Chase's POV
Three fingers of scotch sit untouched in the glass in front of me when the headline hits my phone, glowing up at me like it's been waiting all night for the right moment to ruin it.
STERLING'S EX, SNUBBED AGAIN: Vivian Ashford spotted in tears outside major studio after losing out on breakout role.
A photo comes attached. Her, mid stride, sunglasses shoved up into her hair instead of hiding her eyes the way they're supposed to, mascara tracked down one cheek in a dark, ugly line. It's the specific kind of unguarded that only happens when a person believes no camera is watching. I zoom in without meaning to, the way you press a bruise just to confirm it still hurts, and something in my stomach drops at how small she looks in that frame, how far she seems from the girl I used
