“Can you just shut the hell up, Dad?” Eli snapped. “Don’t talk about her.”
“Relax, son. You’ve won. You’ll get to make your precious movie. You did good.”
“And we just have to get through this last day,” Shay pointed out.
“I know you should stay together for a while for appearances, but really, Eli. Going to Chicago with her? It’d be better if you just came back to LA.”
I stumbled away from the door, unable to listen any longer. My throat felt thick with nausea.
Plan? Perfect choice?
It had all been a set up.
Eli wassupposedto choose me to clean up his image.
I dug my fists into my eyes, willing the panic to subside. How had I let my guard down so fully that I’d missed this? Here I was, just worried that I might get hurt because he could lose interest. The reality of it all was so much crueler than I could have ever imagined.
A choked sob escaped my throat before I covered my mouth with both hands. I whipped my head around, looking down the still-empty hallway. I couldn’t be here. I couldn’t face anyone like this.
Before my brain could communicate instructions to my feet to run, Brady turned the corner. He gaped as soon as he took in my distressed appearance.
“Calla? What’s wrong?”
All it took was the sound of my name for my flight response to finally kick in. Turning away from him, I sprinted down the long hallway. A few turns, and I was out the front door. I didn’t look back as I ran down the long gravel road.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The biggest problemwith filming a reality show in the middle of nowhere was that there was absolutely no place to escape to if it all blew up in your face.
I wasn’t quite sure how long I’d been walking, but it must have been close to an hour. I couldn’t say for sure. I had been too busy replaying all of my interactions with Eli to try to decode the true meanings behind them.
How had it all been a lie? Just some perfectly orchestrated plan to clear his reputation. And he gotwhatout of this? The chance to make his movie, apparently. He’d made it abundantly clear how important that was to him. It was one of the first things he’d ever said to me. Maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised, in hindsight.
The dirt road had ended a ways back and turned into a two-way paved road. Who would have thought something as simple as concrete would seem like a sign of life? I kept waiting to spot more signs of civilization; some place that would have a phone. Instead, I’d only passed a few other windy dirt roads that probably led to other farms or ranches.
I could have attempted to jump the fences and get their attention, but a woman traveling alone out here, wandering onto a mysterious ranch all by herself? I wasn’t about to turn this already sad story into an even sadder one.
My feet ached and I thought about turning around. It was stupid to be out here alone. No water. No food. No way of contacting anyone. It was all so dumb, especially now that the sun hung threateningly low in the sky.
Crap.
I was definitely going to perish out here. And how sad was it that my first thought was that at least I wouldn’t have to face Eli?
There was a turn-off ahead. Picking up my pace, I crossed my fingers that it led to somewhere with a working phone. As I drew closer, my hope rose.
A campsite. There were picnic benches, signs. Even little cabins.
I started to run. But when I turned the corner and saw the campground, I deflated. Every site sat empty. Not a single car, nor even a worker anywhere. I walked over to the large sign at the entrance.
Closed for the season.
“Well, isn’t that perfect,” I mumbled, slumping onto the nearest bench seat. Bringing my knees to my chest, I wrapped my oversized sweater around them.
I sat there, waiting for the tears to come, but my eyes felt all dried up. I’d probably used up every tear I had on the first mile of the walk. I’d been a blubbery mess.
As I sat there and stewed, I found I still couldn’t accept what I’d heard.
How could it be true? How could this be my life right now? I had finally found the courage to open up after losing Michael, andthiswas the result.
