Falling for the Ghost of You(74)

A bunch of black credit cards—all with the name "Crosswinds Corporation" on them. I find his driver's license—Zane O' Connor. But the picture is of scruffily gorgeous superstar Aiden Cross.

I stare disbelievingly at the picture. I’ve never seen his license before—why would I have? The longish dark blonde hair, those extraordinary sky blue eyes…I’ve seen his face countless times on television, magazine covers…all over Kim’s locker.

He looks like Bill this way, I realize faintly. The hair dye, the contacts...all for what? To research a role for a movie?

Is that what this is? Is that what I am? Research? It makes sense now. Zane—Aiden—was using me. Of course he was. I knew there was something he was hiding, and like an idiot, I never pursued any of my suspicions. Because, deep down, I trusted him.

What an idiot I am.

I stand there, frozen, until the sounds of the shower turning off propels me into action. I put Zane's wallet back, and his script, then I frantically throw on something to wear.

I need to get out of here. I don't even want to look at him, or be in the same room as him. I have to go.

I grab my things together, not caring if I missed anything. Shoes—where the hell, are they?!

I spot them under a chair. I grab them and sling my bag over my shoulder, and race towards the door.

The bathroom door is just opening. I don't stop. I reach the door, throwing it open, then carefully shutting it behind me. I don't want him to know I've left. Not yet.

Heart pounding so fast, I'm breathless and dizzy, I slap at the elevator's down button. Finally, the doors slide open. When I'm pressing the lobby button, I hear my name being called.

I look up to see Zane running full speed down the hall, shirtless and shoeless. He is coming so fast, he might catch me before the doors close. I stab the close button over and over. The doors slide shut with Zane just an arm’s length away.

I guess I'm crying. Hot tears fall relentlessly from my eyes as I sag against the wall.

The look on his face—confused, frustrated, a little angry. He doesn't know I know.

I don't remember getting out of the elevator and going through the lobby. Everything is becoming increasingly foggy. I just find myself standing in front of the hotel all of a sudden.

A blue and white car stops in front of me. Numbly, I open the back door and slide into the seat.

"Can I help you?" the dark haired driver asks, swiveling his head to look at me.

"I need to get home to Hidden Cove."

"Lady, this isn't a cab."

Oh. Great.

"Sorry," I mutter, quickly sliding back out.

This time I make sure the car says cab on it before I get in.

Rico's Cab Service. Wonderful. I climb into the backseat of the tiny white car.

"I need to get to Hidden Cove. Please hurry," I say to the grandmotherly woman behind the wheel.

She frowns at me through the rearview mirror. "Hidden Cove, you say? That's two hours away. I don't really..."

She trails off, studying me harder. "It's going to be quite a bit of money," she warns.

"That's fine, I have it. Just—please, go!"

Zane has just appeared out the doors. He spots me just as we are pulling away.

It's close. He manages to thump on my window before my cab driver accelerates and we leave him behind.

I can't help glancing back to look at him. He's standing in the road, breathing heavily, watching me go.

I turn away from the sight of him, squeezing my eyes shut. The pain in my heart is crushing.

"That you boyfriend?" Grandmotherly Lady asks. "What'd he do to you?"

"Nothing," I say, my eyes still closed. "It’s just—he's...not who I thought he was."

"They never are, dear."



I ignore my phone's constant beeping, letting me know I have missed calls and text messages. I've been on the internet, looking up Aiden Cross. According to pictures and various gossip sites, Aiden Cross and beautiful young actress Alaina Skye are a hot item. God. According to one article, the picture of Aiden and Alaina, laughing with their arms around each other, was taken just a couple of days ago. I want to vomit.

There are pictures of him with many other gorgeous girls as well. At clubs, restaurants...on the red carpet. He's caught in one picture with his hand on a supermodel's ass in one. He makes headlines when he's pictured sporting a sexy new short-haired clean-shaven look. His hair is blonde in all the photos, his eyes that vivid swimming pool blue.

I try to look for the Zane I know in the pictures of the famous singer, but I don't find him. I'm looking for someone who doesn't exist.

I'm so cold. My insides are frozen, and my chest aches. The rest of me is numb. I don't know...what am I going to do?

I scroll through my messages, and my heart gives a jolt when I see I have fifteen calls and texts from Mom.