“True. But that’s only the surface story. Pass me a beer, Wyatt. Where are your manners?”
He pressed his lips together so he wouldn’t laugh, then complied. “Surface story?” he repeated as he twisted the top off. “What do you mean?”
“Just that, yes, I lived in the spotlight, but I like being the center of attention. It suits me. And so I went for it. And I did okay, if I do say so myself. But what if I’d never gotten my break? Been born into another family? I don’t know, but I think I’d still be acting. Maybe not in movies. But on a small stage in Kansas. Maybe playing the nurse in Romeo and Juliet. Or perhaps I could be in The Little Foxes. I always adored that play.”
“You’re teasing me,” he said, but she shook her head earnestly.
“I’m not.” She sat up and reached for him, tapping lightly on his chest. “If it’s inside of you—here—then go for it. Because you want to. But not because you think it matters to me or your mother or Jenna. Do you think Jenna cares about the cameras? She only cares because it gives her the clout to open more restaurants and try out more recipes. That girl would cook in a log cabin if that was her only option and you know it.”
It was true. He did know it.
“But my dad—”
“Your dad had other problems. And maybe your mother should have told you some of it after he died, but I think she hoped you would all move past it.”
“Dad thought she didn’t respect him. That you didn’t.”
“Carlton was a good man. But he was a fool in a lot of ways. That was one. He was a good CPA. Goodness knows he got my financial house in order after that ridiculous shyster—well, never mind. I loved that boy. And if he felt less because the spotlight left him in the shadow, then I’m truly sorry. But that was only him. Your mother adored him. I adored him. Like I said, it was nice to have someone around who didn’t read Variety before the actual news.”
“I thought Variety was the news,” he deadpanned.
“There? See? You are one of us.” She smiled, and in that moment he wished he had his camera. “So you tell me, Wyatt. What is it you want? The spotlight? Fame? A family? Respect?”
The answer came fast, without him even having to think.
Kelsey.
When he cut through all the crap, all the ambition, all the garbage, she was the only thing he saw.
And it was time he told her so.
29
“You should have told me that’s where the money was coming from,” Griff says as he cracks two eggs into a skillet. “I thought it was from that savings account you started a zillion years ago.”
I shake my head, but don’t tell him that Daddy emptied that account out ages ago.
“I’m really sorry,” I say for one more time. “I’ll borrow the money from Nia—it’s weird taking money from a friend, but she understands and—”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“—and I’ll pay her back eventually with—” I look over at him from where I sit at the Formica table, something in his tone catching my attention. “Wait. Why don’t I?”
“I have the money.”
I sit back in my chair. “You have the money?”
“Well, technically no. But I’m officially in the protocol, and I don’t owe a dime.”
“Oh.” I’m very confused. “How?”
“You, apparently.”
Now I’m even more confused, and I tell him so. “So speak slowly and use small words.”
“I guess Stark offered to cover your salary if you were fired, and you said no?”
“Yeah. So?”
“Well, I guess he doesn’t do no well. He asked Wyatt what you were supposed to get paid, and Wyatt told him about the protocol.”
“And?”
“And apparently he owns the company.”
I blink. “Say again?”
“The company that’s doing the trials is a division of Stark International. So he pulled strings. At any rate, I’m in. Because of you. Or because of that bitch Leah,” he says with an evil grin. “But I’d rather thank my big sister.”
“You’re in,” I say, more to myself than him. “That’s—wow.”
Part of me thinks I should call Stark and say that’s really unacceptable. After all, I turned down the salary reimbursement.
But since that would be insane, I don’t make that call. Instead, I hop off my chair and race over to hug my brother. “This is so amazing!”
“I know, but don’t get excited yet. I’m only in. Who knows if it’ll end up doing any good. I may not get any range of motion back.”
But I refuse to be deterred. “It’s fabulous,” I say as I reach for my phone. My hand halts midway to my back pocket though.
I was about to call Wyatt.
Griff’s watching me, and I can tell from his expression he knows exactly what I was doing. “Now you really don’t have to be in the show. You don’t need the money.” He meets my eyes. “Unless there’s something else you need.”
There is, of course. I need to shake off the specter of my father. I know it. And with Wyatt, I’d been managing it.
But then all that progress had been ripped to shreds because of a few stupid pictures. And everything I’d believed I’d fixed in myself unraveled all over again. And in the unraveling, I’d hurt the man I love.
I sigh deeply.
I need to get back on track. I need to kick Karma to the curb.
Most of all, I need Wyatt.
I need him desperately.
But after the way I walked out, why on earth would he want me, too?
I’m about to explain all of that to Griff when my phone rings. I snatch it up, hoping it’s Wyatt—and then I’m absolutely shocked when it is.
“Hi,” I say softly.
“Hi, yourself. You’re not in Valencia.”
I blink and stand up straighter. “You went to my condo?”
“I figured it was the logical place to find you at six-thirty in the morning. I was wrong.”
“Oh. I’m at Griffin’s.”
I can picture him nodding. “I should have guessed.”
“Why did you—”
“I’d rather say this in person, but my trek across Southern California ate up my time, and I have to get back to the studio, because Cass can only shoot from eight to ten today.”
“Cass?”
“She’s stepping in for you. It’s fine,” he adds before I can say anything. “More than fine, because I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to do. I love you, Kelsey.”
The words slip out as if he’s said them a thousand times, and my heart flips over in my chest.
“I love you,” he repeats. “And if I have to choose between my perfect vision of the show and you, well, I choose you.”
“Wyatt, I—”
“No,” he interrupts. “Don’t say anything. I’ll call you later. And maybe I can buy you dinner and we can talk. Okay?”
“Okay,” I say, a little shell-shocked.
“Good,” he says. “I love you, Kels.” And then he just hangs up.
“What?” Griff demands, sliding the plate of eggs and toast onto my place at the table. I return to my chair, but just sit there, not eating. Not answering Griff’s question.
I can’t answer. I’m too stunned. Because I love him, too, but I did nothing but run away.
Yet he just sacrificed everything for me. His vision. His work.
And all I’m doing is hiding here inside these four walls—
Well, fuck that. Fuck. That.