Page 63 of Don’t Open Your Eyes

She put her hands up. “I’ll go, I’ll go. But you need to let Chase know that I’m not at his beck and call.”

Riggs nodded. “I understand. I’ll talk to him. I’m asking you as a favor, go this time. He trusts your opinion, and he’s going to have to decide who to get into bed with. He doesn’t have experience with these kinds of folks. You do.”

“Yeah, but not as much as the L.A. office does. He’d be better off with Ellen.”

“Like I said, he trusts you.”

“Fine. I’ll make it work.”

“Thanks.” He turned toward his computer and started typing.

“I guess we’re finished,” Annabelle muttered as she got up and left. She returned to her office and pulled up the calendar on her phone. James wasn’t going to be happy about her being gone another weekend—especially with Chase. She started to make notes on what she had to rearrange. She was still on edge because of these terrifying dreams about Scarlett, but she was beginning to think those were all about her anxiety and not any sort of warning. Instead of feeling irritated about the trip, she found she was actually looking forward to it. The weather was getting colder here, and the sun was hardly making an appearance. It would be great to be back in the sunshine.

She couldn’t help but wonder if a bigger part of her excitement had to do with going away with Chase again. She thought about her dream on the balcony, with the two of them drinking wine. That hadn’t happened last time; neither had the swim in the ocean. Was this upcoming trip fated to be the turning point in their relationship? But no, that was totally in her control. She wouldn’t allow things to take a turn she would regret.

But a little voice inside her whispered, Maybe you don’t have a choice.

Before

By late August, Annabelle felt enormous, but James continued to tell her that she was glowing and beautiful. He was so earnest and sincere that she almost believed it. She knew in her heart that his feelings for her had grown. It was obvious in the way he looked at her a moment too long, or the way his fingers grazed hers when he’d hand her something. He fussed over her, treating her like a princess, and she let him. He checked to make sure she remembered to take her prenatal vitamins. He made dinners with a variety of vegetables and insisted she eat them. It had been so long since someone took care of her that she reveled in it. He’d also begun to go with her when she visited her mother. His presence had a calming influence on Miriam, who continued to act as though they were a couple. And he never missed a doctor’s appointment. It felt like they were a couple in every way except that they each went to their own bedrooms at night.

Annabelle began to wonder if James was her destiny. Was it possible that he was the one meant for her all along? The only thing holding her back was that she didn’t feel the same attraction to him that she had with Randy. But maybe that was a good thing. She would never take Randy back, although she had debated calling him to discuss how they would co-parent. But then James handed her the letter that changed everything.

“Randy asked me to give this to you. He got a job offer to teach at the University of Arizona.”

She was stunned. “Arizona? I guess that answers my question as to how involved he wants to be.” Hot tears sprang to her eyes, and she blinked to stop them. She opened the letter and read.

Annabelle,

I wish you the best and hope that one day you will find it in your heart to forgive me. It was a stupid mistake, and I’m sorrier than you know. But it’s too late for explanations and excuses. I’m grateful that James is there for you. He’s a better man than I am. I hope you’ll be happy, and I’m sorry I couldn’t be the one to be there for you. I’m leaving next week. Please take good care of yourself and our child.

Randy

She crumpled the letter and threw it on the floor. History repeating itself, only her child wouldn’t know his or her father at all. How was she going to explain his absence? She knew firsthand that no matter how she tried to spin it, the child would take the rejection personally. And how could it not? The most primal of instincts was to protect your young. After what Randy had done to her, she shouldn’t be surprised that he’d so easily walk away from his child, but she was. She was devastated. She could never take him back—trust was vital to her, and he’d proven that he wasn’t worthy of it. But she had hoped that he would prove to be a good father. And it tore her in two that he was moving so far away. Just because someone breaks your heart doesn’t mean you stop having feelings for them. Randy’s abandonment would have far-reaching consequences on the happiness of her child, and there was nothing she could do to prevent it. Now she would have to tell her precious child that its father didn’t want it. Unless…

Annabelle

The meetings had gone well. They finished the last one and were headed back to the hotel. The agency had arranged a car for them, and Annabelle felt herself relax for the first time that day when she climbed in the back and rested her head against the seat.

“They really know how to make you feel like a star,” Chase said, laughing. “If you hadn’t prepped me on Hollywood-speak, I might have gotten a big head.”

Annabelle smiled. “They definitely lay it on thick, but all kidding aside, they seem very excited to work with you. Any team you felt more of a connection with than the others?”

He nodded. “I liked the first two groups. We still have that last meeting in the morning though. By the way, were you able to book an earlier flight out now that the afternoon meetings are canceled?”

“No. My two o’clock at our L.A. office is still on. It’s fine. I’ll sleep on the flight and be home in the morning.”

They made small talk on the drive. It was close to six when the driver dropped them at the hotel.

“Feel like grabbing a drink?” Chase asked.

She had already decided that she wasn’t going to allow any opportunity for things to progress between them. “I’m pretty beat. I’m going to order room service and make it an early night.”

“Oh,” he said, his disappointment obvious. “No worries. I’ll see you in the morning.”

When Annabelle got to her room, she kicked off her shoes and called James.

“Hey you,” he answered.