Eyes Wide Open (Healing Hearts #2)

by Renee Dyer

  Speaking of the light to my darkness, I tell Eddie that she’s hoping to meet him sometime. Surprise flickers across his face. He tells me he would like to meet her too, but I think it’s because he wants to intimidate her, see if she’ll run if he pushes. He wants to test her and see if she’s loyal to me. I know he still doesn’t trust her with my heart and I love him for that. He has my back.

  Although we’re not talking work, Cammie comes up. We’re worried about her. We’ve seen her talking to Grant and laughing with him. Actually laughing with that smarmy little motherfucker. What could he possibly say to her that she would find funny? How does he not make her skin crawl? It makes me glad now that I never had a little sister because I can guarantee I would have kicked a lot of little bastard’s asses along the way to her growing up. Being Cammie’s friend is testing every ounce of patience I have and I can see it is for Eddie too.

  At first, I thought that maybe Eddie had a thing for her, but I kept watching them and there’s no chemistry there. She’s like a little sister to him too. For a while, I thought Eddie was gay, but the more time I spent with him, the more I realize he just hasn’t seen the smile. I see him at clubs, the way he trolls for women, the interest he has, but he hasn’t seen her yet.

  Hell, maybe I’m wrong. Maybe he is into guys. I don’t care either way. He’s still my best friend and I hope he sees the smile sooner than later so he can find his happiness.

  We settle our bill and walk around downtown for a little while. Vancouver in early fall is perfect. It’s the perfect blend of the sun shining down on you and the crispness in the air so you don’t get hot. I turn my face to the sky and revel in how perfect the day is. “This is how it should always be, Eddie. This is my kind of weather,” I say, keeping my eyes closed for a second, enjoying the moment.

  “I prefer the heat and women wearing next to nothing.” I laugh and open my eyes. A glimmer catches my attention and I turn to the left. Holy shit.

  I’m not sure what Eddie’s still saying. I’m sure it has to do with bikinis and oiling up a woman’s almost naked body, but my feet are carrying me across the sidewalk and into a store before my brain can stop me. I hear Eddie enter the store behind me as I tell the sales lady, “I want that one, right there.”

  “The halo, isn’t it beautiful?”

  “The what? What did you just say?”

  “The halo, sir. That’s what this ring is called,” she tells me calmly with a smile on her face as she grabs it from the display.

  Well bend me over and fuck me sideways. Of course it’s called the halo. She’s my angel.

  “What the fuck are you doing, Tuck? You can’t buy her a diamond ring. You haven’t even told her you love her yet.” Eddie’s voice sounds like a cannon booming through my head.

  “Yes I did.” I sound like a whiny child arguing with his parent.

  “Whispering it the first time when she’s sleeping doesn’t count, man. Seriously, Tuck, I love you and I want this to work out for you. I can see what she means to you, but what if she runs again?”

  I look to the sales clerk who’s standing at the display case unsure what to do and back to Eddie. “Then I’ll give the fucking thing to charity to be auctioned off. But, I’m telling you, Eddie, I saw the smile. This is the girl I’m going to marry.”

  “Well, fuck me. Grams and her words of wisdom,” he says, running his hands through his hair with a grin on his face.

  “I know, right?” I smile over to the sales lady again. “I’ll take the matching wedding band too.”

  Chapter Thirty Six

  Adriana

  “I need to see him, Alahna. It’s too long to wait until Mick’s wedding.” I hear the whining in my tone, but I can’t bring myself to care. The more I open myself up to Tucker, the harder I find it is to be away from him.

  “So, go to him then, bitch,” she says back while putting together a package for a customer we have coming in later that day. I should be helping her instead of being a cry baby over missing my boyfriend.

  “It’s not that simple. He’s taping and we have the studios to run. We’ve been crazy busy. I can’t just abandon you, especially with everything we’re already booking in to make up for the time we’re taking for Mick’s weekends.”

  “Are you trying to say I’m not capable?” she asks, raising her brow at me. Dammit. I hate when she gets ornery.

  “You know that’s not what I’m saying. You’re the best at what we do, but there’s a lot to do. I can’t dump that on you because I’m missing my boyfriend. It’s not okay.”

  Her lips lift in a huge, the cat ate the canary grin. “Your boyfriend, huh? Adri has a boyfriend?”

  “Shut up, asshole.”

  Her laughter rings through the studio. “Listen, Adri. Head out this Friday morning and come back Sunday. It doesn’t give you a lot of time with him, but it sure as hell beats kissing your computer screen, doesn’t it?” I start to list the reasons this is a bad idea and she gives me the stink eye. I mean, so bad, I think I almost die on the spot. “It’s not up for discussion. Book the fucking flights or I’m booking them for you.”

  “I’m kind of scared of going that far away by myself,” I admit. She knows my fear of flying. I’d like to say I kicked the fear when I flew to Kansas and back, but I was in panic mode the entire time trying not to throw up.

  “Ah, sweetie. I wish I could go with you, but I can’t. Oh, wait, why don’t you call Adrian and see if he can go? You said he has a couple guys working at the shop now. Maybe he could use a weekend away.”

  I smile and run for the phone, loving the idea of getting to possibly spend some time with my brother. We’ve both been too busy to hang out much lately and this would allow us to catch up.

  I look over at the seat next to me, Adrian is asleep and I can’t help but smile. I love him for always being there for me. It wasn’t even a question when I called him about this weekend. He knows my fear of flying and offered to come along. I didn’t even need to ask.

  We talked for half of the flight, but he was exhausted so now he’s resting while my mind goes crazy. Tucker doesn’t know I’m coming. I want to surprise him. He told me I’m all set at the security checkpoint to enter the set anytime. I figure I’ll use that to my advantage to pop in without us planning a visit. I want to see him in his natural setting.

  Excitement overruns me as I watch Adrian sleep. He looks so peaceful and handsome, even though he could use a haircut. His hair is a little out of control. Someday, he’s going to make some lady very happy. I don’t know why he shies away from dating and relationships, he’s the whole package.

  He’s sweet and he’s hardworking. He was raised to understand the values of respecting the person in your life and every relationship is a fifty-fifty, give and take situation. His heart is so full of love and he’s funny. Any woman who doesn’t see how good looking he is, is blind. Not that looks should be the deciding factor, but Adrian has everything I’ve ever heard women around me say they want. This isn’t me being biased because he’s my brother.

  I just wish I knew why he chooses to remain alone.

  It’s not that I’ve never seen him with a woman. There have been a few here and there, but no one that he’s ever gotten serious with or that he’s referred to as more than a friend. I try to remember if there was one that he may have looked at differently, but I don’t recall anyone that made him smile in a way that meant she was special to him.

  I close my eyes and try to follow his lead. I want to be fully awake when I see Tucker. I really hope he can get a little time away from the show, but I’ll be happy watching him. Shit, I hope they’ll let me watch him.

  I hope this wasn't a mistake

  “You sure you want to head straight there, sis? We’ve been on the go since two-thirty this morning. That and the time change will catch up to you.”

  “I only have the weekend to spend with him. I’m not wasting a single moment. I’m in the same city as Tucker. I’m going to him as soon as
I freshen up.”

  He throws his hands up in mock surrender and laughs at me. “Alright. Just call me when you meet up with him and tell me if we’re all having lunch together.”

  I promise to do that and go about making myself presentable. All that time on the plane was not kind to me. I chuckle to myself as I pull my Tucker Slut t-shirt from my luggage and pair it with skinny jeans and black heeled boots. I leave my hair loose and apply a small amount of make-up.

  Happy with my appearance, I kiss Adrian on the cheek, grab a sweatshirt, the rental keys, and head for the lobby. Butterflies fill my stomach. I can’t wait to see Tucker’s face when he sees me here.

  Chapter Thirty Seven

  Grant

  I hate that motherfucker. I hate how he thinks he knows who I am and that he should keep people away from me. If he had any idea, he would grovel at my feet. Self-assured piece of shit. Someday, I will take everything from him. Show him he is not the superstar he has convinced himself he is.

  How dare he tell Cammie to keep her distance from me?

  Cammie.

  The light in my darkness. Her smile makes my days here on this show bearable, makes having to work around that son of a bitch worth the agony. And, he had the audacity to tell her to keep her distance from me.

  Who the fuck does he think he is? Does he think he’s that perfect, that he’s never fucked up before? Does he really think he’s better than me?

  Violent urges swirl in my mind and I have to remind myself to breathe. This is not the time to exact my revenge. What I have planned for him, he’ll never see coming. I just need to breathe and not lose control before then.

  It’s so hard when he has his arm around the woman I want in my life and he’s walking out of the set with her. She’s looking up at him smiling and he’s staring at her like he’s going to eat her alive. She’s innocent and I know he is so far from that. Everyone on this show thinks he’s the fucking golden boy, but I know him for the asshole he is.

  Him and Eddie, who is hot on their tails. I don’t know where they’re taking her. We’re all scheduled to shoot today so they should all be here. If they do anything to taint her, in anyway, I swear those two will not survive me. I will make them pay.

  My shoulder blades start to itch and I know someone is watching me. I turn and Victoria waves at me, nodding toward Tucker, Cammie, and Eddie’s backs as they walk out the door. I want to unleash hell on that bitch, but she isn’t worth it. She’s already played her part in my plan. The whore went to my bed willingly and helped to show everyone that Tucker is not so perfect.

  I smile remembering how easy it was to get her to walk away and the look on his face when he saw us together. The look on his face will be even more priceless when I bring him down completely.

  Chapter Thirty Eight

  Adriana

  I sit at the security station while the guard calls Eddie to see where he should send me. There’s some kind of problem reaching Eddie and I start to worry. Tucker has told me repeatedly that Eddie is always there. My palms start to sweat and my stomach hurts. It feels like hours while I wait to hear what is going on.

  After a minute or two, he turns back to me and informs me that Tucker is in his trailer. He hands me a map and draws a line in blue marker of where I need to go. The line makes me think of Tucker’s eyes. I thank him before making my way to Tucker.

  Thank God for the map. There are buildings, which I assume are sets, all over the place and trailers. I would have been lost as soon as I drove away from the security station. I pull up in front of a trailer and I can’t stop my smile. This is where he is. I pull the visor down and check myself over one last time before getting out.

  The door is open and I wonder if he leaves it open all the time or if security told him I’m coming. I’m disappointed that he may know I’m here and that I won’t be able to surprise him. I walk up the small steps. I’m giddy and can’t wait to be in his arms. One more step and I’ll be inside, be with Tucker, and see his smile. I’ll be able to run to him, wrap my arms around him and kiss him.

  The thoughts are more than I can take. I need to see him. I take that last step into the trailer, turn to the left, and freeze. My whole world collapses at my feet and my heart shatters. I want to run away from the pain I’m being subjected to, but I’m frozen, unable to turn away from the truth in front of me.

  How could he?

  Tucker stands before me with a woman wrapped around him. Her top is off, her bra still on. Their mouths are connected, her arms wrapped around his neck and her legs around his waist. He has one hand under her ass and the other is running up her back. I can tell his chest is bare and that means her bare skin is touching his.

  I think I’m going to be sick.

  In my head, I’m screaming stop, screaming that he is mine. Shouting that she is a fucking whore and he’s a Goddamn cheat. Doesn’t he know what this will do to me? I just gave myself permission to move on and care and this is what happens. He’s fucking cheating on me.

  The first tear falls silently down my face as I see Tucker fist her hair and pull her head back. I watch him bury his head in her neck. I push my fist to my mouth, trying to strangle the sound that wants to burst forth from my throat, but it’s no use. A horrified sob escapes me.

  Tucker’s head pops up over the floozy’s head and I see panic in his eyes. That’s right, asshole, I’m here and I caught you. “Sweetness?”

  I can’t let him fake confusion or try to talk his way out of this. I saw what he was doing. I turn and run, jump in the car, and have the keys from my purse faster than I can think, fuck him. Tears stream down my face as I make my way back through the maze of sets and trailers. Back at security, the guard who helped not long before looks at my tear stained face. He doesn’t ask any questions, just opens the gate, and lets me leave.

  I can barely see as I drive, my tears fall so hard. Fucking Tucker Stavros. How could I be so stupid as to think he would be faithful to me? He was so far away and there are so many women throwing themselves at him. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I turn on the radio, needing some sound to drown out the thoughts in my head. When Behind These Hazel Eyes comes on I scream, “Fuck you world! Fuck you for taking Alex and fuck you for letting me love Tucker!”

  I slam my hand into the power switch, needing the song off, and grab my cell. I need Alahna. I dial her and when she answers, I just cry. It takes a few minutes before I can calm down enough to speak. I talk to her the entire way back to the hotel, which is a good thing. I probably would have crashed the car if I hadn’t called her.

  I sit in the parking garage, trying to breathe, needing to gain my composure. I can’t go back to the room like this. Adrian will hunt Tucker down and kill him. There will be bloodshed and I won’t be able to stop my brother.

  Twisting my hands together, I tell myself I deserve this. I pushed him away for so long. Maybe he had a relationship with her before we started back up. It wasn’t like we were really a couple before. We were just trying to see where things could go, but we never talked about what we were.

  But, this time we are a couple.

  I swallow back the scream I want to let loose at the world, at the people walking to their car a few spaces away, oblivious to the pain I’m in. I want to rail at the skies, at a God who has apparently decided I will never have happiness. Every time I find it, he swipes it out from under my feet. I thought he was supposed to be patient and kind. All I see is a malicious and cruel God who keeps forcing me into darkness and hurt. I’m done praying for peace. I know it never comes.

  With steel in my heart and determination to never let love in again, I make my way to my room. I’m going to ask Adrian if we can switch our flight and go home today. I don’t want to be in Vancouver any longer than I have to be.

  Chapter Thirty Nine

  Tucker

  “Answer your fucking phone, Mickayla!” It’s my third time calling and I’m starting to panic. I need to know where Adriana is. I need to tell her what happened.
She needs to know what she saw.

  “You motherfucking asshalf! How dare you keep calling me after what you did to her? I told you to fucking make her happy. That’s what she deserves. You knew it would be hard to break through her walls. You fucking knew that. She was broken, but you were putting her back together and then you do this. You are so fucking lucky I’m not there with her or I swear to Christ your fucking balls would be so far up your ass right now. What the fuck were you thinking? I can’t be—”

  “I didn’t fucking cheat on her. I have proof!” I have to yell as loud as I can to stop her verbal tirade. I’m surprised Adriana called home to the ladies so fast.

  “Proof, what fucking proof can you have when she caught you with a whore wrapped around your fucking waist?” I hear the fire in her voice, but now I’m pissed too. Cammie is not a whore. She’s my friend and we were working. This needs to end now.

  “I was practicing a scene. For Christ’s sake, Eddie was in there taping it. I have Eddie e-mailing the scene to me now so she can see it if you’ll just tell me where the hell she is.”

  She’s quiet for a second. I don’t know if she believes me or not. “Well fuck, Hot Stuff, you better go get her then.” She tells me where Adriana is and apologizes for telling me off.

  “Hey, Mickayla, did you call me an asshalf?”

  I hear her laughing as she replies, “Yeah. Well, you weren’t exactly deserving of being called a whole ass, were you? It’s an old Adrianism.” She laughs again. “Go get our girl. I’ll text her and tell her it was a mistake so you can get through the door.”

  “How bad was she when you spoke to her?”

  “I didn’t talk to her, Hot Stuff. She called Alahna. Alahna sent a message to Dee and I, letting us know that we need to be ready to take care of her when she gets home. I’ll text them too so they stop hating on you.”