I nod again, guilt and fury clawing at my chest. Shame because I let her go. Guilt because I didn’t stop her. And anger—at Rebel, at myself for ever agreeing to represent him. I’m pissed that I put work before her. Frustrated by the whole damn situation.
“Is she okay?” Rosie’s voice is tentative, worried.
I shrug, my head still hanging between my hands.
“I have no idea. She didn’t answer my call but she texted me late last night and so I know she made it home. Rebel claims he ditched her when she went to the bathroom.”
Rosie sits back in silence, processing.
“I dropped him as a client,” I say flatly.
Rosie’s eyes widen, and she draws in a sharp breath. “Dad’s going to be pissed.”
“I don’t give a shit.”
And for the first time in my life, I don’t care about my dad’s opinion. Don’t care about him telling me I’m going soft. Don’t care if he cares that I just fired a paying client who doesn’t usually give us much trouble.
Rosie nods and I can see that she understands. At least I’ll have one Prescott on my side when he finds out. Not that it matters anymore.
“So, what are you going to do?”
“I’ve taken care of Rebel. I need to talk to Rhiannon about pressing charges.”
“No... what are you going to do about your feelings for her?”
Head in my hands, I weigh my options. I could drive out to Brookhaven like I’d planned, show up uninvited, and hope she doesn’t shut the door in my face or tell me again that she isn’t in a place to date right now.
I could keep calling, keep leaving messages she might never return.
Or… I could do the one thing I’ve been avoiding all along. I could make a grand gesture. Be completely honest. Completely, terrifyingly honest about my fears, desires and hopes for us.
Not just tell her that I like her or that I want to give this a real shot but tell her everything.
That she means more to me than I ever planned for. That I want to be the one she turns to when things fall apart, the one she trusts to help her put them back together. I want to be the steady place she can land, the reason she breathes easier.
I want to be the person who makes her smile again. The reason she finally takes a day off, finally feels safe enough to rest. I want to protect her; give her the softer life she’s been too damn strong to ask for. I want her to feel safe to tell me the truth about why she’s working so hard to avoid her feelings for me.
Because the truth is, she’s been the only light in what’s otherwise been a dark, messy year for me.
Because I’m completely gone for her.
Because I’m in love with her.
Chapter 32 – Rhiannon
“Oh my god. Heroofiedyou!?” my cousin Natasha practically shouts, her voice echoing through the quiet aisles of our family thrift store. She’s leaned over the counter now, brown eyes wide, and completely unfiltered with her reactions.?
“Shh!” I hiss, glancing around like Rebel himself might stroll in at any second and sue me for defamation. The last thing I need is another celebrity suing me.
The store is completely empty, which is unsurprising, but my newfound paranoia makes it feel like I’m constantly being watched.
If I weren’t still so shaken up by everything that happened, I’d probably laugh because this isn’t who I am.
“Yes,” I whisper. “I had no idea. But thankfully someone saw it all happen, because I’m not sure I’d have made it out of the bathroom, let alone home.”
Natasha shakes her head, her expression dark. “I bet Gabe’s pissed.”
She reaches behind the counter and hefts up a child-sized play desk that’s recently come in. It’s hand-carved, beautifully detailed with little designs of Disney characters, and absolutely adorable.
