Page 102 of Risk

“Think of the publicity that will get you,” I say at her empty threat.

“Mason,” my dad frowns. “Maybe you should—”

“Is this my life or yours?” I stare down at my mother. “Answer me. Is this life I’m living mine or yours?”

The fact that she can’t quickly answer is answer enough.

“I’m not property to own. I’m not a stock to trade. I’m not a chip to bargain with. I made my own success and I’ll live my life how I see fit. Maybe one day, you’ll be happy for me. Maybe you never will. But you’ve lost me.” I stare at her, unblinking. “Don’t lose Grace and Jackson, too.”

Holding Leah’s hand, I slip past my brother and leave.

All eyes are on us. The night is completely ruined. I never wanted the game to go this far. There is no winner here. Maybe that’s a lesson I had to learn so I can move forward.

I eventually find my friends standing guard by a restroom door. “Nicole in there?”

“Yeah,” Landon says. “And she’s a fucking mess.”

“Let me talk to her.” Leah lets go of my clammy hand and pushes the door open.

Once it shuts, the adrenaline pumping in my veins starts fading and exhaustions sets in.

Landon’s eyebrows shoot up to his hairline. “Think we’re blacklisted now?”

Kerrington is the first to laugh, and it thaws some of the ice forming in my veins.

Running a hand through my hair, the tightness in my chest lifts a little. “Yeah. I think that did it.”

The bridges are burning. It’s over.

Chapter 31

Leah

Nicole desperately attempts to fix her mascara, but the more she wipes, the worse it gets. “For Pete’s sake, how many layers did my makeup artist put on me tonight?”

“Here.” I wet some napkins and hand them over. “Maybe blot?”

Her hands tremble and my heart cracks for her. What happened on that stage wasn’t only dramatic, it was traumatic. I can’t wrap my head around it, honestly.

Nicole side eyes me. “You’re lucky.”

“I know.”

“Mason’s…” She shakes her head. “He’s going to love you with all he’s got. And he’s got a lot.”

I don’t think she’s talking about his money. “I know. And I’m going to do the same for him.”

Nicole tosses the napkins on the sink, her gaze fixed on mine in the mirror. “I believe you.”

I don’t care if she believes me or not.

The door flies open and Grace slips in. “Oh my god, are you okay?”

Nicole’s chin trembles. “Please don’t be mad at me.”

Grace hugs her tight. “Aw honey, I could never be mad at you.”

“I just ruined our families.” She sniffles again. “But I can’t marry Jackson. I can’t.” She holds Grace tighter. “It was bad enough to almost have to marry Mason.”