Chapter 22

 

There wasn’t enough chocolate in the world to make Bex feel better. She knew her life was complicated, and instead of protecting Chase from it she selfishly pulled him into the web, exposing his family secrets to the world—secrets he himself didn’t even know.

The thought made her stomach twist in ungodly knots, making her want to vomit. Willy nudged her hand and curled up on her lap. Bex ran a hand over his soft head. “I messed up, Willy and the worst part is I don’t think I can fix it.”

Her phone had been going nonstop with notifications so when it rang she thought about ignoring it but decided to see who it was first.

Calla Lily’s name flashed on the screen. Bex made a lot of assumptions about her friend, but she had no idea if any of them were true and right now she really needed a friend. She answered.

“Finally! I’ve been trying to get in touch with you forever.”

“If you haven’t noticed my life is a bit of a disaster.”

“Which is exactly why I’ve come to help you get through this.”

Bex stood up and looked out the window, but everything was exactly how it had been. “What do you mean?”

“I’m in town. Well, a town over at the resort. I love you, but I wasn’t staying at some Bed and Breakfast that has furniture that is older than my grandparents. Not to mention no Wi-Fi.”

“God forbid,” Bex said with a laugh though it lacked any real emotion.

“Get your cute little butt over here. We can have lunch at the restaurant. It’s no Soho House, but it’ll do.”

Bex weighed her options. She could stay holed up in the tiny house alone, or she could swipe some lip gloss on, get some food in her system and stop avoiding the inevitable conversation they needed to have. “Okay. I’ll see you soon.”

She hung up the phone, grabbed her keys and headed out, not even bothering to look in a mirror. That’s what sunglasses were for. She slid them into place as she got into the car and drove to the next town.

The drive took thirty minutes and she’d thought putting the top down, letting the wind blow her hair would make her feel better. It didn’t. She still could only think about Chase, Brooke and Layla. About all the problems she brought into their life just simply by being seen with her.

She got to the resort and parked the car, heading for the entrance as she sent Calla Lily a text letting her know she was there. Calla Lily texted her back telling her she was already in the restaurant.

Bex found the restaurant easily and walked in scanning the tables for Calla Lily’s red hair.

“Over here!” she heard and saw a Calla Lily waving from the far corner. Her red hair was set in perfect curls, her makeup flawless and her bright yellow, figure hugging dress was very pretty but a little much for a midday lunch at any restaurant. But that was Calla Lily always overdressed.

Bex looked down at her jean shorts, a chocolate stain smack in the middle, and the blue and white flannel of Chase’s she borrowed, pulled over a white tank top and hanging down to the back of her knees. At least she threw on a pair of heels, though she was sure she looked ridiculous. Quite frankly, she didn’t care.

“Oh my god. It’s worse than I thought,” Calla Lily said as Bex approached the table and gave her two air kisses on each cheek. “You look like you just walked off the set of a slasher movie.”

“I feel like I did,” she said, taking a seat.

Calla Lily reached across the table, resting her hand on hers. “I’m sorry, that was insensitive of me.”

Bex raised an eyebrow in her direction. Calla Lily never cared about hurting anyone’s feelings. “Okay, who are you, and what did you do with my friend?”

“It’s disgusting, isn’t it?” she said. “But my therapist thinks it’s a good idea that I try to be more aware of other people’s feelings.”

Calla Lily had started seeing a therapist after it became tabloid news that an A-list celebrity was. While most people who saw a therapist did so out of necessity, Calla Lily just wanted to pretend it was the next fad. Plus, it was another way for her to get her name mentioned in the tabloids. She loved speculation more than she loved the clothes in her closet.

Bex didn’t say anything when she had told her, simply because she hoped Calla Lily might actually take something from her sessions and maybe she actually had.

“Tell me about the sexy fireman who is gracing all the major publications these days.”

“His name is Chase.”

She tapped a perfectly manicured finger against her chin as she rested her elbow on the table. “When do I get to meet him?”

“We’re not exactly talking at the moment, and I’m not sure we ever will again.”

“Couldn’t handle the press, huh?”

Bex shook her head and looked down at the menu in front of her, wishing a server would come take their order already.

“I’m sorry,” Calla Lily said.

Skeptical, Bex met her eyes but there was nothing but sympathy there.

“Honest,” she said. “I hate to see you hurting like this.”

“Me too.”

“Why don’t you tell me everything over some mimosas?”

“I like the way you think,” Bex said. “But we also have to talk about what happened before I left.”

“What about it?”

“How did drugs get in my car? You were the only one who had access to it other than me.”

Calla Lily slammed her hand against her chest. “You don’t think I would have put them there, do you? Bex, sweetie, I would never do that to you.”

“Then who did?”

“For all we know it could have been the valet, his eyes were pretty glossy.”

Bex thought back to that night and Calla Lily was right they had even made a comment about it when they were walking into the restaurant. “What about the accident. You grabbed my shoulder and made me look away from the street.”

“There was a paparazzi in your blind spot, I didn’t want you to hit him. Could you have imagined that media circus? It would have been a total nightmare.”

“Instead I rear ended a car.”

“Better than running over a pap.”

“I guess so.”

“I know what you need. Excuse me!” Calla Lily said, waving to a waiter. “Can you please get us a round of mimosas please.”

An hour and one mimosa later—after all, she had to drive—Calla Lily walked Bex out and Bex while she still felt horrible and helpless about Chase at least one part of her life was looking better. It wasn’t much but it was something.

“I have my parents’ jet on standby, just tell me when, and I can have you back in L.A. in no time.”

Bex thought about leaving right then, running away like she was so good at but something inside her kept her from doing so. “Thanks, Cal, but I’m going to give it another day or two.”

She doubted Chase would come to her, but she wasn’t ready to give up on him. Not yet.

“Just give me the word, and we’re in the sky.”

They got to the door and the bright light of flashes blinded her as she went to step out the door. Cameras were shoved in her face, questions coming at her from every direction.

How did they find her? She quickly grabbed her sunglasses from the top of her head and shoved them on, pushing through the hoard.

“Just one,” she heard Calla Lily say just as she grabbed her arm and pulled her back into the chaos. Calla Lily smiled, pushing her chest out and lifting her leg. “Smile, Bex,” she said, but Bex barely heard her through the fire roaring in her ears.

The questions continued to fly, the flashes going off at rapid speed. Bex’s legs were frozen in place, her voice lost to the knife in her back. Her eyes turned to Calla Lily who was posing it up for the camera. The perfect curls, flawless makeup, ridiculous dress, it was all planned.

“Bex turned to the girl who just listened to her sob over a heartache, who had sat there holding her hand in comfort while tears slipped passed her lids. Who made Bex question her own gut and believe everything she had told her. It was all lies. “You called them.”

“Of course I did. You’re red hot right now. You need to take advantage of all the free press.”

“No!” Bex yelled, tearing her body away from Calla Lily’s. “I thought you were my friend.”

“I am. Don’t be so dramatic,” she whispered in harsh tones before looking back at the cameras and smiling.

“Let’s get another one with you two together,” a paparazzi said, and Calla Lily reached for her, but Bex pushed her off.

“Don’t!” She met her gaze, needing to make sure she was going to hear what she was about to say. Calla Lily looked at her with wide eyes. “Me and you. We’re through.”

“Bex?”

She was done caring about people who didn’t give a damn about her. Done being manipulated by people who weren’t worth the same air she breathed.

“Go to hell. All of you.”

***

Bex thought about staying. She really did. But what was the point? She’d done enough damage to this town. It was time for her to pack her bags and go. Thanks to Calla Lily, it was only a matter of time before the paparazzi infiltrated Red Maple Falls and the good citizens of the town did not deserve that.

She grabbed her suitcase and started throwing her stuff in by the armfuls. Willy rubbed up against her leg and meowed. She reached down and scooped him up, hugging him close before putting him down on the couch.

“I know you like it here,” she said. “But it’s time to go home. Maybe I can get you a stuffed squirrel to play with.”

Bex swore if the cat could he would have rolled his one eye at her before he jumped off the couch and lazily walked away from her.

“Great, now you’re mad at me, too. Join the club. I heard the membership has seen an uptick the past few days.”

There was a knock at the door and her heart leapt. She ran to the door, tripping over a pair of shoes and practically face planting into the floor. She managed to catch herself on the wall and right herself before she went down.

“Willy stay,” she said, pointing at him. He rolled his head away from her, tail flopping back and forth like a metronome.

She flung the door open, ready to jump into Chase’s arms and kiss him until he forgave her. But when she opened the door, it wasn’t Chase on the other side. Her heart deflated, and any hope she had at him coming for her vanished.

“I’m guessing I’m not who you hoped for,” Sarah said. “I’m sorry to disappoint you.”

“Not at all,” Bex said. “You never disappoint me.” It was true. She had only met Sarah in person a few times before she came to Red Maple Falls, but she was one of the best friends Bex had. “Come in.”

Sarah followed her in, stepping over the piles of clothes. “Going somewhere?”

“I figured it was time for me to go home.”

“Oh. Were you planning on saying goodbye?”

Bex shrugged. “Probably not. It’s kind of my thing.”

“Well, that’s a shame. I would have been upset if I missed you.”

“I would’ve called when I got home.”

“Not the same,” Sarah said. “I’m guessing this is about Chase?”

“I’m pretty sure he hates me, and he has every right to.”

“Why? You didn’t spill his story to the media.”

“No, but I brought the media to him. The look on his face… He was so angry.”

“I heard.”

Bex’s eyebrow arched. “How?”

“Chase kind of had it out with Sam. Sam told Hadley. Hadley told me.”

“I thought word got around fast in Hollywood.”

“Welcome to small-town life. You have given us much to gossip about.”

Deflated Bex slumped down on the couch. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. The town loves it. Not to mention Kate is thrilled because of all the free press her studio is getting.”

“Unfortunately, no press comes for free. I already paid the price.”

Sarah sat down beside her, resting a comforting hand on her knee. “I’m guessing you haven’t spoken to him at all.”

“No.”

“Maybe you should try before you take off. What do you have to lose at this point?”

Sarah was right. If she didn’t find him, talk to him, she’d always wonder what would have happened if she would’ve tried.

“Do you know where he is?” Bex asked.

“Last I heard he was at the fire station but since Sam came home and told Hadley, I’m assuming Chase went home by now, too.”

Bex slipped into the first pair of shoes she could find, gave Sarah a quick hug and grabbed her keys. She stopped at the door and turned back to Sarah. “Thank you, Sarah. You really are a good friend.”

“You are, too,” Sarah said. “And if you decide to stay even if it is just for a few more days I’ll buy you a cup of coffee and a cupcake from Shay’s.”

“We’ll see what happens.”

“Go find your guy and make things right. I’ll clean up here for you.”

“You’re the best!”

Bex ran out of the house, pulling the door behind her and hopping in her rental. She had no idea how Chase would react to her, but she didn’t care.

She had tried to tell herself that her feelings for Chase were just infatuation or lust. After all they just met one another, but she could no longer deny the truth. She never felt like this about anyone. He was the first thing she thought of when she woke in the morning and her last thought at night. She constantly wondered what he was doing throughout the day and feared for his safety at work. He set her on fire when they made love, and she could not get enough of his kisses or the feel of his arms wrapped around her.

She was in love with him and running away was no longer an option.