Read Online Reluctantly Famous by Heather Leigh - Free Book Online

Mom and Dad drill Drew with
questions about his newest movie, which has been talked about as an
Oscar contender for awards season. My good luck only lasts until
dessert.
    “ Allie, Mom said you’re
not going back to B.C. next semester, is that true?”
    Seriously, if looks could kill, my brother
would be dead right now. “Mom, I asked you not to say anything.” I
know I sound whiney and petulant, but I could care less.
    “ We just care about you
dear.”
    I want to yell at my mom, to sneer and tell
her to back off. My family really does mean well, though. I’m lucky
to have people who give a shit.
    “ I know, Mom. I just… B.C.
wasn’t a good fit for me, okay?” I practically choke on the tears
that threaten to fall. Somehow, I manage to hold them back, but
barely. A ripple of guilt shudders down my body, starting on my
scalp, raising every single hair until it hits my toes. I should
tell them, lean on them, use the support they’re offering. But I
won’t. My pain shouldn’t be their burden, especially Drew. He would
outright kill Tony White, no doubt in my mind. I much prefer my
brother out of jail.
    The look on my face must be pretty horrific,
because no one presses me for more information.
    “ I’m… I’m going to go
upstairs.” Before anyone can stop me, I bolt for my room. My chest
feels tight, as if an elephant is pressing down on it, making it
hard to breathe. The only thing I can do is curl up into a little
ball on the bed and pray that it goes away.
    I must have fallen asleep, because the next
thing I know, my bed is sagging under the weight of another person,
and a hand gently rubs my back.
    “ Allie, what’s going
on?”
    Drew.
    “ I don’t know what you
mean,” I say from under the thick blankets I’ve piled on top of
me.
    “ Come up here and sit with
me. I haven’t seen you in what, a few months?”
    Reluctantly, I leave my warm cocoon,
throwing off the covers to sit with my back against the huge white
headboard of my bed. A bed bought by my brother, to fit the new
house because he wanted us safe from his fans. I laugh to myself at
the irony of it all. Drew moved us to this huge house to keep us
safe, and the second I left it, I was exposed and vulnerable.
    “ What’s so
funny?”
    “ Oh, I didn’t know I
laughed out loud. Nothing’s funny.”
    “ Then what is
it?”
    My eyes fill with tears when I see the way
Drew is looking at me. He’s worried, really worried. I hate that.
He did everything he could to protect us, but Mom is still stalked
at work and I was still attacked at school. Never in a million
years did I think my brother’s job would impact our lives so
much.
    “ I can’t tell you,
Drew.”
    “ Can’t or won’t.” His face
twists with my betrayal. “We’ve always been close, Al. Don’t shut
me out.”
    That’s all it takes to send me over the
edge. I start sobbing, great big ugly, heaving sobs. Drew gathers
me up in his arms and just holds me. Lets me cry until I’m spent,
snotty and wet and gross.
    “ I’m sorry,” I
whisper.
    “ Don’t be sorry to need
me. Ever. Are you quitting school?”
    “ I don’t know.” For some
reason, I don’t want to mention applying to pharmacy school.
Probably because I can’t take the disappointment if I don’t get
in.
    “ I’m looking for a new
assistant. Why don’t you take some time off and work with
me?”
    I smile for the first time all night. “What
happened to Kelly?”
    Drew groans. “God she was awful. I couldn’t
work with her anymore. I found out she was using my name to get all
kinds of perks for herself.” His body stiffens underneath me. “If I
can’t trust her, I can’t work with her.”
    If there’s one thing my brother is big on,
it’s trust. “Yeah, well, I can’t say I’m sad. She was a bitch,” I
scoff.
    “ I have to say I’m
surprised you feel that way. Why didn’t you say anything?” Drew’s
eyebrows are arched high, waiting for my answer.
    I shrug, which is difficult to do