by B. Celeste
“Soon to be divorced,” I remind him.
“Until she signs those papers we got drawn up, you better get a different perspective,” he states firmly. “I know you may find this hard to believe, but the world doesn’t give a flying fuck if you’re separated or not. Legally, you’re married. The press is already set on believing that you cheated whether it’s true or not. I’m here to make sure you don’t ruin your reputation.”
“Isn’t my reputation already shit?”
He eyes me. “I’m not your father—”
I bite out, “Then stop calling me son.”
“I’m just here to do what I was hired for,” he tells me blandly. “That means you’re going to sit down, shut up, and listen to what I’m about to say. Understand?”
My jaw ticks.
“Good.” He leans back. “The movie trailer is set to release on New Year’s Day. I’ve already spoken to Buchannan and a few others who informed me the love triangle will be clearly represented. Those who read the book knows there’s cheating, and those who haven’t will see it for themselves come January first.”
Shoulders tightening, I begin piecing together his point. “You want me to act like this is a promotional stunt for the movie to garner attention.”
Quiet murmurs of praise sound around the room. I drown them out and watch Eddie shrug like it’s a simple plan. People know the ins and outs of promotion though. It’s no different than proposing leading co-stars date, which I’ve found myself forced into doing before I got married. That only works in certain situations. It’s a stretch to think it would be successful here.
“All I’m asking is that you keep to yourself and let me do my job. Let the people believe what they want and don’t feed into it.” He gives me a knowing look. “That means staying away from Kinley Thomas, especially while you’re still married to Lena. I don’t give a damn what you do with your life after the divorce is finalized, just hold off on making rash decisions until then.”
And when will that be?
Lena and I talked in detail about going through with the separation a long time ago. Neither one of us loves each other like we used to, and even that love has been partial at best. When I visited her in Greece, our plan was rehearsed. We’d tell her parents that we were separating. Her father would rejoice. Her mother would curse me out. Her cousins would comfort her.
I was willing to be the bad guy.
For her.
For me.
For us.
But Lena changed her tune. She’s had the paperwork for well over four months now and keeps dragging it out without telling me why. Every time we meet to go over it, she puts on a show for the cameras who follow us like there’s nothing wrong.
“You care about her?” he asks.
He doesn’t say who.
He doesn’t have to.
I simply say, “Don’t waste my time with stupid questions, Eddie. You’re better than that.”
The room watches us intently.
When Eddie laughs, the atmosphere lightens. It’s no surprise that people are intimidated by him. Not me. “Then do what’s best for her, son.”
Playing unfairly is what he’s known to do to get what he wants. The son of bitch knows what he’s talking about. I rarely go against his wishes because he gets results. He gets me money, which in turn gets him paid too.
He’s just not getting his way this time.
Chapter Six
Kinley / 17
The light blue chiffon dress flows against my shins as I walk down the steps. When my feet hit the banister at the end of the staircase, I inhale before rounding the corner.
Dad sees me first, lips wavering before giving me a nod of appraisal. “You look beautiful, kid.”
Blushing, I flatten the material.
Gavin walks in and shrugs after giving me a quick once over. “You look all right. Better than the usual hobo vibe you give off.”
I roll my eyes. “Dweeb.”
“Dickwad.”
Mom comes in with a camera, making me groan. “Be nice to your sister. Now, come on. I want photos of you three together.”
Gavin shakes his head. “I don’t do—”
“You’ll be in the picture,” Dad states firmly, pulling him toward us.
Gavin and I both sigh and relent while Mom positions us for photos. After a few with the three of us, Gavin takes over to get some with me and our parents.
“You guys are going to make me late,” I mutter through my smile. After another ten, I flip off my brother and step away from my parents.
It’s Gavin who says, “Why isn’t your boyfriend picking you up again? Isn’t that how these things work?”
I slide into my black ballet flats and eye him while Dad gets my coat. “I don’t know, Gavin. Remind me again how you did it?”
He glares at me and picks up the popcorn he was snacking on. Dad chuckles as he helps me into the sleeves of my jacket. “She’s got you there, son.”
“Just because I never went—”
“Which means you can’t judge,” I add.
“—doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”
I button my coat and cross my arms over my chest. “I love you but you’re annoying me right now. Corbin wanted to pick me up, but I told him I’d meet him there. Stop being stupid.”
“But—”
Mom cuts him off, swatting him away to the living room. “Your sister wants to surprise him, Corbin. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
I nibble my lip. “Thanks.”
Dad offers me his arm. “Ready?”
It took him a while to be okay with me dating, especially when Gavin expressed his dislike over Corbin. But since Mom met him and his family in town, she told them to leave me alone. Despite her support, I can’t help but feel like she feels the same way Gavin does. I don’t talk to any of them about Corbin and they don’t ask. I should be glad, but something tugs on my chest telling me that I need their opinions on how to make things work.
I just don’t think they’d offer me the kind of advice that I’m looking for. It’s not that I want them to tell me what I want to hear, but I’d like an honest opinion, not biased.
When Dad rolls up to the curb of the large brick building the winter formal is being held at in the center of town, I stare at the white twinkling lights lining the rails and door out front. A black carpet is placed over the steep steps, and the double doors have snowflakes and flowers hung on them.
“Want me to walk you in?” He’s already turned off the car and unbuckled, so I just smile and nod at him.
Gavin used to tease me for being a daddy’s girl, but I never cared. My father is six-three with muscles he earned from a lot of physical labor over the years. People have compared him to a biker, but I know the truth. He’s a giant teddy bear who’s protective of me. As embarrassing as it can be when he shoots scathing glares at Corbin when the two see each other, I love him.
Dad escorts me into the building, leading me down the dimly lit hallway toward the loud voices and music. Anxiety greets me with every step, but it all disappears when Corbin appears at the end of the hall in a black tux and light blue tie that matches my dress. Everything fits him perfectly, tapered and cut to fit his tall, lean figure. Dad tightens his grip on my arm as I suck in a breath and study Corbin from head to toe.
When we get closer, I notice Corbin is holding something in his hands. Stopping just in front of him, Dad leans down and kisses the top of my head.
He stands tall and stares at Corbin with narrow eyes. “I expect your hands will stay to yourself, boy. Correct?”
“Dad!” I hiss, heat blossoming from the back of my neck and settling into my cheeks.
Corbin’s eyes widen. “Yes, sir.”
Dad lets go of me with a chuckle, smiling before telling me how beautiful I am again. A similar smile tugs across my lips. I watch him leave after giving another warning glance Corbin’s way.
When Dad disappears out the front door, Corbin steps closer
and brushes his hand down my arm. “Your dad is scary but right. You look beautiful, Little Bird.”
I nibble on my lip and gesture toward the box he’s holding. “What’s in there?”
He perks up, fumbling to open it. “I know corsages are usually a prom thing, but I got this made for you.”
When the top opens revealing what’s inside, my jaw drops. “Corbin…”
He pulls out the blue origami bird. “I saw a woman in the town over make custom corsages for formal events. When I sent her pictures of the birds you made, she told me she could make something that matches your dress.”
Eyes watering, I pick it up and examine it closely. There’s something written on the paper in script. When I narrow my eyes to try making out the letters, a hand reaches out and takes it from me.
“It says fly with me.” His voice is quiet as he slides it over my wrist. His thumb caresses the back of my hand as he lifts it up to his mouth and peppers a chaste kiss on it.
“You’re a sap,” I accuse, wiping under my eyes to catch a tear before it falls.
“You love it,” he teases, offering me his arm.
I hesitate, then wrap my elbow around his and let him guide us toward the large ballroom. The truth bubbles inside my chest. “I do,” I say in my quietest voice.
The song we walk in on is something techno that I’ve never heard of. Corbin makes fun of me for my taste in country music, but that’s all I grew up on. It’s no different than his love for classic rock because it’s his father’s favorite. They bond over Def Leopard and AC/DC, just like I bond with my parents over Willie Nelson and Hank Williams Junior.
I giggle, causing him to look over with an amused smile on his face. “What’s so funny?”
I lick my bottom lip. “I still have your AC/DC sweatshirt. My brother gets annoyed when he sees me wear it around the house.”
His smile transforms into a smirk. “It’s yours, Little Bird.”
“I can give it—”
He waves me off. “Looks better on you.”
I lean into him and study the room. Peers dance in groups, moving in ways that’d make my brother blush. Yelping when Corbin spins me around, I catch myself on his chest and keep my palms planted on him as he pulls me closer. One of his arms hooks around my waist as he holds me there.
I laugh when we start slow dancing. “I don’t think we’re doing this right.”
His brows arch. “Would you rather twerk like the rest of them? Pretty sure that girl over there is about to throw her back out.”
I full on laugh, causing a few people near us to glance over. Hiding behind Corbin as he spins us, I move my hands to his shoulders. “I think my father would have a heart attack if he saw me dance like that.”
One girl starts moving down a guy’s body Dirty Dancing style until a teacher stops them. My eyes widen as I dart them away before they can see me watching.
Corbin glances at the same couple being scolded, smirking. “Your dad would definitely have a heart attack if he saw us doing that. Pretty sure he’d make you take a pregnancy test.”
My eyes widen. “Don’t say that!”
A laugh bellows out of him. “What? You do know that someday he’ll have to accept that you have sex.”
I blanch. “He probably thinks I’ll be a virgin forever. One time he made a comment about how I didn’t have enough clothes on when we went to the county fair. I was wearing bootcut jeans and a long-sleeve shirt, Corbin! I can’t even imagine having to tell him that I’m having sex much less pregnant someday.”
Humor dances in his eyes. “He’ll love you even when you tell him. If you even want that sort of life anyway.”
Now I look at him in confusion. “Why do you say it like that? You don’t want a family someday? I’m not asking like I expect us to…” My entire body heats as the song changes into something slower.
He holds me closer, locking one hand on my hip and the other on one of my palms. “I haven’t really thought about it. You and I are both career-driven anyway. Can you really picture a life with babies and a white picket fence? It just doesn’t seem like us.”
I gnaw on the inside of my cheek and shrug, not really sure what to say. It isn’t like I’ve thought about our future in depth, but it makes me wonder if I should. If he doesn’t want kids and I do, then where does that leave us after we graduate? Five years from now?
“We’re too young to think about this,” he adds, which breaks me from my thoughts. He’s right. Neither one of us are ready for that kind of commitment. I can’t help but wonder if we ever will be though.
Brushing it off, I nod. “Still think my father would try to shoot you.”
Corbin cringes. “Does he really own a gun?” I don’t confirm or deny anything, leaving a nervous look in his eyes. He blows out a breath. “I’m determined to make your family like me. Gavin might be hard to win over, but I’ll make it happen.”
I deadpan. “He caught you in my bed. That isn’t going to happen in this century.”
He frowns. “He’s protective of you, huh? Have to say, kind of like that about him. But he doesn’t have to be when it comes to us.”
The few conversations I’ve had with my brother about Corbin and I have stayed between us. I’m afraid if I speak it to anybody else, the possibility of his assumed tragic outcome could come true. Doubt already lingers in the back of my consciousness out of practicality. It doesn’t matter what I hope will happen. It’s not just up to me.
“Hey, Corbin?” I whisper, staring at the paper bird perched on my wrist. “We’ll always fly together, right?”
His hands twitch. “Always.”
I close my eyes and rest my cheek on his shoulder, letting the music fill the comfortable silence between us. Moments like this are what build the fantasies in my journal, immortalizing us no matter what happens.
Details of Corbin.
His warmth.
His touch.
Everything.
We’re Beck and Ryker.
And I love us.
Chapter Seven
Kinley / Present
I pull the jacket tighter around my body as I walk down the quiet street. The beginning of October brings cooler weather, and my on-again-off-again clammy skin welcomes the subtle breeze against it. The hot flashes during the summertime heat made my discomfort tenfold and my doctor assured me I’d do better once fall hit. Thankfully, he was right.
As I stuff my hands in my coat pockets, I look down and note the fallen leaves on the ground. The various colors of yellowing green make me realize the pretty foliage I love so much will soon disappear. Studying my surroundings, I let out a small sigh. When I arrived in California, all I wanted was to come home. I hated the noise and busy streets and wanted nothing more than seclusion. Now that I’m here, something feels like it’s missing.
Lake Roe borders one of the largest lakes in our region. It serves the summer tourists well with canoe races, barbecues, and fireworks for the fourth of July. Outside of tourist season, it’s much more peaceful. There are restaurants and stores in walking distance instead of cow pastures and endless fields, but it still has the rural atmosphere that I find comfort in like I did in Lincoln. As much as I wanted to get out of that town, I always felt like I couldn’t commit to the distance.
Maybe I always knew I’d wind up in this situation—needing people in my corner. If I’d left the state like I thought about, I’d have nobody. Then who would help me?
Gavin wouldn’t.
Blinking away the emotions that build in my eyes, I walk into the nearest corner store that I frequent for snacks and premade meals when my energy is too depleted. Browsing the aisles for sugar, I grab a few candy bars and head to the checkout.
The middle age woman working the register smiles at me in familiarity. “I see you’re back for more. No Twizzlers again today?”
Staring down at the various chocolate I chose, I give her a lighthearted shrug. “Guess I’m not in the mood for them.”
&nbs
p; She swipes them across the scanner and grabs a bag for me. “I thought they were your writing fuel? Haven’t seen you buy any in a couple months now.”
I haven’t been able to eat Twizzlers since I found out I was pregnant. I’m just starting my second trimester and the smell of my beloved candy still churns my stomach. My cupboard is full of stale candy wasting away since I haven’t bothered throwing it out. I haven’t been able to stomach much food between stress and morning sickness, so I go with what I crave. Unfortunately for me, that’s junk food that’s added on a few more pounds than Dr. Ray likes.
“Switching things up a bit.” I give her a small smile and pass her some cash as she gives me the plastic bag.
As she counts my change, she says, “I finally read your book. I can see what the fuss is all about. What was it like?”
My brows raise. “What?”
She looks up and hands me the remaining change. “Being with all those famous people? The boy they have leading is a looker. I saw the pictures of you two.”
When she winks, it’s the last thing I expect. I slowly wrap my fingers around the dollar bills and blink as a heaviness settles in my chest. “Uh…”
She chuckles. “I’m not going to judge you, darling. If I got close to Johnny Depp I’d be trying to climb him like a tree. I won’t fault you for getting a few good squeezes in.”
I choke on air. The few times I’ve engaged with people on the topic, I denied the claims or walked away without commenting. But I can’t find the words now because she says it so casually. I’ve known Mel since I moved here. People don’t get her eccentric personality, but I always liked it.
Thankfully, she changes the subject. “Are you working on anything new? I’ve been talking to a few girls in my book club and they’re planning on reading Through Shattered Glass before the movie comes out.”
The best I can do is smile. “I’m taking my time with my next book. Tell the girls I said thank you for the support. My agent talked about doing a local screening party here before the movie is officially released.”