Page 84 (1/1)

"Actually, no," Cade said "She was very upset She does love you, you know And this is a stressful ti I wanted to do was to tell a pregnant woain"

Daphne sniffed "At least I have you"

"You don’t," Cade said "Not after today"

Her eyes widened

"I’ll always love you as a friend, Daph Always But I’ on, and I just wanted to let you know That, and I wanted to see if this was okay with you" He handed her the piece of paper he’d been writing on all night "Let me knohat you think"

She took it and scanned the first few lines, wrinkling her nose "‘I greith Daphne Petty back when she was a freckle-faced redhead who loved to take center stage In all the years I knew her, that never changed’" She dropped the paper "What’s this bullshit?"

"It’s the speech I’ to have it in the next year or so I just wanted to make sure you were okay hat I had to say about you"

The hands clasping the paper began to shake

"And since this is the last ti to see you before then, I just wanted to make sure that you approved," he said softly

"You’re abandoning me, too?" Tears poured down her face, and her hands shook as if she had a palsy "I don’t have anyone left!"

"That’s because you’ve driven theh? Partying?" His voice sounded utterly cold, even to hi

Daphne rubbed a hand over her eyes, looking childlike and very young for a ht? I hate the drugs so much I hate that I need them" Her voice beca about me" A sob escaped her throat "And everyone else hates me, too"

Poor kid For the first tienue he’d longed for Not the troubled innocent living her life on the stage She was just a young woman with a massive sense of insecurity and isolation Who didn’t knohat to do with herself Who didn’t knoho to trust

He reached out and took her hand Squeezed it "You’re sick, Daphne I say this as a friend, but you need help"

She gave a watery laugh "Not row a plant and talk aboutjoke You realize that, right? You know I scored drugs froe fan" Her o to the place to get clean"

"I’ clean," Cade said "I’ up was netic Lovely Never cruel The woman you are todaythat’s not her You call your eave one of the in fear of you" He shook his head "It’s s You need a life do-over"

"I would love a life do-over," she said, and for a moment, she sounded so wistful that his heart hurt for her "I would love to not be me anymore I’m so tired of Daphne Petty No one likes me, you know? They just like who I ahter "I knew that, and I kept telling myself I didn’t care You know? But I do care" Fresh tears spilled forth "Maybe the proble about it"

She nodded, absently staring down at their joined hands "You knowI always thought you’d be there to pick up the pieces for ot, I could always have you to fall back on Like a safety net" Her mouth curled "Safety Net Cade, there to save Daphne from herself Butyou’ve moved on, haven’t you? To Fat Marilyn"

His teht have squeezed her hand a little hard "That’s not her naht" She grimaced "I don’t even remember her real name Just that she’s fat and nice and pretty, and I kind of hate her guts for having you at theI’ve ever wanted, and she’s a wonderful person"

"You love her," Daphne said, choking on tears "She’s fat and nobody and I’m famous and thin and no one loves me"