Reel (Hollywood Renaissance #1)

by Kennedy Ryan

“He did love you.” Terry’s bitter laugh sounds like it hurts. “Everyone did.” “So you decided to take everyone away from me? Or was that just an added bonus?” “Nobody told your ass not to come home.” “And look at you with him? Look at Quianna, knowing she was the result of you betraying me? The first time I saw her, I had to lock myself in my old room I was crying so hard. Not because she was a reminder, but because she was so beautiful.” Tears spring to my eyes and I bite my lip to keep it from trembling. “She looked just like you, and I was angry I couldn’t just love her, just be her auntie without all of this between us.” “You can,” Terry says more softly. “She barely knows you, but she wants to be just like you. She’s in every school play. Sings like she breathes.” “Reminds us all of you,” Mama adds, smiling and sitting back down to pick up her knitting. “She does?” I ask weakly. “I told her I was coming out here about your kidney and she wanted to come, but she has exams,” Terry says. “We, um, haven’t been getting along lately. Not since she found out why you never come home.” I recall her stricken expression, her anger in the kitchen when she overheard us arguing. “I’m sorry she had to find out that way,” I say. “So she never knew about Brandon and me?” “What was I supposed to say? I stole your daddy? I almost got rid of you because I didn’t want to lose my sis…” She doesn’t finish the thought, but I can see how saying even part of it affects her. Her lips tremble an...