Falling Star (Combustible Book 2)

by Brandy L Rivers

  He threw his hands up and his voice broke as tears burned his eyes. “I said I fucked up. I need to figure out how to fix it.”

  Mila shook her head and walked away.

  “Mila, please. What do I do?”

  “Depends on how bad you hurt her. I need to see if I can get her to talk to me. She’s probably worried I’ll take your side.”

  “I’m sorry. Mila, I’ll fix this.”

  “Not sure you can.” Her dark hair swished as she walked away.

  Another nail was driven through his heart as he turned and trudged back to his house.

  Kyle caught up with him at his door. “Mila’s worried. I’ll talk to her.”

  Trent shook his head. “I’m worried too, but Ella’s with friends. I can’t imagine she’ll stay away from Mila forever. Me—she’ll probably never speak to me again.”

  “Don’t give up. You’ll figure this out.”

  “I fucking hope so. I can’t let it end this way. I love her, and I tore her apart with the fucked up shit I said.”

  “What did you say?”

  “I saw the wineglass and assumed she’d let two strange men get her drunk. The fact that fucking stalker was in her house didn’t even register I was so pissed she was drinking—but she wasn’t. The glass was nearly full, some was spilled on the floor. I just—fuck that house yesterday, that was the same meth lab I dragged Tina from after Randy died. My head was screwed all to hell, and I broke her trust with the shit I spewed.

  Kyle rubbed his neck, shaking his head. “Can’t say I blame her from shutting you out. I get it, I feel for you, but how do you make up for that?”

  Trent wiped at his face. “Don’t have a clue, but I need to figure it out.”

  “If I hear anything, I’ll share. Just don’t tell Mila.”

  Trent managed a smile. “Thanks, but don’t do anything to get in trouble with Mila. I’ll find a way. I have to.”

  “Mila doesn’t know Tina’s whole story, or your father’s. She’ll listen to me, maybe she’ll help.”

  “What I’ve seen doesn’t excuse my actions. I accused Ella of turning to alcohol. She’d never given me a reason to even think that. This is all fucked up. I’ve never even seen her drink.”

  “Mila will understand. We’ll get through to her, then to Ella.”

  “Go back home to your wife. I need a shower, then I want to check if Ella went to the shop today. I just want to see her, even if she won’t talk to me yet.”

  “Good luck, man.” Kyle jogged back to his house.

  * * * *

  Ella sat in her office, alone. She’d sent Ryan and Shannon to get food. The press corps had shown back up, so she had music blasting out front, in an effort to drown out anything they said, or shouted.

  She sat back and dialed Mila.

  The phone barely rang once. “Ella?”

  “Yeah, I should have called sooner. I didn’t know what to say.”

  “You had me so worried.”

  “I’m sorry. I couldn’t deal with Trent and wasn’t sure you wouldn’t try to convince me to listen to him.”

  “Tell me what happened yesterday. He said Logan was in your house. Really?”

  “He caught that detail?” She snorted. “He was more fixated on the glass of wine in my hand. And no amount of what he’s gone through excuses the things he said to me.”

  “Talk to me. Start at the beginning.”

  “Promise you won’t take his side.”

  “I’m on yours, Ella. Always. I promise I won’t try to sway you.”

  Ella told her everything. Before she finished, Ryan and Shannon stood at the entrance to her office. Ryan grabbed several tissues and took them to her.

  “Where are you?”

  “Mon Armoire. Opening is soon. Got to finish getting ready.”

  “Want my help?”

  “Ryan is here with a guy from the security firm. They’re installing a new system here and at the house. Apparently Logan hacked into the one at home and rerouted it. He probably has more video. I can’t even think about what he’s doing with it. I can’t let my mind wander to what everyone thinks. I keep shutting it out. I feel so broken.”

  “Ella, let me come out.”

  “How about when I go home tonight? You can meet Ryan.”

  “Sure. Please don’t shut me out because my husband’s friend fucked up.”

  “I won’t.”

  “If you need to talk, call.”

  “Okay, but I have Dr. Eisman’s number if I need her too. And Ryan and O’Neil are here. I’ll see you tonight.”

  “See you then.” Mila ended the call.

  Ella took the tissues, wiping at her tear-streaked face.

  “You miss him,” Ryan said softly.

  “I can’t deny I love him. And I’ll talk to him when I’m ready.”

  “That feeling won’t go away in a few days, Ella. And you live across the street from him. Don’t torture yourself.”

  “Why don’t you guys go back to my house and put the finishing touches on the system there?”

  “We’re not leaving,” O’Neil said. “Not without you.”

  Ryan shrugged. “I’ll stop. I just feel sorry for the guy. It’s obvious he loves you. Hell, I could see it in the way he made love to you.”

  “Oh my God! Tell me you didn’t watch that?”

  O’Neil smirked. “Couldn’t help it. I meant to just see what sites it was on, but then the video started and you two… mesmerizing.”

  Ryan nodded. “We didn’t watch it all, but what you two share is special. And last night, after you left, he realized he’d fucked up. He was a mess. Give the man a chance.”

  Ella stood, shaking her head. “That’s not fair. I can’t be with a man who makes assumptions about me without the facts.” She brushed past Ryan and headed for the boxes of clothing.

  Ryan sighed. “How are you coping with the crews outside?”

  “I don’t hear them.” She started going through the merchandise and met Ryan’s gaze. “I know you worry about me, but you’re here, and not leaving. So help a girl out.”

  “Fine, you win.” Ryan joined her while Shannon went back to work on the security system.

  * * * *

  Trent walked up the steps to his parent’s house, dreading the impending conversations. Both with his parents, and the one he needed to have with Tina.

  He knocked on the door and Tina answered. “You look like hell.”

  “Feel like hell. Can we talk?”

  She nodded. “Sure. Though Mom wants to talk to you too. She’s worried about Ella. That sex tape…” Tina shook her head. “How the hell did that happen?”

  “Her stalker I’m guessing. Videotaped it from outside through the curtains.”

  “Is Ella all right?”

  “No, and that’s my fault.”

  “Tell me you didn’t blame her for that?”

  “No. Look, can we go out back. I just… I need you to hear me out.”

  She nodded.

  “Is Mom here? Or Dad? I’m not ready to talk to them yet. Not until I deal with my mistake. I can’t deal with the video right now.”

  “They’re at brunch with friends.” Tina walked out the back door toward a patio set.

  Trent followed.

  “So, what’s going on?”

  “I’m an asshole. Let me start by saying that.”

  Tina turned to him with wide eyes. “What did you do?”

  “Yesterday was a fucking mess. Mitch started shit about the video. I busted his face. Then I dealt with the police and lawyers, trying to figure out how to get the video taken down. Ella’s brother was there, he doesn’t seem to like me much, and after the shit I said last night, he has every right to hate me.”

  “Whoa, slow down. What?”

  He shook his head. “I’m laying out how I got to where I did. Please, listen.”

  She nodded.

  “Ella was dealing with everything fine. She sent me back to work, so I went…
reluctantly. God, I wish I hadn’t asked and just went home with her. All of this could have been avoided… at least for now.”

  He scrubbed a hand over his face and through his hair. “She called me right before she got in the tub. We only stopped talking when the alarm at the station went off. The Quinton’s place burned to the ground. All I could think about was you, and how I carried you out of there. Then I kept thinking about all the times I took you away from some messed up situation, and how you kept falling down the same hole, no matter how many times you swore you were done with that shit.”

  She sighed heavily. “I deserve that, but what does that have to do with Ella?”

  “I want to say I believe you’re finally past the addiction, I know it’s not that simple because I still find it hard to trust you. And all that shit boiled up when I got to Ella’s house and saw two strange men with her. She was holding a glass of wine in her hand.”

  “Huh?”

  He scrubbed a hand over his face. “She wasn’t answering her phone. I was getting worried. Mila hadn’t heard from her. I showed up at her place, and Ryan King answered the door. I couldn’t figure out what was going on. Ella was huddled in on herself, near a panic attack, holding a glass of wine. I immediately thought of all the times I found you like that and said a lot of shit I shouldn’t have.”

  “Have you ever even seen her take a drink?”

  He shook his head. “No. I saw her reach for a bottle of wine once, and I distracted her. But she’s never done a damned thing to make me think she’d wind up doing what you’ve done. I jumped to conclusions and made accusations. Like an idiot. And it reminded her of how the damned media has treated her.”

  “You ever find out why she had two men there?”

  “While she was in the bath, the stalker entered her house and left flowers on the bed. She was naked in the other room. I was so busy putting her in your place that I didn’t even figure that out until she walked out.”

  “Was she drinking?” Tina asked in confusion.

  “Ryan gave her a glass of wine. Apparently, she hadn’t actually sipped it. He was just trying to help her calm down. His friend is a security guru. They were there for moral support because she knew I was at a fire, and she needed her security system fixed. But I didn’t know any of it.”

  Tina shook her head, a look of disgust on her face. “Yeah, you’re an asshole. I can’t imagine how scared she was.”

  He nodded. “So when I accused her of doing what you’ve done, she shut down, shut me out, and wouldn’t even talk to me. She left her own home and slept somewhere else last night because I hurt her. She trusted me and I ripped her open.”

  Pity replaced the disgust. She gave him a hug. “Look, I know I’ve messed up countless times and I would have deserved that, but Ella doesn’t. You said it yourself, she’d never even drank anything in front of you.”

  “That’s why I’m here. How the hell do I prove I won’t do this again when I’m not even sure that’s the truth?”

  “I’ve been going to a therapist, working through my issues. I know this isn’t the same as mine, but I could give you her number. She helps family members deal with this sort of thing.”

  “Thanks. I’ll try anything to make this right.”

  She pulled out her phone and sent him a text with the number. “Dr. Eisman helps a lot of people with a lot of things.”

  Trent laughed softly. “I already know her. Why didn’t I think of that before?”

  “Because you haven’t realized that you have your own issues to work out.”

  “I figured that when I watched the love of my life walk out the door instead of defending herself.” He rubbed the tension in his neck. “She didn’t argue, wouldn’t correct me. She left with tears in her eyes, and I still didn’t get it. Not until she drove away and one of her closest friends put me in my place.”

  “Ella shouldn’t have to defend herself. She didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “I know. I’m the one who fucked up.” He gave her a sad smile. “Thank you, Tina. Sorry, I’m an asshole.”

  “You can fix this. Might take time. But she really does love you.”

  “Hope I have time to get through to her. Once she makes a decision, she sticks to it. I love her, though, and I’m not giving up, no matter what I have to do.”

  “What’s going on?” Mom asked.

  Trent’s heart thudded to a brief stop as he turned to his mother. “I may have lost Ella because I’m a moron.”

  Tina gripped his shoulder. “A moron wouldn’t accept his mistake, or admit he might have a problem.”

  “Oh, I have a problem, and I need help.” He rubbed at his face as Dad stepped outside.

  “Is Ella all right?” Mom asked.

  He shook his head. “No. She was until I slipped into the past and thought she was drinking, when she wasn’t.”

  “Huh?” Dad asked.

  He told them the whole story. The more he thought about it, the more he realized how deeply his father and sister’s addiction had affected him. He needed to talk to Dr. Eisman. He needed to get past the shit he’d been through. Tina was finally in a good place, and he couldn’t see it until she reasoned out his mistakes.

  “I need to go set up an appointment. I need to prove to Ella I know what I did was wrong, but I’ve learned my lesson.”

  Mom hugged him when he stood. “You better. I like that girl. Even if some jerk plastered you two all over the internet.”

  “I’m sorry, Trent,” Dad said. “If I hadn’t gone down that path, maybe neither of you would have dealt with these things.”

  Tina snorted. “I don’t think it’s that simple. You didn’t do this to me, Dad. I still would have fallen for Randy, and I would have still been here. But I know how much my little boy needs me, and I’m not going there again.”

  Trent hugged Tina, finally believing she meant that. She may struggle from time to time but he was sure she wasn’t going fall down that same rabbit hole next time she got depressed. “Love you, little sis. Mom, Dad, I love you too. Now, I need to go get my woman back before she shuts me out for good.”

  “Go on now, fix this and don’t make the same mistake again,” Mom stated with a warm smile. Dad nodded and shooed him toward the door.

  Apparently, he didn’t have to worry about what his parents thought about the video. They were more concerned about how Ella was coping.

  With his parent’s support, he left to start fixing his mess before it was too late.

  Chapter 40

  Ella stood in her shop, watching the shadows pass by the shuttered windows. Panic started to edge in and she disappeared into her office to dial Dr. Eisman.

  She scheduled an appointment for later that day and dropped her head into her hands. Her whole world was ready to implode.

  News crews gathered outside her shop waiting for her to come out.

  The police could find no sign of Logan though he’d been in her house just a day before.

  Trent hadn’t even tried to call or text her since that morning. The last text read, I love you, Ella. I’ll find a way to make up for last night.

  She broke down crying in her office. Ryan heard her sobbing and ran back to check on her. “Oh, angel, what’s wrong?”

  “I miss him.”

  “Then call him.”

  She shook her head. “I’m not ready. What if he does it again?”

  “He wants to make this right. Is one mistake enough to make you walk away from love?”

  She shook her head. “No, but I need to be strong enough that when I see him again, I don’t fall into his arms and forgive him if he does that again.”

  “So you’re going to shut him out because he might hurt you again?”

  “No. I want time. And I need to see Dr. Eisman.” Ella wasn’t sure if she was edging closer to a panic attack, and she wanted to talk about how bad Trent had hurt her with his accusations. She needed to sort through her thoughts before she saw Trent.

  “Wh
en?” Ryan asked.

  “Two hours.”

  “Want a ride?”

  She shrugged. “Let’s see how much longer I can handle the media outside my door first. Besides, I really would like Shannon to finish the security system at home so I can sleep in my own bed. Though I might have to burn the comforter, and anything Logan may have touched.”

  Ryan smirked. “While you’re at the therapist’s, I’ll get you a new bed set. Deal?”

  “You know what those asshats outside are going to start saying, don’t you?”

  He shrugged. “Thought you didn’t care about that? Besides, they’ve said worse about us.”

  “But what will Trent believe?”

  “Ella.” Ryan moved in front of her. “We told Trent our secret. He’s not going to believe the tabloids.”

  She managed a sad smile. “Thank you for coming to my rescue.”

  “I’m glad I could.”

  * * * *

  An hour of rambling to Dr. Eisman and Trent realized he should have spoken to a professional a long time ago about his own problems. He never imagined how deep his issues ran. After he set up a few follow-up appointments with her, he walked out of Dr. Eisman’s office and found Ella sitting in a chair, patiently waiting. She looked up and froze, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

  His heart paused as he approached. “Is everything all right?”

  She blinked slowly and whispered, “What are you doing here?”

  “Getting help with my own issues. I regret every word I said last night, Ella. I was an asshole, and I know it. I am so sorry.”

  She shook her head. “So, why are you here?”

  “I don’t ever want to repeat my behavior from last night, but I can’t let you go. When I realized why I said what I did, I decided to work through the shit in my head.”

  “Oh.” She looked down at her fidgeting hands.

  “Ella, I’m ready for you.” Dr. Eisman said.

  Ella met Trent’s gaze as a tear fell. “I hope she helps.” Without another word, she walked past Trent and into the office.

  His heart threatened to pound out of his chest as he sank into the seat she’d used. He dropped his head into his hands and waited, praying she would talk to him on her way out.