Chapter 18
Ali Kat
“I’m about to lose my shop. I got no credit, therefore, I can’t get myself an apartment. Heck, even if I could, I wouldn’t be able to afford the rent. I mismanaged my expenses something terrible. My parents are angry…can’t say I blame them. Irene’s the only one who believes in me. Ain’t none of my decisions pan out.”
As I sit in the passenger seat of Garrett’s Mustang, I can’t help but feel like I’ve been a self-absorbed asshole. This whole time, I had thought I was some conquest of his that he had just casually discarded. The reality of it is that he was trying to erect walls, not to protect himself, but to protect me.
I’ve never really had to erect walls because I’ve always known what the men I’ve dated want. A piece of Ali Kat Carter.
Throughout his confession, I find myself growing even more smitten with him. Something about his vulnerability—his honesty—is refreshing. A man from Hollywood would never dream of telling a girl his financial woes. He’d merely put the date on his card and rack up debt.
Garrett lets me know exactly what I’d be getting myself into.
And honestly, with a tongue like his, I don’t give a fuck what his deficit is.
“Now, I have to deal with the fact that I betrayed the man that took me in and the brother I never had.”
“You don’t have to worry about them.”
He cuts me a hard glare. “Like hell, I don’t! They deserve to know the truth, and I’m no coward. I just can’t stand the thought of dragging you into this.”
“My mother already knows. She could give two fucks. Jake probably knows.”
Garrett’s eyes bulge.
“And it’s none of my father’s business. I’ll tell you the real worry I have, and that’s Prim.”
He shakes his head. “This is bad. Real bad.”
“Only if you want it to be. I’m a grown woman who is capable of deciding who I want to fuck, thank you very much.”
Garrett exhales a ragged breath. “This is just another bad decision.”
“Bad decision?”
“My life’s full of them.”
“Your life is full of them? Your life isn’t full of bad decisions. It’s full of tragedy. You lost your scholarship trying to save a kid—that makes you a hero. You bought a shop and had to take out loans to put your girlfriend through rehab—”
“How’d you know about that?”
“Irene, but that’s beside the point. You’re a damn good man, Garrett. I’m sorry if I’m your bad decision, but you’re probably the best decision I’ve ever made.”
Garrett’s brow furrows. “How do you figure?”
“Do you think Hollywood men are pleasant? They’re spoiled, entitled little pricks that think they’re God’s gift to women. And normal run-of-the-mill men are just so fake when they’re with me, trying to be who they think I want them to be. You just…filled this void in me. I don’t know how to describe it. You make everything better.”
“How did we get so tangled up?” Garrett asks.
“Maybe we were meant to be…tangled. Maybe you’re meant to heal my wounds, and I’m meant to heal yours.” I put my hand on his thigh. “Let’s lick each other’s wounds, literally and figuratively. Wait…that didn’t sound how I had wanted it to.”
Garrett licks his lips. “And then you up and go back to LA?”
“Is that so bad? Two friends helping each other get through some shit.”
“You’re Ali Kat Carter—America’s freakin’ Sweetheart! And I’m…well, I’m nothing.”
“And buried under this persona, I’m still just a flesh and blood woman—with needs,” I emphasize. “Needs that you’re quite good at satisfying.”
