the world that orbited Chloe Adams. He had built it for her. He managed her social media, ghostwrote the witty captions that her millions of fol

ined with Brody Hayes' s. Brody, a chiseled star from some forgettable reality show, smiled a smile

g through the noise, "Brody and I are so, so

dull ache of being on the outside of a moment he had helped create. He had spent the entire week

found his across the room. She beckon

oving with a practiced obedience h

ce him to Brody. "Now that Brody' s here, and with th

elicate sip

find your own spotlight,

even years of his life, his talent, his unwavering loyalty, dismissed in a sin

tion, how he could continue to serve her from a greater distance. That was his role. He was Ethan, Chloe' s devoted childhood friend, her numb

d expectation. They were waiting for the familiar nod, the quiet

el their collective gaze urging him to smooth things over,

, a thing he thought had

Etha

liced through the celebrator

er died in people' s throats. Chloe' s smile

tence. Heads turned. Everyone stared, their eyes wide with dis

d to ripple thr

ust say no

wrong wi

er done tha

vanished, replaced by a cold, sha

d no, C

proprietary arm around Chloe' s waist. He gave Ethan

nk you' ve had a little too much to drink. Chloe' s just saying i

ng. "Ethan, don' t be a child. Just go get me

rt to the old patterns. For a moment, Ethan' s mind did a quick, reflexive check. He felt for the fami

und n

to live was just a hollow space, co

nd unfamiliar. It was freedom. A small, genuine smil

tting you a d

y or defiant. It was

"I' m just done. Done writing your posts, done composing your jingles, done

The mask of the gracious influencer was gon

ssed, her voice a low, strangled w

for a way to regain control. Her eyes darted a

. "If you' re going to be like this, then I' m leaving. I'

ed. The fear of her absence, of her disapprova

ssed, expecting him to p

lock the door, and sleep for twelve hours straight. Ma

und none. Her own panic began to build, a storm gathering beh

-