CONNOR COBALT
Rose and I spend three days teaching Loren and Lily how to ski. They admitted to never learning during family trips. Theyโd ditch lessons to goof around, and when they reached a certain age, they replaced normal adolescent behavior with more dangerous activities. Lo would stay at a bar all day, drinking until he passed out, while Lily would sleep with anyone willing.
Daisy opted to snowboard, and even when she chose the black diamond slopes, both Ryke and Julian went with her. Savannah was the only one skilled enough to film them. I can only imagine Ryke and Julian at each otherโs throats. That episode is going to draw millions of viewers.
Scottโs the only one who stayed back at the cabin. A rarity. He usually loves tagging along, which means his tactics are changing. I donโt know what he plans to do yet, but Iโm constantly on guard.
Everyone changes out of their wet and puffy clothes by the front door. I make it into the living room first to start a fire. Lily is by my side next. I
glance back and notice Rose removing her third sweater and brushing her hair off her reddened cheeks. Lo bickers by her side as he stumbles to take off his boots.
Lily clears her throat.
Obviously she wants to talk. โYes?โ I ask.
She raises her hands to the stone fireplace to warm them. โYou really donโt love her?โ Lily blurts out.
I let out a breath. This is why I donโt tell anyone my beliefs. I have to explain myself for weeks and months just to be understood.
โItโs complicated, Lily,โ I try.
She opens her mouth to refute, but her phone jingles in her pocket. I squat and turn over a log in the flames with an iron poker.
She answers her phone after checking the caller ID. โThis is Lily.โ She frowns and then taps my shoulder quickly. โCan you talk to my lawyer?โ
I stand, and she hands me the phone, a more distressed look coating her face.
Brettโs boots thud against the floor, now changed out of his winter gear to film us from the corner.
I press Lilyโs phone to my ear. โHello?โ
โHi, this is Mark Cole from Red Hot Films. We want to make Lily Calloway an offer to star in one of our productions.โ
Porn.
This isnโt the first time sheโs been offered a role, but itโs the first time someone has called her personal phone. Usually they go through her fatherโs lawyers and managers.
โHow did you get this number, Mark?โ
โWe had a contact,โ he says, โweโre prepared to offer two million if she stars. One million if she directs, and that would be behind the scenes business. She doesnโt even have to appear on screen.โ But her name would be.
โSheโs not interested,โ I say calmly.
Lily gives me a thumbs-up and an encouraging smile.
โSheโs the daughter of a multi-billion dollar mogul. No amount of money or exposure will sway her. Stop calling.โ I hang up at that.
โThanks,โ she says as I hand her the phone. โWhenever I try to sayย no
people usually cut me off.โ
โThey shouldnโt be calling you anyway.โ
She nods like she knows this too. โI think my number was leaked. I might get a new one and give it to onlyโฆโ She counts in her head. โSix people.โ
โLo, your sisters, and your parents?โ I ask.
She shakes her head โNot my parents. You and Ryke. If thatโs okay. I just donโt really trust my parents to keep the number to themselves.โ
Itโs strange to be included in someoneโs close personal contacts. Iโm used to being on the outskirts of a network, a connection that people use if they really need one. To be so closely tied to Lily and the Calloways makes me truly realize what Iโve gained by being with Rose.
I have a family. Aย realย family. Itโs not something you can win. I didnโt manipulate a soul to get here. I have it because they like me for me.
Each day, Iโm more thankful for them. And Iโm more aware of how much I can lose.
โPerfect,โ I tell her, โso I can call and remind you to study for your tests.โ
Her eyes grow big. โWhen is my next test?โ Studying, school (even online school) seems to be last on Lily Callowayโs priority list, whereas academics have always ranked high on mine.
โTwo weeks,โ I say, having memorized her schedule when she showed it to me. I admit, itโs not completely selfless, even though I do care about Lily. I know the way to Roseโs heart is through her sisters.
Her shoulders slacken, probably glad itโs not in a couple of days.
โLily!โ Scott calls as he enters the living room. โI have something for you.โ
Brett rotates the camera to catch Scott on film.
He holds a manila envelope in his hands, large enough to contain a paperback book.
Lily frowns, as confused as me.
โI wanted to get you a little thank you gift,โ Scott explains. โThe ratings for the show these past months have been off the charts, and we all know
the success is from you.โ
After he hands her the package, she unwraps it quickly to find a DVD ofย Magic Mike.ย Unfiltered anger surges through me. Loren has expressedย multipleย times on camera that he doesnโt want Lily watching the movie, afraid it may trigger her cravings for porn, which is a major compulsion of hers.
The fact that Scott went behind his wishes is low.
By the front door, Rose and Loren continue to argue, slowly peeling off their wet outdoor clothes, not noticing what Scott has just given Lily.
To make matters even worse, Scott leans into Lilyโs ear, his hand on her arm as he whispers to her. She turns bright red, obviously uncomfortable by his closeness and maybe even his words.
I step in. โScott, leave her alone.โ I add, โAnd take your inappropriate gift with you.โ My insides twist in unmanageable knots. All I can think about is Lo. Heโs right there, by the doorway, a couch and a chair apart from us. And I know how much this is going to hurt him.
Our friendship means something to me, despite what he said at the screening party. And I have to stick up for him and for Lily.
Scott pulls back from her ear, but Lily remains flushed and motionless. A statue solidified in the middle of the fucking room. He turns to me. โItโs the perfect gift for her, actually. Sheโs been saying how much she wants to watch the movie.โ
Lily stares at the movie, tight in her grip. And after a long moment of contemplation, she pops it open and inspects the disc inside.
Scott has crossed a line. Maybe he sees this as a drama-inducing ploy, but this is beyond that. Itโs beyond just giving Lily a movie. He might as well be passing a drug addict a joint. Iโve seen the amount of porn sheโs had to trash. Iโve seen her cry at the foot of her bed until Rose consoled her.
There were three months when Lo was in rehab, when she was struggling to recover from her addiction, and she had no one but me and her sister. And we were trying the best we could to get her to stay sane, to get better.
And shit like thisโitโs how something bad starts. Oneย smallย moment can change everything.
โWe need to talk,โ I say to Scott. โAlone.โ
He obligingly follows me to his bedroom on the main floor, Brett close behind, but as soon as Scott slips inside, I shut the door. The wood almost hits the camera. I lock it, and I ignore Brettโs disgruntled look.
Two computers are sprawled on his bed. I scan everything quickly. The papers that splay on his pillow, a camera opened and on pause. I can barely make out the image on the tiny screen, but it looks like footage from the drinking game.
โWhat is it?โ he snaps. โI donโt have all day.โ He glowers like I fucked with his show.
He fucked with my friends.
But weโre not even. Iโll never be even with him.
โSay whatever you want,โ I refute, my complacency slowly and painfully leaving me. โCall me a prick, call Rose a man-hating prude. Call Lily a slut and Loren a bastard. But donโt fuck with their addictions.โ
โI gave her a movie, Connor,โ he says like Iโm being ridiculous. If Rose was here, sheโd spit in his face. โNot a dildo.โ
โYou donโt understand sex addiction. And thatโs fine. Not everyone does. But you knowย exactlyย what youโre doing. Iโm asking you nicely to stop. The next time, I wonโt be as kind.โ
Scott laughs a bitter dry laugh that spikes my irritation. โItโs funny,โ he says, โthis is the first time youโve been in my face in a while, and itโs not even for Roseโฆโ He eyes me up and down. โDoes she know youโre attracted to her sister?โ
I near him, gritting my teeth. โYou areย graspingย for drama. Literally pulling at anything ridiculous you can latch onto. Shall I educate you then?โ He opens his mouth but I donโt give him the chance to refute. โIโm secure enough inย myย relationship with Rose that I donโt bite off the cocks of men who wrong her or call her a bitch. Sheโs more than capable of biting them off herself. Iโm here, now, in your face because that girl in the living room
has no teeth.โ
Brett knocks on the door, and I hear a muffled angry yell against the wood.
I donโt take my eyes off Scott. โTheyโre addicts, Scott. You kick Rose and me down, weโre going to feel like shit but weโll get back up. You kick Loren and Lily, and they may not. This isnโt drama for television. Itโs real and painful, and if you put them in those places, you donโt need to be scared of anyone but me. I will kill you myself.โ
And I mean it.
Not because Lily is Roseโs sister. Not because Loren is my friend. But because there are some things in this world that are just wrong.
Scott nods, whether itโs sincere or not, I donโt know. โIโll take that into consideration.โย Not.
I canโt stay here. I might punch him. And hitting people is something I consider stupid. It solves nothing.
so.
I turn around and leave, passing an infuriated, pudgy cameraman as I do
In the living room, Lily is talking to Lo. โPlease. Just once. Itโs not porn,
Lo. We can even fast-forward all the dancing. I just want to watch a movie like a normal person again.โ
โWe can watch movies,โ Lo retorts. โJust not ones that might trigger your compulโโ
โMight!ย Keyword. And I wonโt! I promise!โ
His face twists in pain. Lo has told me how much he hates saying no to her, but itโs tough love heโs slowly sunk into. โLil, if I asked you for beer, what would you do?โ
โIt isnโt the same thing!โ
โIt is!โ he yells back. โAnd the fact that you donโt get that worries me.โ Silence lingers between them for a long moment before she says,
โOkayโฆโ She hands over the DVD. โLoโฆI just want to be normal.โ
He pulls her into his chest and kisses the top of her head. โI know, love.โ I step farther into the living room until Lo sees me. His eyes meet mine.
โWhere is he?โ he growls, referring to Scott. He detaches from Lily and charges forward. I put a hand on his chest.
โI talked to him.โ
Loโs eyes redden with hate and hurt. He knows what Scottโs attempting. โHe canโt fucking do this, Connor.โ
โI know.โ
Lo searches my face for whatโฆmaybe strength, comfort, reassurance. I try to give it as best I can.
โI wonโt let anything happen, I promise. He wonโt screw with your relationship or your addictions.โ Itโs a big promise. I usually only give out
ones Iโm one-hundred percent confident I can keep. This one is a tossup really.
โThank you,โ Lo says, his amber eyes full of gratitude. I see something else in them. Apologies. For doubting our friendship after the screening party. For doubting me.
It feels nice to be back in Loren Haleโs good graces. I think thatโs the thing about friends who arenโt quick to let others in.
When they do give you their friendship, it means something more.