Page 158 of Love Unwritten

I text Julian about the request.

JULIAN

No.

ME

Please?

JULIAN

Everyone knows I can’t stand him.

ME

Exactly why he wants your endorsement.

ME

I wouldn’t be asking you for this if I didn’t need him.

The dots appear and disappear twice before his next message pops up.

JULIAN

I could help you.

ME

Help me by saying yes?

His text pops up a couple minutes later.

JULIAN

For the record, this is a terrible idea.

ME

But you’ll do it?

JULIAN

Yeah. I will.

My throat feels thick with emotion as I pull up the other text thread and reply.

ME

We’re in.

LORENZO

I’ll be in touch.

Today’s meeting with the lawyer not only filled me with anger about Ellie’s situation but it also made me curious about the songs that were stolen from her.

Rather than support Ava by streaming the music, I pull up the lyrics for each one and read them instead. One in particular called “Half Truths” catches my attention because of the lyrics that craft a story about a person who struggles to be honest with themselves and those they love.