Chapter 5
June realized that Curtis had never told me the truth about who he was.
She wanted to scream at him that I was married to his brother.
But she didn't dare.
Curtis was an illegitimate child, and ever since he was little, he had to compete with Julius for everything.
That was why he had wanted June so badly. She had loved Julius first, and he couldn't stand to lose anything to him.
If Curtis ever found out that the woman he had been toying with had ended up choosing Julius, she couldn't even begin to guess how he'd react.
She didn't dare to take that risk.
So she played along with Curtis's lie. "My family is paying for his tuition. You got a problem with that?"
"Nope," I replied.
I smiled and shook my head. "You're the one who stole my lead role, after all. What would a nobody like me ever have to say about it?"
Maybe it was guilt, but Curtis stepped forward and tried to grab my hand.
He said, "Kaylee, I met this guy while I was out delivering food. He's planning to start a dance troupe. If you're interested, I could introduce—"
"No thanks," I interrupted.
I pulled my hand away and walked into the clinic.
"We're broken up, Curtis. Stay away from me. I never want to see you again," I said.
If Curtis had ever been good at listening, he wouldn't be himself.
He sent June, who had come to the hospital for an irregular period checkup, away.
He tagged along as I headed to the hotel.
I had planned to stay at the Bernard estate, but with him following me, I'd had to book a hotel room at the last minute.
When Malia asked, I told her I was staying with some old friends, that I wanted to catch up with them after being away for so long.
She didn't ask any more questions, just told me to get some rest and not to be late to the birthday party the next day.
Curtis kept knocking on my hotel room door.
After other guests complained, I asked the hotel staff to kick him out.
But he must've slipped the staff some cash, because he never left. He sat outside my door all night.
All night long, he sat there like a dog that had been abandoned by its owner.
He mumbled the same things over and over through the door.
He mumbled, "Kaylee, I'm so sorry. I never should have been mad at you. Please don't leave me. I'll be good, I promise."
I put in earplugs and slept through the night.
When I opened the door the next morning, Curtis, who had been leaning against it, fell to the floor.
"Kaylee, you finally talked to me," he said.
He tried to say more, but his phone buzzed.
It was probably Malia, calling to tell him to come home.
Curtis grabbed my shoulders. "Kaylee, I have to go take care of something, but I'll be right back. Wait for me, okay?"
I smiled and replied, "Alright."
We'd be seeing each other soon enough, anyway.
*****
I returned to the Bernards' residence first. Malia arranged for someone to do my makeup and got me dressed in a pricey gown.
I stood in a shadowed corner on the second floor, watching Curtis mingle with the guests downstairs.
A group of women had crowded around him, but June pushed them out of the way and grabbed his hand.
The other women left, looking annoyed.
I had no idea what the two of them were talking about.
Curtis kept looking down at his phone, clearly in a foul mood.
Meanwhile, my phone kept lighting up with notifications.
He wouldn't stop sending me messages.
Curtis: [Kaylee, I'm out delivering food right now. Is there anything you want to eat? Once I finish this order, I'll bring something back for you.
[You're still at the hotel waiting for me, right? Please don't leave. I'll be back soon, I promise.
[Kaylee, I might be running late. My coworker got into a car accident, and I have to take him to the hospital right now.]
I stared at his back.
I just found it funny.
Not a single word of it was true.
How long had I let myself be fooled by his lies?
Finally, Malia stepped up onto the stage to announce Curtis's birthday celebration.
The guests sang happy birthday, and Curtis made a wish and blew out the candles.
As he wished, June stepped forward, her eyes bright with hope.
"Curtis, you used to say that every year, your birthday wish was for me. Is it still for me this year?" she asked.
Curtis froze for a second, then a slow, lazy grin curled at the corners of his mouth.
"Of course. Anything you want, I'll get it for you. Even if it's a star from the sky," Curtis replied.
"Alright," she replied.
June took his hand. "Curtis, I don't want any stars.
"All I want is you."