Page 119 of The Twisted Beats

Bren:Yeah, but are you sure they’re really from him?

Me:Yes. They’re from his phone and between Faith and him. They started a year ago and ended last night.

Bren:Don’t be so quick to believe what you saw.

Me:Why do you say that?

Bren:After our show, I got a bunch of messages from him, and he swears on his dad’s grave that they’re not from him. You saw my text that he lost his phone, right?

Me:It doesn’t matter. The messages before last night prove he’s lied to me on more than one occasion.

Bren:How’s your anxiety?

Me:Fine. Mom made me take my medication before she showed me everything.

Bren:Good. Sleep well but think about hearing Cash out. Even if you don’t believe it, I know he loves you. I’m with him all the time and he doesn’t cheat on you.

Me:Night, Bren.

I make it out of bed and to the kitchen a little after noon. There’s a note on the island from my mom and dad saying they went to a movie and then they’re going to drive down the coast for an early dinner to enjoy a day alone.

They try to be sweet with each other and take time out of their busy schedules to make the other feel important, especially after my mom has to handle a situation surrounding me. As happy as I am for them, my insides sink at the thought.

Callum could’ve left that party and come looking for me even if he didn’t have a phone. It’s just a reminder that his life as a rockstar is more important than me. And why shouldn’t it be? Just like everyone says, we’re young.

Once I’ve made breakfast, I sit and eat while I scroll through my phone. I rarely go to the gossip sites, but my statement went out this morning. Since my mom isn’t here, I want to know what’s being reported.

Bren slides onto the stool next to me. “Did you make enough eggs and bacon for me?”

“Yes. I knew the smell would lure you out of bed.”

“So it was a planned attack on my sleep.” He gets up and strolls over to the stove. “I’ll remember that for the future.”

“What? That I like cooking for my brother?”

“No.” He fixes himself a plate. “That you would rather disrupt my rest than be by yourself.”

If only he knew how true that statement was. I woke up feeling lost and missing Callum, but I’m confused. Nothing makes sense even though I’ve seen enough to know Callum has lied to me.

Bren sits next to me and digs into his meal. “Damn, I needed this. The only thing that’s missing is some toast.”

“If you let me finish, I’ll make you some.” I push my foodaround, knowing I’m not going to eat much more. My appetite is almost gone. I’m nauseous and devastated.

“Deal.” Bren shoves a piece of bacon in his mouth.

The door alarm chime goes off, indicating someone has entered the house.

I glance at Bren. “Any idea who that could be?”

He shakes his head, but Callum makes his presence known before Bren can swallow his food.

Callum marches into the kitchen with crazed eyes and slams a cheap gossip newspaper down in front of me. “Is this the reason you put out that shitty statement today?”

I pull back as my heart jumps out of my chest. “What are you talking about?”

He shoves the paper my way, breathing erratically. I peer down at it. The front cover shows photos of Tony and me laughing as we ride around in the golf cart.

There’s another picture kind of stacked on top of that one. I’m holding on to him as he leads me into the hotel, and the final one is an image of me kissing his cheek as I’m opening the door to the hotel suite.