I’d hightailed it up there, and then she’d refused to come home and sleep it off. We were moments away from the incident ending up in the tabloids, and Mom accusing me of failure once again. All I’d wanted was to make a life away from politics at that point.
“You’re here just like me. Because you’re afraid,” she’d had the nerve to say to me. Maybe it was the alcohol infusing her with confidence, but she didn’t stop. “You want to do what you want, but you’re afraid of Mom. Of her look. You know, the one where she eyes you like she’s going to fillet you right then and there.”
Billy wasn’t wrong; my mom had perfected the look. But— “I. Am. Not.” I spat the words out. “I already have a deal on a screenplay. I need to go back and fucking make it,Willa.” I said her full name through gritted teeth.
I’d bought a screenplay from a friend at Georgetown and didn’t give a fuck about not having a production company behind me. I’d figure that out in Los Angeles. I was reckless and brash—not afraid. I’d buy a company or use my connections; they had to be good for at least one measly thing.
“Mostly you’re afraid of James. She’s beguiled you all your life, and you act like she’s nothing more than your bestie. You’re in love with her, and you’re running…as far from her as you can.”
“Shut up,” I told her, the Paris wind whipping around us, Billy’s hair flying in her face.
I convinced myself she was listening to me when she went slack in my arms, and I helped her down and home. She didn’t say another word until I’d tucked her in bed.
“She loves you too,” she murmured.
I put those words in a nonexistent lockbox and stacked it on a high shelf. As the son of my parents, I couldn’t love James. That son was charged with civic duties and being in the public eye, even if he left the district.
I had to make a man out of myself, and then maybe, just maybe, I could love her the right way. That was what I fooled myself into believing, but it never happened.
Problem was, I became a man a long time ago, and never followed through with my conviction.
“Thanks, Kellan.” I spoke over the phone to a fraternity friend of mine. I hadn’t gone into too many details with him other than it was urgent, and I wasn’t in the mood to deal with current connections. I knew Kel would keep my favor quiet.
“Do you need a return trip?”
“No, I’ll handle those details once I take care of my business.”
“No problem, man. Anytime I can help a brother, especially you. By the way, I saw a pic of your friend from G-town. What was her name again? A guy’s name. You two used to be tight. She was always hanging around. I see she’s still doing it…hanging around. I don’t mean that in a bad way, man. She was good for you. Grounded you in a way you didn’t or couldn’t see. Glad to see she’s still around.”
“James. Her name is James, and I asked her to be there. In Hawaii with me,” I said, knowing he saw the picture of her with Bella. “She wasn’t only hanging around,” I further clarified.
Decades ago, James did hang around, but I didn’t mind. The mistake was all mine. I didn’t get why I didn’t mind her loitering. Young, dumb, and naive, I allowed myself to walk away from the best and brightest spot in my life. Not this time.
“That’s cool, man. Like I said, we always thought there was more there, but no one could tell you. You were Ford Conway, royalty, and all that.” Kellan spoke his mind.
“Hardly royalty, but thanks for the plane and the well-wishes. You were always one of the honest guys. Liked that about you then. Like it even more now.”
“Look, I’m still just a hot-blooded man. Hope it all works out with you two because Bella Dash is beautiful, but it seems like she’s doing you dirty. No one wants that for you.”
I knew he spoke from the heart. Bella was gorgeous but not a good person. I deserved more—
I laughed, because if I didn’t, I’d punch a wall over Bella potentially ruining my chances with James…and Kellan was doing me a huge favor. It wasn’t every day you could find someone to loan you a large-sized jet capable of flying close to ten hours without stopping.
“I hope you get to meet James as adults soon, cool?” That was what I came up with rather than explain Bella and I were never actually together. The media portrayed what it wanted, and fighting it was often a futile effort.
“For real? That would be great. Would love to sit down and shoot the shit with the two of you.”
“Sure.” If Kellan Bruns, CEO of his family’s aerospace company, was into hanging with James, I’d make that happen.
“I’ll let you know the next time I’m out in the City of Angels.”
“Sounds like a deal.”
“Okay, I’ll take that as my cue. The jet will be waiting for you in Kauai.”
“Thanks again.”
I swiped the phone and leaned back in my deck chair.
