Devoted to Her (Dream Date Book 2)

by Ivan Kendrick

  “The movie is still set in Arkansas,” Emmy said.

  “Yes. The producers got lucky on that one. They were considering Oklahoma and Georgia before settling on Arkansas.”

  They spent their time on the set until lunch. Amanda and her company had a lot of fun at the shoot. It surprised Ryan that a given scene in a movie was filmed repeatedly.

  “It takes quite a few times to nail a scene,” Brad explained to them. “We try to get it right as soon as possible. Getting a scene wrong over and over again drains a whole lake of cash.”

  “What?” Ryan asked. “Don’t they use flash drives, or do they still use plain old film? I don’t see what’s being wasted apart from that.”

  Amanda stifled a smile.

  “The actors’ time is valuable,” Brad said. “And that’s truer for big names. Not to mention the rest of the crew. Also, the producers get charged for the amount of time they spend filming at a location. There’s lots of money involved in making a movie.”

  Brad didn’t finish working until the afternoon, except for his lunch break. He spent some time playing chess with Emmy. Amanda and Ryan played on their handheld videogame consoles.

  “Beat you,” Amanda said proudly when her racer was the first to the finish line.

  “You’re so good at this,” Ryan told her. “Why haven’t you thought of becoming a racecar driver?”

  Amanda chuckled.

  “It’s totally different. And dangerous.”

  Ryan smiled.

  “I was just joking.”

  Ryan switched off his game. He looked over at the doorway. He and Amanda were in the latter’s living room. Brad and Emmy were in his suite next door. Due to his being an actor, he was able to stay at the five-star hotel and share with his guests.

  “Amanda,” Ryan said. “Do you know what the deadline is for applying at Cornell?”

  Amanda raised an eyebrow.

  “Why? Are you interested in attending the same college as your big sister?”

  Ryan shrugged.

  “I’m just curious. It seems like a nice school.”

  Amanda analyzed Ryan’s expression, wondering what his motivation was.

  “I’m not sure you’ll like Ithaca much. You’re a bit too adventurous to enjoy living in that small town.”

  “I can adjust.”

  “What about your friends? I thought you might want to follow them to wherever they’re going.”

  “My best friend may be coming with me,” Ryan said. “He doesn’t really mind where he attends college. It just has to offer a better-than-decent program in his chosen area of study.”

  “I see. Have you decided on a major?”

  “Not yet. I’m still debating.”

  Amanda thought about it.

  “You need to weigh your options carefully. If Cornell doesn’t offer the major you want, you’ll waste your time applying there.”

  Ryan nodded, looking hopeful. Amanda wanted to guess why he seemed so interested in attending Cornell.

  “We can look at the majors Cornell offers on my laptop,” Amanda said. “There’s this great Web site where you can find lots of information about colleges. Hasn’t your counselor told you about it?”

  “Yes. I haven’t visited it yet, though.”

  Amanda felt hungry, so she loaned her laptop to Ryan. Then she went down to have dinner at the hotel’s restaurant. On the way, she ran into Brad leaving Emmy at his suite.

  “Oh, hi, Amanda,” he said, smiling. “Were you looking for us?”

  “I was going to get something to eat. Ryan is using my laptop for school stuff. Where’s Emmy?”

  “Watching a movie. I was going to see how you guys were doing, check if you needed anything.”

  “We’re fine. Are you coming to eat with me?”

  “Sure.”

  In the restaurant, Amanda let Brad choose for her. They were brought drinks while they waited for their dinner. Amanda hardly touched her drink.

  “What’s got you upset?” Brad asked. “You’ve been in low spirits ever since we met at the airport.”

  Amanda fidgeted, thinking about how much to tell Brad. He knew her too well to know when she was hiding anything from him.

  “Is this about the loss of your modeling career?”

  Amanda shook her head.

  “That’s the least of my problems.”

  Brad waited for Amanda to say more.

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  Amanda looked up, wanting Brad to reassure her.

  “I broke up with Nathan. He cheated on me.”

  Brad’s eyes widened.

  “What? Are you serious?”

  “Yes.” Amanda gave her friend a summary of the events that transpired during the week leading up to Valentine’s Day.

  “I don’t know this Nathan much, yet I find this hard to believe. Wasn’t he deeply in love with you?”

  “That’s what Jonathan said when I told him. He found it pretty funny when I started getting intense during our workouts. I truly felt like kicking butt.”

  “A guy has to be mental to cheat on you.”

  “Trust me, I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes. Nathan was clearly becoming weary about dating me. That’s why he found another girl.”

  Brad thought for a moment.

  “This all happened last month, right? Why are you still sad now? Did you love him that much?”

  Amanda nodded, holding back tears.

  “Nathan was everything to me, Brad. He made me feel truly cherished and loved. It was a huge blow to see him make out with another woman. And he did it while we still were on a romantic date. At that moment I just wanted the Earth to swallow me.”

  “It’s his loss, then. If he was capable of breaking your heart, he doesn’t deserve your tears.”

  Brad took Amanda’s hand, comforting her.

  “The worst thing is that Nathan’s still trying to win me back. I can’t forgive him.”

  “Then don’t. You can’t force yourself to do something if your heart isn’t in it. I’m glad you’re here with me, away from it all.”

  Amanda bit her lip. She hadn’t told Brad the true reason she was away from Ithaca. If he found out, he would worry to death.

  “Okay. You’ve got to do what you came here to do,” Nathan muttered to himself. He was in a bedroom in his father’s new house.

  Nathan’s friends had all gone to Orlando for spring break. He’d chosen to return to Joliet, his hometown. Nathan just wasn’t in the mood for fun while Amanda was still angry with him.

  Nathan had a plan to convince Amanda that his feelings for her were true. For that, he would have to risk the wrath of her parents. They most likely already knew what Nathan had done to Amanda.

  Steeling himself, Nathan walked out of his room. He found his father in the living room, sorting through some correspondence. Jeffrey looked up when he felt his son’s approach.

  “Hey, son. Are you leaving?”

  “Yes. I’m just heading out for a little bit.”

  “Okay. Lunch will be ready when you get back. I was about to get started on it.”

  Jeffrey stood up and walked to a pegboard in the wall. He grabbed his car keys and handed them to Nathan. The latter’s car was back in Ithaca.

  “Take care, son.”

  “Thanks. I’ll fill the tank while I’m out.”

  Nathan got in his father’s old Tundra and headed east. He was going to the Tilley’s house.

  The drive didn’t take much time. Nathan pulled over to the house he had visited during Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. The Tilley’s place wasn’t very large, but it was still ample. The house was a three-bedroom, with an extra smaller one for guests. Also, Mr. Tilley had his own home office. The kitchen was large and modern, and had been slightly redesigned by Amanda recently. Nathan found that impressive.

  Nathan parked his father’s car outside. He walked up to the front door of the house.

  Moments
later, Mr. Tilley answered the door after hearing the bell.

  “Oh. Good morning, Nathan.”

  “Good morning, Mr. Tilley. May I come in?”

  “Our daughter isn’t here. She and Ryan are away with Brad, seeing him on set.”

  “That’s fine. Actually, I came to see you and Mrs. Tilley, if it’s not an inconvenience.”

  Nathan could tell that Mr. Tilley was already aware of what happened in Ithaca. He didn’t look happy.

  “All right. Come in.”

  Nathan walked inside. Mr. Tilley closed the door. He asked Nathan if he wanted anything.

  “No. Thanks, Mr. Tilley.”

  Florence walked into the living room.

  “Good morning. If you’re here to see Amanda, she’s away right now.”

  “He wanted to talk to us,” Mr. Tilley said. She nodded.

  “Oh. What is it?”

  Nathan cleared his throat.

  “I’m sure Amanda must already have told you about what happened between us.”

  The Tilleys both nodded, looking a bit uncomfortable.

  “I want you to know that I love Amanda more than my life, more than anything else in this world. I did not cheat on her, as she believes. At least, not willingly.”

  “My daughter saw you, Nathan. Please have the decency to admit it,” said Mr. Tilley. His wife put a hand on his shoulder to stop him.

  “I wouldn’t be here asking you for help if my conscience wasn’t clear. I have never been unfaithful to Amanda. That woman stuck herself between us and got away with what she wanted, to break us apart.”

  “How do you want us to help you?” Mrs. Tilley asked.

  “I need Amanda to give me a chance. I want to show her that I’ll never stop loving her. Living without her has been nothing short of hell.”

  “You pushed her away yourself, Nathan,” said Mr. Tilley. “Why should we help you?”

  “Great question,” a voice said. Everyone turned to look toward the stairs. Harold and Mildred were walking down. The former pinned Nathan with a baleful glare.

  “Sir, I swear, I—”

  “Don’t swear in vain, Mr. Ferland. You cheated on our beloved Amanda, and now you want us to help you win her back? You’ve got nerve.”

  “I never cheated on Amanda. She means the world to me! Erika sabotaged our Valentine’s date.”

  “You mean, you brought her with you,” Harold said.

  “Harold, I believe Nathan’s telling the truth,” said Mildred. “I can see it in his eyes. Besides, no man would arrange a romantic date at a fine restaurant just to confess he has a lover. It makes no sense.”

  “They never made sense. I always knew Mr. Ferland would eventually hurt our Amanda. All he cares about is her money.”

  “Don’t be so hard on him, Dad,” William said. “Nathan’s totally in love with Amanda. That much was clear to me whenever he visited us.”

  Nathan took a deep breath. He was grateful that Amanda’s father was sticking out for him.

  “I didn’t push Amanda away. She means everything to me. I don’t want to have anything to do with that woman who came between us.”

  “Do you truly love my daughter, or are you just enamored with her beauty?” asked Florence.

  “Amanda is lovely, especially when she’s happy and when she laughs, but I love who she is more. She fulfills me in a way no other woman ever could.”

  Florence looked at her husband, as if telling him that she felt Nathan’s words were true. She seemed moved. Mildred also looked convinced. She exchanged glances with Harold.

  “Would you do anything for her?” Mildred asked.

  Nathan nodded.

  “Anything. I would live happily just about anywhere if Amanda was there with me.”

  “What way can we help you?” Mr. Tilley asked. Harold looked at his son with indignation.

  “I hoped you would talk to her. Amanda will listen to you. Tell her that she is and always will be the only woman in my life.”

  Mrs. Tilley tapped a finger to her lips.

  “I think I know what we can do.”

  Amanda checked her smartphone for any missed texts or e-mails. So far, she’d gotten calls from Mr. Hayden and from her parents. Hayden wanted to let her know that he was assisting the Ithaca PD on the hit-and-run case. Also, Kellan had fallen in a coma. If he died, the woman who drove the truck would face a life sentence in prison.

  During the third day of Amanda’s stay in Little Rock, she met her new bodyguard. His name was Medina, a 31-year-old former police detective. Caldwell assured Amanda that Medina was one of the best guys in their private security agency.

  The next day, Amanda’s parents called. Florence wanted her daughter to stop by Joliet for the weekend before returning to Ithaca. Amanda wanted to see her parents as much as they wanted to see her, so she agreed. Amanda changed her travel plans accordingly.

  On Friday afternoon, Amanda, Emmy, and Ryan said goodbye to Brad. They were already at the bus station. Amanda hadn’t wanted to fly because of the expense, and to avoid jet lag.

  “We had a lot of fun seeing you on set,” Amanda said to Brad. “It was fascinating to see how they make movies.”

  “I’m glad you enjoyed your time here. It was great to see you, too. I’d really missed you, friend.”

  Amanda and Brad embraced each other. He then turned to Emmy.

  “I missed you too, girl. You look just as sprightly as always.”

  “Thanks,” Emmy said to Brad.

  “Does your wound hurt anymore?”

  “It’s just a scar now. I’m fine. The doctor said it’ll be a few months before I feel normal again.”

  “Thank God it wasn’t worse. You can imagine my reaction when I got the call telling me someone hurt you. I would have teleported to you if it’d been possible.”

  Emmy and Amanda both laughed. Then, slowly, Brad leaned toward the former. He gave Emmy a kiss on her cheek, moving slightly to brush her lips. She closed her eyes, feeling the sensation of butterflies in her stomach.

  “Oh, just kiss me, you dummy,” said Emmy. She put her arms around Brad and kissed him full in the lips. Amanda’s jaw dropped. She exchanged glances with Ryan. They gasped in awe.

  “I love you,” Emmy told Brad when she broke the kiss. “I just couldn’t leave without letting you know you’re mine. Not when you’re around all those gorgeous actresses.”

  Brad looked stunned, but in a good kind of way.

  “Aren’t you going to say anything?”

  “Yes. I—I’m just…I didn’t expect you to say this.”

  “Don’t be afraid to say you love me,” Emmy told him. “No one drops everything and takes off the way you did when I got injured. You flew all the way across the world just to see me.”

  Brad reached forward, touching Emmy.

  “I love you. I do. Only, I don’t think I’m the right guy for you. Emmy, you need someone who isn’t away all the time. I can’t be with you as long as I wish.”

  “That doesn’t matter. We’re in love.”

  By that time, Amanda and Ryan had taken a few steps away to give their friends privacy. Amanda almost sobbed, seeing that Emmy looked so hopeful.

  “Will that be enough for you? There’s a reason actors rarely marry, or do it when they’re quite older. Holding a steady relationship is difficult for us.”

  “Can’t you at least give me a chance?”

  Emmy feared that Brad would reject her. He reached up, caressing the side of her face.

  “If you really want to. I can’t deny you anything, my sweet girl.”

  Brad kissed Emmy, holding her face with his hands.

  There was a voice announcing that Amanda’s bus was ready to leave. Emmy broke the kiss. Tears were already glistening in her face.

  “I hope this works,” she told Brad, touching his lips.

  “I’ll try to visit you whenever I can. Stay safe, okay?”

  “Yeah.”

  Amanda and Ryan walked behind E
mmy. She looked at both of them.

  “Goodbye, Brad. And good luck with your movie,” said Amanda.

  “Thanks. Take care, you all.”

  Amanda took Emmy’s hand. They walked to board their bus with Ryan. Caldwell followed them. Brad stayed behind, watching them go. He touched his lips, remembering what it felt like to kiss Emmy.

  Next morning, Amanda and her group took a taxi to her family’s house. They were a little sleepy, even though they’d rested during the ride.

  It was almost ten o’clock when the taxi stopped outside the Tilley’s house. Amanda paid him. He drove away when they’d unloaded their entire luggage.

  “We’re here,” Amanda said. She led Emmy and Ryan up to the house. She rang the bell.

  “My jolie daughter!” Florence said, glad to see that Amanda was back.

  “Hi, Mom,” Amanda replied, hugging her mother. “It’s so good to see you.”

  “It’s good to see you too. Did you all have fun? Oh, Emmy. It’s great to see you practically recovered.”

  “Thanks, Mrs. Tilley.”

  Florence let the three of them inside. She and Caldwell helped with the suitcases.

  “I suspect you must be hungry, so I have breakfast ready. My husband is outside watering the garden.”

  Florence looked at Caldwell.

  “You may have breakfast with us, Caldwell.”

  “Thanks, ma’am. I appreciate it.”

  They went to the kitchen. Florence had home-made waffles for them. They were chocolate-topped instead of having syrup. Amanda liked the change.

  “This is delicious, Mrs. Tilley,” Emmy said.

  “Thanks, dear.”

  Amanda, Ryan, and Emmy ate their breakfast in record time. When they finished, Amanda offered to clean the plates. Florence told her she’d do them, but the latter insisted to help.

  When they were finished, Florence and the others walked to the living room. They saw that William was just back from outside. He was talking to Harold.

  “Amanda, Ryan! When did you get back?” he asked.

  “About twenty minutes ago,” Florence told him. Amanda went to hug her father.

  “Had a rough time lately, huh?” William guessed.

  “You could say so.”

  Harold held out his arms. Amanda hugged him, too.

  “I missed you, Grandpa,” she said.