Page 48 of Promise Not to Fall for the Rich & Famous

“Don’t act like you don’t know.”

She shot to her feet and hurried back over to the window. “Are you talking about my relationship with …” The thought occurred to her that she was probably still not allowed to revealGage’s name, so she stopped there and went a different route. “I don’t owe you anything, Jimmy. You have to know that. You can’t just string me along?—”

“I’m talking about Ava.”

Every muscle in Carly’s body clenched at the sound of her name. It seemed to be a subconscious defense tactic, guard yourself for the onslaught of pain. But to hear it at such an unexpected—not to mention alarming—fashion, she could hardly manage to pull in another breath.

She dropped to her knees and cradled the phone with both hands now. “What about Ava?” Were the sirens she heard outside or in her head?

“They know we had a baby, and they’ve plastered pictures of us holding her on like, ten different tabloids, Carly.”

“That’s impossible.”

“It gets worse,” Jimmy snapped. “Here’s the caption.Craven’s mystery mistress has a secret—a mysterious infant death from her teenage pregnancy.”

Carly’s head grew light as her vision threatened to black out altogether. She felt herself sway toward the window but caught herself by resting a palm on the glass. “I can’t believe it,” she said. “I can’t believe…and how would they get pictures?”

“They bringmeinto it by saying that the father of the infant has kept the same small-town job since he was sixteen years old.”

“I’m so sorry, Jimmy. I didn’t anticipate anything like this. I don’t…I don’t even know what to say.” And she didn’t, but Carlydidknow what to do about it. At least for the moment. She’d go home. Be near Jill and her mom and…and miss out on the last few days with Gage?

“Listen, I’ve got to figure out what I’m going to do. I’ll call you back.”

“This wouldn’t have happened if you wouldn’t have gotten mixed up with that man, Carly.”

The comment caused her to pull the phone from her face and stare at it in amazement. Had he really just said something so stupid? “Listen, Jimmy. I’m sick that this happened. I never imagined anyone would stoop so low as to plaster such a personal thing all over their pages, but one thing I’ll never regret is the time I’ve spent with Gage. I love him. And he loves me in a way you never could. Orwould.”

She ended the call then, irritation giving her the fuel she needed to act.

It didn’t take long to throw her items back into her travel bag. She wasn’t exactly sure whether she’d come back to the room or not, so Carly unplugged her phone charger as she headed toward the exit. The mug holding her unfinished coffee let off steam in the sunlight from its spot on the side table, the rest of the place looked untouched. Like she’d never been there.

Carly tugged open the heavy door and headed toward the elevators. Once she was safely in her car, she’d call Gage and ask him to meet her someplace. From there he could help her figure out what to do. Perhaps his father could use his clout to put an end to this whole mess.

In the foyer, two sets of elevators awaited her. Carly pressed the button on one set, then hurried to the other side and pressed the other. A ding sounded, the doors to her left rolled open, and Carly carted her luggage inside. Another ding sounded, and suddenly she heard a familiar voice.

“You’ve got the wrong idea, Dad, I’m telling you.” It wasGage’svoice.

The door started to close, but Carly put a hand out to stop it. This was perfect; now she could hurry and say goodbye.

“I don’t haveanyinterest in that woman,” he boomed. “How many times do I have to tell you?”

Carly yanked her hand back like it’d been burned, allowing the doors to close just in time. Suddenly the elevator sank, fast and certain, along with every hope she’d had where Gage was concerned.

That woman?Nausea rolled through her gut in a slow and thorough crawl. He’d shown up at her apartment, hadn’t he? That had to mean that he cared. Or maybe what it really meant was that he was hoping to do damage control now that her past had been splattered all over the tabloids where it threatened to taint his reputation. What if Gage hadn’t sent that text to his father after all? What if he’d been keeping his true feelings a secret this whole time?

Carly had skipped the valet service upon arrival and opted for the guest parking garage instead—thank heavens she had. She didn’t want to stop walking for a second. Or to speak to a single soul. She wished she had a pair of sunglasses as big as her face and a sign that saidplease don’t look at me, talk to me, or see that I’m here.

Her phone started to buzz from inside of her bag. Probably Gage realizing that she wasn’t in her room. Or at very least, not answering. It seemed, by what she’d overheard him saying to his father, that Gage wanted to get her out of his life, and quick.

Carly would give him what he wanted. She’d get out of his way. She only wished she could take the horrible gossip about her past along with her.

In a frantic rush, she pried open the back door to her rental car and shoved in the luggage. Next she sank behind the steering wheel and slammed the door closed. The loud sound of her panting breath filled the space.

It felt like the blood in her veins had been swapped out for acid, her insides burning as she considered the depths of Gage’s betrayal. Just moments ago, Carly had told Jimmy that shedidn’t regret her time with Gage, but that was when she thought he was interested in a future with her.

Dealing with gossip for a man who’d committed to her was one thing. But taking the brunt of such slanderous words for a man who’d been hiding his feelings for her all along? That wasn’t something she was willing to take. If she’d merely traded one unavailable man for another like she’d feared, Carly would be forced to cut Gage loose too.

One day, she’d manage to move on. One day, she might even love again. But for now, Carly couldn’t imagine how she would get through the pain.