Page 159 of The Infiniteness of Yesterday
A second later the phone chirps with the incoming text and I switch her to speaker.
I don’t even have to click on the link from one of Hollywood’s leading gossip websites, because the photo attached to the article is damning enough.
“Oh my god.”
I drop my phone on the floor with a thump and have to scurry to get pick it up.
“Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god,” I chant. “No. No. No. This can’t be happening.”
I pace the length of the room.
How did paparazzi find us?
Even though you can’t see much, it’s obvious we’re having sex in his car, and while to the casual observer you wouldn’t be able to place the woman in the photo—anyone who knows me is going to have no doubts on the identity.
My parents are going to see this. Spencer’s parents. My sister obviously already has. Jameson. And worst of all, this is going to be out there forever for Monroe to find one day.
I stumble across the hall to the bathroom and my knees slam into the tile. Emptying the meager contents of my stomach, I hear Willa asking if I’m okay from where I dropped my phone on my way into the bathroom.
I heave until there’s nothing left in me.
Tears burn my eyes as I climb to a standing position and wash my hands and brush my teeth. All the while, Willa asks if I’m okay. I finally scoop my phone up.
“I was going to talk to Jameson today. I was going to call of the engagement. I was. I swear,” I cry. “I panicked when he proposed so I said yes and I … I never meant to hurt him.”
“It doesn’t matter what you meant,” she says softly. “This is going to devastate him.”
“I know,” I cry.
“And you’ve already hurt Spencer so much.”
“I know,” I say again.
I’ve made foolish, in the moment, selfish decisions and now I’m going to have to face the fall out. There’s no one else to blame here other than me and I know that.
“But as your sister, I have to ask, areyouokay?”
I cry harder. “No.”
If I thought I was confused years ago when I broke up with Spencer, it has nothing on how I feel now.
“Oh, Harlow,” she says softly. “I’m coming to stay with you.”
“What? You don’t have time for that. Don’t be silly.”
“You’re my sister. I’d do anything for you,” she reasons.
“I’ll be okay,” I assure her. I don’t know how true that statement is, but I don’t want my sister abandoning her studies.
I can tell I’m not doing much to assuage her, but she finally relents with, “If you change your mind, tell me, and I’ll be there as quick as I can.”
There’s a harsh knock on the door and it feels like all my blood drains from my body at the sound.
“I’ve gotta go,” I tell Willa quickly. “Love you, bye.”
The banging intensifies and I hurry to the door and swing it open. I figure it can only be one person, and my suspicions are proven correct when I find a red-eyed Jameson on the other side of the door. I’m surprised he didn’t use his key. He shocks me when he slams the open door out of my hand and shouts, “Where the fuck is he?”
He pushes past me, making for the bedroom. I quickly shut the door and run after him.
