Page 9 of Gold Rush

Which everyone is about to find out.

If they haven’t realized it already.

My sister calls while I’m walking to the subway.

I’m very tempted not to answer. I’m still processing this morning’s unexpected events. Attempting to recover some of the excitement I woke up with. This is a day I’ve looked forward to for years. Decades. Carson might have ruined our relationship, but I possess the power to keep him separate from my career.

Concern wins out. Wren hardly ever picks up her phone. Her being the one to place calls is almost as rare. Maybe another catastrophe has already struck. Isn’t there a saying about bad news coming in clusters?

I answer. “Hello?”

“Rory! Thank God you picked up. I figured you’d already be at work since showing up early on the first day is your usual thing.”

I roll my eyes even though Wren can’t see me. Truthfully, I would have been early if Mallory hadn’t stopped by. I should still arrive well before nine, but I was aiming for eight thirty. If I miss a train, I’ll be late. I quicken my pace, just in case that happens.

“I’m on my way to work,” I say. “And about to head into the subway, where I’ll probably lose any signal, so … what’s going on?”

“Why are you taking the subway?” Wren asks, sounding aghast. “Isn’t it a million degrees down there? And smelly?”

Yes, and yes.

“It’s much faster than driving. My new apartment is right by the line that⁠—”

“Whatever, whatever,” Wren interrupts. “I called to tell you … well, uh, the thing is …” Her voice trails a second time, all the urgency seeping from her tone, conveying hesitation that is very uncharacteristic for my bold sister.

She knows about Carson, I realize.

I figured, if Mallory had time to track me down, that the video was somewhat widespread. I knew people would gossip. Sex and cheating are always juicy topics. But I wasn’t expecting Wren, who’s currently in the Hamptons, to have already heard. I thought I’d have a day to process. To practice saying I’m fine to my family before they found out.

“I saw the video, Wren.”

She swears. “Someone sent it to you?”

“Mallory Marlowe stopped by this morning. She showed it to me.”

“Ugh. I never liked her.”

Wren never liked Carson either, but she’s considerate enough to not pile a told you so on top of my already-shitty morning.

“I can’t talk about this right now, okay?”

“Okay. But you’ll call me, if you want to talk? During your lunch break or something? Technically, that’s during my shift, but my manager reports to the marina manager, and that’s Sawyer. No way will he fire me.”

A muffled male voice speaks in the background. Wren laughs in response, and I smile for the first time all day.

Resolve hardens around my bruised … pride. I won’t settle for potential again. I’ll find someone who makes me as happy as my sister sounds, or I’ll remain single forever. Maybe I should get a pet. I’ve always wanted a cat.

“I’ll talk to you later, Wren.”

“All right.” Her tone is serious. “I’m so sorry, Rory. He will regret this for the rest of his miserable life.”

My throat thickens. “Thanks. Bye, Wren.”

I hang up quickly before she can say anything else, then hurry down the subway steps.

He’s waiting when I enter the lobby of my apartment building.

I thank Gavin, the doorman, for holding the door open, then continue toward the elevators.