Rowan didn’t turn. “Too long. Honestly? It’s been years.”
But she’d never forgotten about him. She didn’t say that aloud, however.
She watched Wes another second, and the past slipped in before she could stop it.
He’d come to California once, about three years after she’d moved there. He’d been on leave from the Marines.
She hadn’t expected his visit. Hadn’t even known he was thinking about it until he showed up at her apartment, looking out of place against the backdrop of glass and traffic and noise.
She’d been thrilled to see him. But things had steadily gone downhill from there.
They hadn’t spoken since.
Rowan exhaled, pulling herself back to the present.
Naomi stepped closer, following her gaze out the window. “There’s nothing not to love about Wes, is there?”
“No,” Rowan murmured. “I guess not.”
Naomi studied Rowan as if she might say more, then she seemed to think better of it. Instead, she said, “I still can’t believe you’re actually here, Rowan. But I’m so glad you’re home.”
She smiled. “Me too.”
“Do you know how long you’re staying?”
That was a great question. She hadn’t thought any of this through. She’d just been operating on instinct.
Rowan shook her head. “Not really.”
“Well, you look tired, so I’ll give you some time to rest. Dinner is at six. Mom is with Luke right now, helping him with the kids. She’ll be here Wednesday, though. Once she hears you’re here . . . it’s going to kill her not to come right away.”
Rowan smiled. “I can’t wait to see her—and Luke and the kids. And Wyatt. And I heard Hadley was back in town also.”
“I know they’ll all be so happy to see you.”
Rowan had seen her mom more than she’d seen her siblings. Her mom was always the first to rush to be with her during any type of crisis. She’d flown out to California at least five different times—during breakups, lost movie roles, and other moments of desperation.
Rowan didn’t know where she’d be without her mom.
But even her mother couldn’t fix her current situation.
Quiet settled around Rowan after Naomi left the room.
Rowan turned from the window and pulled her phone from her pocket. She turned the device back on, and the screen lit with notifications.
Her stomach tightened as another message from Vince appeared.
We need to talk. You not being here is a problem. It’s costing us a lot of money.
Her thumb hovered over the screen.
More messages loaded.
You don’t want to make this worse.
Her chest tightened as she scrolled.
A new name appeared. Stone Phillips—her co-star.
