moment. “It’s been wrong from the day they asked it of you.”
