The Act

•10•

I ushered Amara into the next available on-call room before she could start freaking out. Closing the door behind us, I planted myself in front of it and flipped on the light. I watched as Amara paced the length of the room, her hand over her mouth. Ever few seconds she'd stop, look at me, shake her head and start pacing again. This went on for about five minutes until I started to feel myself going crazy.

"Say something," I spoke.

"So, you and Damien are...together." Amara stated, turning to face me. I nodded my head, not trusting my voice to deliver my line. "You're the 'mystery girl'? For how long?"

I shrugged. "It's a new...development."

"How new is 'new'?"

"A few days," I mumbled, switching my gaze to my feet.

"A few days?" Amara asked. "You've been dating Damien Foster for a few days and you didn't tell me?"

"Would you keep your voice down," I hissed. The walls in the hospital are only so thick and I don't need the entire workplace knowing who I'm dating. "You're not the only person I didn't tell."

"So, let me get this straight, your dating Damien Foster and you thought it was a good idea not to tell your twin sister?" Amara stated. Well, when she puts it that way it sounds ridiculous. "Avery, we thought you'd never date again. Not after..."

"Please, don't." I breathe. "Don't say his name."

Sympathy filled Amara's eyes as she unfolded her arms, letting them fall to her sides. "You have to tell Emery."

"And I will," I nodded. This was never something I wanted to keep a secret forever. "Soon."

"Wake up," Emery demanded, flinging my door open. I let out a groan as it crashed against the wall. Turning onto my stomach, I pressed my head further into my pillow. She'd climbed on my bed and grabbed one of my spare pillows. She brought it down, whacking me on the back repeatedly. "I won't stop until you get up. We need to talk."

"No," I moaned. Rolling over on my side, I shot my sister the dirtiest look I could muster. "We don't. Now get off and get out."

"Why didn't you tell me you're dating Damien Foster?" She questioned. I froze, silently contemplating whether I should plead the fifth. "And before you deny it, I have sources saying they witnessed you and Damien share an intimate moment in the E.R."

I let out a sigh. She was going to find out sooner or later. I just would've preferred the latter. Rolling onto my back, I placed my hands under me and pushed myself up into a sitting position. I could tell by the look on Emery's face that she wanted to be the understanding sister, but part of her was hurt I didn't tell her sooner. "It was hardly intimate."

"Yet, you didn't tell me, Avery," She stood up from her spot on my bed and walked to the foot of my bed before letting out a scoff. "Don't get me wrong, I'm glad your dating again. After everything that's happened, you deserve to be happy, Avery. I just thought you would be able to tell me about it."

"It wasn't that I didn't want to tell you, Em. I just didn't know how to without you getting all overprotective or skeptical." I stated, telling her the half-truth. The full truth being: I didn't know if I could lie to your face. I shrugged. "He's just a guy, Em, and I'm just a girl."

As if on cue, we were interrupted by my phone vibrating on my desk. Emery glanced over at it, her eyes growing five times their normal size. She took the phone in her hand. "It's him."

Shoving the blankets off my legs, I stood from my bed. I reached for the phone, but Emery pulled it out of my reach. "Emery."

Smirking, she tapped the 'answer' button and held the phone to her ear. "Avery Conway's phone. How might I be of service?"

"Emery! Stop," I ordered, chasing my sister around my bed. "Give me the phone."

She ran across my bed before I could grab her. "Oh, Damien! As in the Damien my sister can't stop talking about Damien?"

"Stop talking!" I shouted.

"Yes, She here. One second, please." With that, Emery leaned across my bed, handing me the phone. I snatched the device from her and pointed to the door.

"Out."

"But–"

"Get out of my room, Emery." I demanded. Emery wore a satisfied smile on her face as she made her way over to the door, pulling it closed behind her. Letting out a huff of air, I put the phone up to my ear. "Damien?"

"Sibling drama?" He spoke into the phone. I could hear the smirk in his voice.

"This is your fault."

"How is your sibling drama my fault?" he asked with a slight chuckle.

I sat on the edge of my bed. "If you hadn't kissed me in the E.R yesterday– "

"That wasn't a kiss, Avery. That was a nudge in the right direction." Damien counted.

"Right. Okay, Damien," I replied with a roll of my eyes. I crossed my legs on my bed as I continued. "What's going on with you? You know, since the paparazzi outed you."

"My mother has insisted on meeting you," Damien announced sounding more vexed than satisfied.

Something in me bristled at his tone. "Isn't that what you wanted?"

"I mean yes, but..." Damien trailed off, letting out a sigh. "My mother likes to micromanage just about everything. I just don't want this–us–to be something she micromanages, that's all."

My heart fluttered in my chest at the word us.

"Anyway, that's not why I called," He continued. "I was wondering how you would feel about meeting my friends. We can do something else if you're not up to it, so don't feel like you have too...or...anything."

"Sure," I replied, a smile spreading across my face at Damien's rambling. "I'd love to meet your friends. Emery and Amara are dying to meet you anyway."

"Great, they can come along. How's tomorrow night after your shift? I'll pick you up."

"Works for me." I stated, trying not to sound too excited.

"I'll see you then."

"See you then." I confirmed.

With that, Damien hung up the phone and I fell back against my pillows. Staring at the ceiling, I nibbled on my fingernail.

Did I just make a date...with a billionaire?