Page 99 of Falling Into Forever
My mind is running in circles, but my body isn’t acting like every second requires a fight-or-flight reaction. I’m…content, and that makes me happier than I’ve been in years.
Dante’s hand squeezes my neck, then he pulls me to him for a kiss. “I love you, Saylor. And I’m so, so proud of you.”
Maybe I should feel guilty that something as innocuous as a barbecue is praiseworthy, but tonight, I’m taking Dante’s advice and letting theshouldsgo. And with it, I let the unrealistic expectations I have for myself go too. Instead of feeling like I should be able to do something, I’m focusing on what I can do, on how being content can truly bring me peace.
Life isn’t only about reaching for the stars—it’s about reaching for what makes you complete.
Ainsley’s silky laugh draws my attention, and my smile matches hers as I watch her.
I’m not naïve enough to think depression and anxiety won’t sink their claws into me again, but maybe, with Dante by my side, I can be better about accepting help from those who love me.
My head lolls to the right, and I watch Dante’s animated expressions as he talks and laughs with Miller. Everything in my body slows down. My heart rate is calm and steady, and my breaths come easily.
Holy shit. I’m relaxed.
It’s the last thing I remember until Dante lays me in bed.
CHAPTER27
DANTE
“Our official statement is that we’ve always been in love. But like many young adults, we made mistakes that took years to correct, and now that we have, we’ll fight to keep our love intact and private—forever,” I say. My teeth are clenched so tightly that I almost expect the enamel to crack. Kate has been busting my balls for the last two weeks.
“You’re not listening to me, Dante. Since your little family photo op, people are more convinced than ever thatApril RainandCome Septemberare your love story. And that’s good. It distracts from the crap your brother is saying and shows Sassy in a new light, especially when she’s seen with the kid. She’s always been a little reclusive, so Malimar’s bullshit was believable. But because people are interested in your story, it also means they’re curious about her mental health struggles.”
“That’s not something we’re giving up for public consumption. It’s a private war that she has every right to keep to herself.” I intentionally lower my voice so I don’t disturb Saylor in her office. “It’s a battle she fights every day. It’s not a gimmick or a sales pitch.”
Saylor’s words have been flowing, and I’ve set up a mobile office at the kitchen table. We’ve settled into a new normal without too many roadblocks, except for Trent. My fist flexes at my side every time I think of him.
“Of course it’s not,” Kate snips. “And that’s not what I’m suggesting. I’m saying that mental health still has a stigma attached to it. Sassy writes real characters who suffer from real, everyday struggles. It’s why people connect to her stories. This is an opportunity to show people that they aren’t alone, and she can address what it’s truly like to live with a mental illness instead of making donations every month or sharing links in the back of her books. It’s something she’s passionate about, meaning now is the time for her to make a difference. It’ll also help show the world that she’s not this monster Malimar is still making her out to be.”
Saylor’s mental health will never be a marketing ploy. But she’s right about one thing—Malimar. He’s making this attack personal. The gossip about someone of Saylor’s popularity should have died down weeks ago, but he’s keeping it at the forefront of everyone’s minds.
That piece of shit doesn’t like to lose, and Saylor is getting the blowback of his God complex with every dollar he spends smearing her name. But Kate still doesn’t understand what it means to live with mental illness. If she did, she wouldn’t be pushing this narrative when it’s still so fragile in Saylor’s mind.
“The answer is no. Not right now. We’re not jeopardizing her progress to fix her image. The risk is too great, and I’m not taking that chance.”
“It’s not your decision to make,” Kate hisses.
But my responsibility is Saylor, and my voice is lethal when I speak. “It is, though. It is my call. Thank you for getting me here, but your job is getting Saylor deals. My job as her PR rep is her public image, and my job as her boyfriend is to protect her, even if that means protecting her from someone who thinks she’s helping.”
Kate’s face turns molten. I’ve never seen that shade of red on anyone.
“It’s time we adjusted priorities and responsibilities.”
“Are you threatening me?” she snarls.
“No, Kate. I’m not.” Here comes the headache I get every time we talk. Rolling my shoulders, I tame the tightness in my tone. “We’re on the same side here. And I know, even if you don’t admit it, that you care for Saylor. We can work together toward the same goal, but you have to let me do my job and stop stepping on my toes.”
She pinches her nose and rests against her chair. “I do care about her,” she says. Her tone isn’t one I’ve heard before. She almost sounds human. “I’ve always cared. It’s what her sister would have wanted.”
This surprises me, and I lose the edge in my voice. “You knew Shannon?”
She nods. “We were roommates in college before she went home to care for the girls. She was the only fr—she was a good friend. She did a lot for me. I owe it to her to make sure Ainsley and Sassy are okay.”
Now it all makes sense. I’d wondered how they met but kept forgetting to ask.
“I get that, I do. We are on the same team here, Kate.” I hope she can hear the sincerity in my tone because anyone who loved Shannon is someone Saylor needs in her life.
