“What is it?”
“I just wanted you to know . . . I had a journalist call here asking about you. Only the one, but I just wanted you to be aware . . . “
Fuck.
“Okay.” I sighed. “Thanks for letting me know. What did you tell them?”
“Nothing. I hung up on him,” she said.
“Okay,” I said again. “I’ll speak to you later.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
I paced the balcony, still in my robe, thinking about what to do.
First thing I needed to do was to contact my clients and fill them in. I grabbed my phone, thankful that I’d had the sense to copy their details onto it, and sent out a group text. I filled them all in on what was happening. If a reporter was sniffing around Beth, then there was a chance he might get on the trail of some of my other clients.
Shit! I opened the web browser on my phone and went to the news headlines. I needed to see what the latest was on Melinda. I skimmed the articles available, my throat constricting as I read.
Melinda Diveno dead. Stroke. Escort.
Nothing new. Yet.
Did I tell Mia, or did I leave it and see whether my name was leaked?
If I didn’t tell her, things would look bad if the truth did get out. On the other hand, I could potentially be ruining something wonderful by telling her. I laughed suddenly.
What the fuck did it matter? I couldn’t commit to Mia. This whole dilemma was fucking useless, because there was nowhere this could go. Even if she didn’t find out, eventually I’d need to tell her what I did for a living. Quitting? Not a fucking option.
I wanted to throw some shit at the wall. Smash a few plates. Something. I needed to do something to ease the ache inside me. I had so much frustration built up that I felt like I was going crazy. Everything, it was all too much. Why couldn’t life just be easy?
I was in deep fucking shit, no matter what my next move was.
As I walked through the doorway at Childerdale, I forced myself to forget everything. Leave it all outside, Coop, because that shit’s not going anywhere. Spend some time with Mom, and try to clear your head.
“Hey Lucy,” I said, walking to the desk to sign in. I’d needed to get away from my own mind and get out of the apartment, and I decided visiting Mom was the best way to do that.
Lucy froze, a blush creeping across her cheeks.
“Uh, Coop.” She averted her eyes, looking anywhere but at me. “Real busy today, gotta go.” She dashed off down the hall, leaving me standing alone at the desk, trying to figure out what the fuck that was all about.
I walked down to Mom’s room. She was sitting out of bed in her chair, looking through a magazine. I knocked lightly on the door. She looked up and smiled.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
“Mom, it’s Liam.” I walked over, sitting down on the bed as she looked me up and down, confused. “Your son. Liam,” I repeated gently.
She smiled and shook her head. “I’m sorry, honey, but I don’t have any kids. Not yet, anyway. I’m only recently married.” Her brown eyes blinked back at me. “My husband should be here for me any minute.”
“Maybe I could wait with you,” I said softly.
She laughed and nodded. I had never fed her delusions, until today. Today I couldn’t handle seeing the pain in her eyes. Just this once, I wanted to see my mother happy.
“Can I get you a drink?” She glanced down at the two empty cups on her table. “I, uh . . . I’m not sure . . . “ her voice trailed off as she became lost in her confusion.
“I’m fine,” I assured her. Inside, my heart was breaking. Was I being selfish, trying to prolong Mom’s life when she spent more time than not in a state of confusion? Never had I really considered what she must go through when she didn’t remember. Having to be constantly reminded that the love of your life was dead must have been heartbreaking.
What if everything I was doing for Mom was really for me, protecting myself from my fear of letting her go?
I stayed with Mom for another hour, listening to her stories of her husband and their newfound life together. Before I left she thanked me, and told me she hoped I found my mother. I smiled, swallowing the lump in my throat as I blinked back tears.
As soon as I got back to my car, I texted Beth.
Can I talk to you? Do you mind if I come over?
She texted back almost immediately.
Sure
Starting the car, I headed for Beth’s apartment on the Upper East Side, not far from my own. I’d been to her house a few times over the last year. She lived in the penthouse of a forty-level building that overlooked the shopping district.
I parked outside and walked over to the door, pressing her number into the intercom. After she buzzed me up, I walked down to the elevator and pressed level forty.
Beth was waiting for me when the elevator opened, concern etched into her face. Her arms crossed over her chest as she ushered me inside.
“Sit down and I’ll get you a water,” she ordered.
Nodding numbly, I walked over to the sofa and planted myself down on the soft beige leather. I thanked her as I took the water from her, taking a sip.
“You look like shit, Coop.”
“Thanks,” I muttered dryly.
“So, I’m guessing you know,” she said sympathetically, her eyes gazing at me with sympathy.
My head snapped up. “Huh? Know what?” I asked, confused.
Beth’s mouth dropped open as she realized she’d just put her foot in it. “Oh, crap. I thought that’s why you were here,” she said, her voice uneasy.
“What are you talking about?” I cut in, frustrated and anxious.
Wordlessly, she reached for the remote and clicked on the TV. The twenty-four-hour news channel flashed up Melinda’s picture. Next to hers was a picture of me.
No.
Fucking hell, no.
I sat forward, setting my drink down on the coffee table. I felt sick.
Beth hovered over me, her eyes fully of worry. “Are you okay, Coop? You don’t look too good,” she said uneasily.
“What have they been saying?” I asked, burying my head in my hands.
“Just that you’re the escort who was last with Melinda.” She coughed. “And that I am also thought to be a client of yours.”
“Fuck,” I groaned. “Shit, Beth, I’m so sorry.”
“You’re sorry? Coop, I’m sorry. They got a picture of us in that coffee shop. They also have surveillance of you going into Melinda’s room,” she added meekly.
“How the hell did they get that?” I exploded angrily.
“Same way they get anything. Someone out to make a quick buck. Probably a hotel employee or something. Look, I don’t give a damn about me. I mean, it’s not like this is going to ruin my reputation,” she said dryly.
“This is bad.” I sighed. No wonder Lucy had looked at me strangely.
“Is there anything I can do?” asked Beth, her eyes full of sadness.
I shook my head. I didn’t see what anyone could do.
Oh, shit. Mia.
“I’m screwed,” I said flatly.
“It’s not that bad, Coop. This will blow over really quickly.”
“By then it will be too fucking late,” I said through gritted teeth.
Beth’s face dropped, and I immediately felt bad. She was only trying to help. All she’d done since this thing began was just try to help me.
“I’m sorry. It’s just that this will screw everything over. I don’t give a shit about me . . . “
“Then what is it? The girl you like?” Beth’s mouth went hard.
“Mia.” I nodded. “She won’t want anything to do with me once she knows the truth. But it’s not only that.” I shook my head, angry at myself, at everyone. “Mom is pretty sick. She has Alzheimer’s. Pretty advanced. I managed to get her in a trial at Childerdale, but it costs a ton. There is no way I will be able to afford it without my job, but if I want Mia . . . “
&nb
sp; “You can’t have both,” Beth finished.
Exactly.
“Go talk to her, Coop. Explain things to her before she finds out on the news.”
That sounded great in theory, but what if I was too late? Why the fuck hadn’t I just told her that morning when I’d had the chance?
Chapter Twenty-Four
Even before I’d unlocked the door to my apartment, my gut was telling me I was too late.
I stormed through the kitchen and down the hall to her room. Empty. Her suitcase was gone, and so was every sign that she’d ever been there.
I fumbled through my pocket for my phone. It was still on silent from visiting Mom, and there were twelve missed calls: Pete, Max, Jake, Nic, and the rest were unknown numbers that I wasn’t game enough to call back. Nothing from Mia.
I called Mia. Her phone went right to voicemail. I dialed Nic.
“Liam?”
“Have you heard from Mia?” I demanded.
“What? No. Liam, you’re on the news—”
“I know. I know, Nic,” I sighed. Walking over to the sofa, I slumped down. “Mia’s gone. Fuck, Nic. Everything is fucked.”
“Stay there. We’ll come over. I’ll drop the kids off at Jake’s mom’s house.”
Curled up on the sofa, all I wanted to do was sleep. And constantly try calling Mia. Her phone was on, but it rang out. Seven voicemails later—each one more frantic than the last—and I still had no response.
Please let me explain. Please, Mia.
I stared at the screen of my phone, waiting for any response, any glimmer of hope that she might be willing to listen to me. Nothing.
“Coop! It’s Nic. I’m coming inside.”
I listened to the sound of the key turning in the lock. Sitting up, I managed a smile as Nic and Jake walked into the room.
Nic rushed over, sinking onto the sofa beside me. “I’m so sorry,” she murmured, grabbing my hand.
“Why? You didn’t do anything. I fucked this all up pretty good on my own.”
“Coop, you were doing what you were doing to help Mom.”
“Was I?” I snapped. “Or was it to help myself? Come off it, Nic. Every time we see Mom she’s more confused, more scared. How selfish am I to want to extend that kind of life for her, just so I can put off the pain of losing her?”
Nic’s eyes welled with tears. “Don’t talk like that. You’ve always taken care of her. And me. You love us. That’s why you’re doing this. You’re not selfish.”
“It doesn’t matter anyway. It is what it is. I can’t quit.” I shrugged and stood up. I walked over to the balcony window and stared out. “Can I use your phone? I have to call people, and call me paranoid, but I don’t want to risk the chance that someone has hacked my phone. I don’t want to dump any more of my clients in the shit.”
Nic nodded and handed me her phone. I slid open the sliding door and stepped outside.
After calling Amalie, Delaney, Brittany—who wasn’t the least bit concerned and even tried to book me for another evening—I felt a bit better. None of them seemed overly concerned about being outed. The only reason Beth had been revealed was because she had been seen with me. I’d been cautious about protecting the privacy of my other clients, and they never booked a room in their own names.
I walked back inside to see that Jake had made me a coffee, which I accepted gratefully.
“So, Bethany Masters?” He winked at me.
For the first time in days, I laughed. “Yeah. She’s actually a really nice girl.”
“I bet.” Jake grinned.
Nic whacked him over the head.
“What was that for?”
“I think you know,” she replied frostily.
Jake laughed and shook his head. “It bothers you that much that I can appreciate an attractive celebrity?” he guffawed.
“When my brother is fucking said celebrity, yes,” she snapped.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Three days later and I hadn’t left the house.
Three days later and she still hadn’t called me back. Her voicemail was now full with thirty messages from me, begging her to call me back. That wasn’t even taking into account the numerous texts I had sent. I was turning into a stalker.
I went from the bed to the sofa and back to the bed. I looked like shit; I was in desperate need of a shave, and my eyes were glazed over from lack of sleep.
At least the reporters were starting to lose interest. I’d had calls from several major talk shows interested in my story, which I declined, and about ten magazines that wanted exclusive rights, which I also refused. The group who’d initially camped outside the apartment complex had seemingly given up too.
My story wasn’t for sale, not for any amount of money.
Friday afternoon, at 1:11p.m., there was a knock on my door. I knew this because for the whole hour beforehand, I’d been staring at the blank screen on my phone. I pulled myself off the sofa, which had begun to conform to the shape my body from being on it for so long. Shuffling to the door, I opened it, expecting Nic or Jake. Nobody else had the code to get past the foyer.
Except Mia.
My mouth dropped open and I shut it quickly, remembering how long it had been since I brushed my teeth.
“I did not expect to see you,” I mumbled.
“Can I come in?” she asked. She was guarded, her body tense.
I moved aside, holding the door open for her. “Come in.”
She followed me through to the living room, which was a mess—but then, so was the rest of the apartment.
“Uh, do you want a drink?”
She shook her head, sitting down in the armchair. “You said you wanted to talk.”
“So you got my forty messages?” I asked wryly.
She smiled slightly. “It was a bit hard to ignore them all. Believe me, I tried.” She dropped her head to her hands. “Really, Coop? An escort?” she cried out, her voice laced with anger.
I sat down on the sofa, my arms resting on my knees, staring at the floor. “I wanted to tell you. I should have told you.”
“You’re damn right you should have,” she retorted angrily. “God, I feel like such an idiot, falling in love with an escort.” She laughed bitterly. “It’s like something out of a freaking sitcom. My life is a joke.”
I raised my head, her words hitting me.
She loved me? She had fallen in love with me?
I didn’t speak. I couldn’t trust myself to string words together just then without confessing my love for her too.
She glanced at me.
“Do you want to know the worst thing? If you said to me right now that you’d give all that up, I’d forgive you in a heartbeat.” She laughed incredulously. “What the hell does that say about me?”
“Mia . . . “ My voice trailed off as I realized there was nothing I could say here. “Fuck, Mia, I can’t.”
She nodded, standing up. “Nic told me about your mom. For whatever it’s worth, I understand. The fact that you would do anything for your family is one of the reasons I was falling in love with you.” She paused, a sad smile on her lips. “I hope you find whatever it is you’re looking for.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Saturday morning, I went to see Mom again.
As soon as Mia had left the day before, I’d pulled myself together. I’d shaved, showered, cleaned the apartment—fuck, I’d even washed the dishes. I had to admit I felt better not living like a slob in a slum.
Reporters were still calling my number, and it was so bad that I’d invested in a second SIM card, sending it only to the people who I actually cared to hear from.
I walked up to the office to sign in, as per usual. Lucy greeted me, a big smile on her face. “Liam!” She smiled. “I was going to call you, actually.”
Oh, god. My heart dropped. My job was the last thing on my mind right now. I cleared my throat. “Lucy, you’re lovely, and I’m flattered, but I’m not taking on any new clients right now.”
/> Her eyes widened, then she burst into uncontrollable laughter. I cringed, realizing that she hadn’t been about to proposition me, after all.
Fuck, I look like a dickhead. Fuck!
“Liam, I’m flattered, but I’m a married woman,” she said, stifling a giggle.
Oh, this shit just got better and better.
“No, honey, the reason I was going to call you was to tell you someone set up an anonymous fund for your mother’s care. Trust me when I say you’ll never have to worry about paying another medical bill for her.” She smiled widely, as though she couldn’t wait for my reaction.
Holy shit. What?
“Who?” I demanded, still shell-shocked by the news.
Lucy laughed. “Well it wouldn’t be anonymous if I told ya now, would it?” She giggled.
I nodded slowly. I didn’t need her to tell me. I knew exactly who it was. What I didn’t know was why.
I knocked on the door of the penthouse on the fortieth floor, still unsure of what the hell I was going to say. The door swung open. Beth stood there, looking cute in a pair of indecently cut denim shorts and a tank top.
“Coop!” she said brightly. Her face dropped. “They told you?” she wailed.
I rolled my eyes and brushed past her. “They didn’t have to, Beth. You just did. You’re not a very convincing liar,” I added, my mouth twitching.
“Are you angry?” She stared at me, her eyes huge.
“I’m not angry, but I can’t accept it.”
“Why not?” she demanded.
“Because you’re not paying for my mother’s care,” I replied, shaking my head. It was ridiculous. Stupid. Impossible.
For the briefest moment on the drive over there, I’d imagined being able to be with Mia and how amazing Beth’s gift would’ve been. More than anything I wanted to say yes. I wanted to scream it from the fucking rooftops, but the last thing I wanted was for Beth to feel like I’d used her.
“Coop, I’ve got so much money, I don’t know what to do with it. I could use hundred dollar bills as toilet paper if I wanted, and not miss it.”
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