by Ward, H. M.
God, I hate him. My eyes narrow into slits and I tug my arm away. “Do not touch me.” My voice is steady, low, and even. “And he’s asleep so don’t be your normal dickish self and wake him up.”
Jon glances at the door with a confused expression. By the time he looks back for me, I’m hurrying down the hallway. Don’t follow me. Don’t follow me. Don’t follow me. I chant the words inside my head, but they do no good. Actually, they appear to do the opposite, because Jon chases after me and falls in step at my side. “You know you’re not wanted here.”
“Yeah, I know.” I hurry ahead, trying to get out the door before Jocelyn or the rest of Bryan’s family sees me. They can’t stand me, but I have no idea why. Bryan’s the one who broke up with me. I should be insignificant and forgotten.
“Then, why’d you come?”
I stop abruptly and look at the guy. He has no clue what Bryan did to me, how he showed up and turned my life upside down. “Bryan didn’t give me much of a choice and now that I’m trying to leave, you won’t let me. What do you want Ferro?” I fold my arms over my chest like I’m tough shit, but I’m shaking inside.
Jon studies me for a moment, looking for lies, before asking, “How’d you get here?”
“Bryan drove me.”
“How are you leaving?”
“No idea. Probably walking until I can get my friend to pick me up.”
Jon laughs at that. “You can’t walk. Some drunk movie star will smear your ass across the pavement.” I continue walking, ready to shove out the front door, when Jon grabs my arm again. “Hallie, wait—and don’t go that way. Aunt Lizzy is out there and you know how she is, perpetually pissed. Come around back. You can take my car. I’ll get it from you later after I slap some sense into my idiot cousin.”
He releases me and I follow after him. I want to protest, but I’m not waking up Bryan to ask for a ride home. Besides, he shouldn’t be driving if he’s doped up out of his freaking mind. I glance at Jon, who is one of Bryan’s best friends and blurt it out because I have to know how far Bryan’s fallen since I’ve seen him last. “Do you guys party like you used to? Or did your choice in entertainment mature over the past few years?”
Jon’s face scrunches up as he looks over his shoulder at me. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Nothing.” I’m sorry I asked. Jon gives me another look, but doesn’t let it drop.
“If you have a question, ask it.”
“Do you guys party hard? Drugs? Hookers? Ya know, stuff like that?”
Jon lurches to a stop and spins on his heel. He looks down at me with an expression that I can’t read. “Is this because of Trystan Scott?”
“No.” That was a weird response. Why would I ask about a rock star?
Jon shakes his head slightly and lets out an annoyed breath. “Bryan’s clean. He doesn’t dip his dick where he shouldn’t, and keeps his nose clean. The worst stuff the guy does is usually with me and Scott, which involves alcohol and a vast amount of stupidity.” He smirks, “But Bryan’s funny as hell—smashed or not.” Jon’s smile fades and his eyes cut back to me. “Why’d you ask?”
I lie. “No reason.”
Jon rolls his eyes. “Whatever. I’ll find out eventually and if it stems back to you—”
My eyes narrow and my voice steels. I mean every word I say. “I wouldn’t hurt him.”
“Yeah. Whatever.” He doesn’t believe me. We’re at the back of the house and I follow Jon outside to his little red car.
When I get closer I can tell what it is and smile. “You’re driving a chick car.”
Jon shoots me an evil look as he hands me the key fob. “Yeah, courtesy of my mother and her attempts to emasculate me. Do me a favor and park it in the ‘hood and leave the keys on the seat. You live in a rough part of town, right?” He grins at me and slips his hands into his pockets.
“You want me to take your car so it gets stolen?” He nods. “Pampered ass.” I grumble and open the door before sliding into the driver’s seat.
Jon pushes the door shut. “I have to get rid of it. Do you have a better suggestion?”
I start the engine. “Uh, yeah. Sell it like a normal person.”
“Fine, you have tits—you want it?” Jon’s being crass trying to get under my skin.
I laugh at him. “I have no money, smart ass.”
“But you will, right? How about this, ten grand and it’s yours—or park it someplace horrible and let the thing get stolen. You pick.”
Ten grand? Is he mental? “The car is brand new. The sticker price had to be close to fifty thousand—this thing is loaded.”
“Again, so?” I consider it for a moment. I need a car and I could spend ten grand of my advance to get this one. I was going to get an old Honda. A new Miata would be way cooler. Jon grins when he knows he has me hooked. “Drop off a check whenever you get around to it. The title is in the glove box.”
Jon starts to walk away, but I call out to him. “Hey! Does Bryan usually fall asleep this early?”
Jon turns and watches me for a moment before shaking his head. “No, maybe you wore him out. Oh, and in case I wasn’t clear—stay away from him. He has enough shit going on without you reappearing.”
I laugh and drive away muttering, “If you only knew.”
CHAPTER 14
There’s a satisfied smile on my lips when I walk up the front porch. Between Bryan and the car, today didn’t turn out half bad, well, except for the random duck attack. I must be mental, because I’m happy about being blackmailed for sex and excited about getting played into buying a car. Since I do in fact have boobs—they’re a pretty good pair, actually—the little red car is perfect for me.
When I shove open the front door, I’m shocked to see Cecily. She’s sitting on the couch next to Neil. They both stand and Cecily rushes toward me and takes my hands, jabbering about the contracts. I nod at them and look around for Maggie, but don’t see her.
I cut off Cecily. “I’m sorry, one second. Neil, where is Maggie?”
“She ran out for a little bit. She said she’d be here when you got back, but she’s running late.” Neil has a look on his face like he’s proud of me for taking one for the team, but there’s a lingering of disgust dusting his expression as well. When Cecily starts talking again, his eyes cut to her.
Cecily pulls me toward the couch. “Sit, sit. We’ve been waiting for you. I have the contracts right here. This one is for the book and this is the movie option. The contracts to purchase the rights are already in motion, this is just a formality—and more money.” She points at clauses and explains what they mean before flipping to the final page and handing me a pen. “This is it, Hallie. Sign right here and get ready for your life to change. Everything you ever wanted and more will come flooding your way.”
I stare at the papers knowing that this is a life altering moment. Neil is beaming at me, as if he were proud, but deep down he must be resentful, right? He said all that stuff about working hard for his living, and I earned mine from sex and luck. I shouldn’t feel guilty about it. This should be a happy day for me, one of the best days of my life.
Swallowing hard, I scrawl my name across both contracts and shove them back at her. “Done. When can I expect to see that money?”
Cecily laughs as she takes the papers and puts them in her briefcase. “It’ll be a while before the first payment comes in. I could spot you a little bit for now. What do you need?” She reaches for a checkbook, and pauses, waiting for me to answer.
How much do I need? Everything. Enough to move, save Maggie, and pay for my car. Before I can say anything, Neil cuts me off. “She doesn’t need anything. I’ll take care of her, but thank you.” The two of them exchange a look that has too many secret smiles. Cecily backs away toward the door, giving Neil plenty of space. I’m still sitting on the couch and Neil is standing in front of me.
He slips his hands into his pockets and smiles down at me. “I’m so proud of you, Hallie. You’v
e been through so much and you came through it more radiant than ever. There are few women who have the strength you have, and even fewer who would do anything to please the man they love. You are the right woman for me, the best companion, lover, and friend that I could ever hope for.”
Neil goes down on one knee at the same time he pulls a ring from his pocket. He holds out a golden band with a huge diamond mounted in the center. My jaw drops open, as shock steals my breath when he asks, “Will you marry me?”
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