The idea of "fun times with the guys" with all that's going on makes me physically ill. I cross my arms, daring a glance back her way without letting myself comfort her in some way. "Will I still have a job when you get back, or should I start looking for something else?"
"I honestly don't know what to expect after I get out." Her lips twist with another sad smile. Every time she does that it's like taking a punch in the chest. "I guess you should look for something, just in case. There's a chance they'll fire me for messing up production. Who knows … I might decide it's too stressful to continue anyway. And it doesn't seem fair to keep you on after everything I did to you."
The beach spins around me as I hold her stare. "For what it's worth, this hurts. A fuckin' lot. But I've had the time of my life with you the past few weeks. Doubt I'll ever find another woman like you even if I tried." I lick my lips and think carefully about what to say next, praying it doesn't make me sound like a pansy ass. "I hope I'm not on your list of regrets either."
"You're not." She reaches up, taking my face in her cold, narrow fingers. "I'll always cherish what we had. Part of the reason I want to get better is because I know I'm not worthy of you this way. And before you say that I am, just know there are things I haven't told you about my last relationship. Like I said, I have many regrets." She smiles with fresh tears in her eyes. "But I didn't want my decision to be with you when I wasn't ready to become one of those regrets. You're the kind of man I could love all the way to the end of time."
Caught up in the sincerity behind her words, whatever I want to say in return becomes lodged in my chest. Hopeful it means she'll give me another chance one day, and scared as hell she won't, I lean down and brush my lips over hers. Angie lets out a quiet whimper, locking her arms around my neck and rejoining our mouths, accepting my tongue without hesitation.
I could take this woman right here in the sand, making love to her until the sun comes up, and I'd have zero regrets for as long as I live. The way she's responding, rubbing her body against me and devouring my kiss, I doubt she'd ask me to stop. But that wouldn't be fair to her after everything she said. And I can't exactly stomach the idea of messing around with her without protection when she's possibly already carrying my child that she's planning to "take care" of, like it's an item to check off a to do list.
Somehow I manage to reel it in, ending the kiss on a sweeter note with a soft caress to her cheek before pulling away. As I smile down on her, my chest pinches with the power of a heart attack. "I'm proud of you for doing this. Focus on whatever it takes to get better. Whatever you decide in the end, I'll always be here for you."
12
Asher
Less than a week after Angie leaves for Minnesota, I'm on the verge of losing my shit wondering how she's doing. Wondering if she did the ultrasound thing. Wondering if she had an abortion.
She stuck around a few days after finding out she's pregnant, waiting for an opening at the treatment center. In the meantime, she met for endless hours with the producers and writers of the show, planning how they'd work around her absence. The night before she left, I escorted her to a restaurant where she had dinner with Theo. About killed me standing outside the room, listening to the quiet mutter of their voices without understanding the words. Afterwards, she never mentioned what she said to him either. For all I know, she's still stringing him along. Maybe even told him he's the father of her child.
Hard as it was to do, I made a promise not to push her about anything. I was only there as her support system. At least she let me escort her to another one of Charlie's private jets. When it came time for her to board, she hugged me and kissed me on the cheek, thanking me for everything. Told myself she wasn't saying goodbye, but I can't get it through my fuckin' head that what we had may be over.
I haven't done much outside of my place other than hit the gym and the Cuban place she took me the first night I moved down here. So I give in and invite the guys down, knowing they'll at least distract me from thinking about her 24/7. It's another full week and a half before they've finished combining the last of the corn, and three days after that when they actually appear at my doorstep.
Seeing their goofy-ass grins in person is the best thing that's happened since Angie left. As I'm clapping each of them on the back, I tell myself if I no longer have a job when Angie returns, I'd be better off returning to Minnesota since they're the closest thing I have to family aside from my parents. The only friends I've made in Miami are all from Angie's world, including the owner of the Cuban joint. Haven't had time to connect with anyone else.
Levi barges into my apartment and hurries over to the windows, staring out at the ocean view. "This place is unbelievable! You seriously live here?"
Hunter drops his bag on the floor beside me, curling his lips. These days he could be mistaken for a surfer with chin-length hair. If he were to stand next to James, one would never guess they were twins. James has bulked up since getting into professional fighting, and wears his hair trimmed short. The only big thing about Hunter is his arms. "What's that fuckin' smell?"
I sniff the air and grunt. It's actually pretty atrocious, like old gym socks and moldy cheese. "Been holed up in here since your sister left. Guess it's time to call the cleaning staff."
Levi turns back to us, scowling. "You mean you haven't been partying it up these past couple of weeks? What the hell is wrong with you, brother? From what I hear, Miami nightlife is legendary!"
"Good thing we came to your rescue," Hunter agrees, nodding as he's slapping me on the back. "We plan on rectifying that."
He wasn't kidding. We spend the next three nights in a row hitting the nightclubs, sometimes not coming back until 4 a.m. One night Levi doesn't come back at all, hooking up with a woman from the club instead. Letting loose with the guys turns out to be therapeutic. And I haven't gotten properly drunk since the move.
We're surrounded by women everywhere we go, but I don't have interest in a single one. There's only one woman I want to be with, and she may not even be thinking about me.
The fourth night, we find ourselves in what turns out to be one of the city's most exclusive clubs that's frequented by celebrities. Levi's new female friend drags us upstairs where we come into contact with a row of security guards blocking a lounge. Rage spikes my blood with the force of a speeding bullet when spotting Theo Carr among them. He's nestled on a couch between two women who could learn a thing or two about class from Angie. Dresses too tight and revealing, makeup too heavy, they're trying way too hard to impress the star they're actively pawing.
Levi catches me staring at Theo. Like the rest of us, he's had more than his share of drinks, only he's horrible at holding his liquor. "Hey, I think I know you!" he shouts at Theo. "Aren't you the guy from Angie's show?"
Theo's blue eyes dart in our direction, eyelids heavy like he's either drunk or incredibly high. I'm banking on both. His gaze stops on me. He pushes the women off him, coming at me like the devil's on his tail. "The fuck you doin' here?"
I shove my hands into my jeans before I knock the pretty boy out cold. "Takin' Angie's brother and cousin out for a night on the town. You have a problem with us being here?"
"Yeah, considering you're the asshole that convinced her she needed treatment for taking pills that helped her relax." Eyes narrowed into slits and nostrils flaring, he pokes his finger into the center of my chest. "You fucked over a lot of careers when you had her sent off, buddy."
I open my mouth to tell him I didn't do shit until I consider it may have been easier for Angie to put the blame on me. Doesn't matter. I'd rather the prick took it out on me than her any day of the week.
"You're right," I say with a chortle. "It's not like she had a coke problem or anything."
His smug smile drops. "Is that supposed to hurt my feelings, Tough Guy? Because I'm not scared of your redneck ass. No one cares about your opinion."
"Sit your ass back down, Hollywood." I begin to turn my back on him, muttering, "Your harem is waiting."
Teeth bared, he grabs my arm and spins me around so we're nose-to-nose. A bigger dude closer to my size darts over, but Theo motions for him to stop with a hand gesture. "I'm onto you, asshole. I see you sniffing around my girl, waiting for your chance. But she'd never go for a tatt'd freak like you. She's way out of your league. If you're smart, you'll learn your place as her bodyguard and back the fuck off. Return to whatever hole you crawled out from."
Considering how wrong he is, the insult rolls right off my back. "You'll never be good enough for her. You don't know a single fuckin' thing about the real Angelina Kendall."