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I order something strong from the bartender and then make it a double. Ten minutes later, I can feel the alcohol seeping through my veins like a sponge, soaking up each sip.
I’m almost numb to any feeling but emptiness until I sense someone hovering nearby.
Turning around, I see Charles.
I’ve been avoiding him since I’ve gotten back from the island. Sure, Charles is one of my closest friends, but since being back, I’ve had too much stuff to deal with and have just wanted to be alone.
Until he called for a meeting I couldn’t miss.
But apparently, that meeting won’t happen because I’m too busy drowning myself in booze.
“Paxton,” he says quietly, “you all right, mate?” His voice is soft and measured, but his eyes show concern.
I give him a halfhearted shrug and continue staring into my drink. “Been better,” I mutter.
He takes a seat, lifting his hand to order.
A moment later, armed now with a beer, I watch him out of the corner of my eye as he takes his first sip, savoring each drop before swallowing.
“You know,” Charles draws out, “you can’t keep blaming yourself for the film falling apart. That’s not on you.”
“It’s still happening,” I grunt.
“You’re not going to be a part of it?”
I shake my head. Since I no longer represent Brad, no one will expect me to return to the island when they finally start filming.
Charles starts talking again, but I don’t hear what he’s saying. All I can think about is the island and . . . Mallory. I still remember how her eyes lit up when she talked about the movie.
The woman who had my heart and stomped on it without a second glance.
But it wasn’t like that, Pax.
I know that now. I know she did it all for her client. Because she’s the type of woman who gives up everything for the people she cares about.
I could have been that person to her.
Fuck. Shut up. I take another swig of whiskey, hoping to silence those memories for a few more hours.
Charles pauses for a moment, looking me over before continuing. “One day, you’ll be able to look back and realize this was just a part of your journey.”
I scoff at his words. “This isn’t about a goddamn movie.” It’s about losing the one person I thought would be—
“What’s really going on?”
I don’t answer. Instead, I lift my drink again and take a giant gulp.
“Is this about the woman?” Charles asks after an awkward silence.
Emotion clogs my throat. I take a deep breath before admitting it for the first time. “Yeah,” I grunt, “but the woman has a name . . . . It’s Mallory.”
Charles nods. “There’s more to the story, I assume.”
I sit there for a few more minutes, wondering what I should tell him. I’m not sure what to divulge, but with the movie over, there’s no reason not to talk to my friend.
“Oh, I understand now,” he says before I can tell him anything.
“You understand what?”
“You lost more than just the film. You lost Mallory, too. You love this girl,” Charles says, understanding in his voice.
“I can’t possibly love this girl,” I respond, my voice thick with emotion.
Charles looks at me like he doesn’t believe a word I’m saying. “Your disheveled appearance says otherwise.”
My gaze snaps away from Charles, and I’m suddenly aware of my appearance. I must look like shit. He’s right, though, even if I don’t want to admit it.
“Oh, shut up,” I mutter before taking another long pull of my drink. “You can’t fall in love with someone in a month.”
“Sure, you can. Love doesn’t make any sense.”
My mouth suddenly feels dry as my heart batters my chest.
Is he right?
Fuck.
He’s right. I love her. How the hell did this happen?
We sit in silence for a few minutes before I finally speak again. “You’re right,” I whisper, more to myself than anyone else. “I do love her.”
Charles pats me on the shoulder and smiles. “It’s okay to love someone, Pax. It was bound to happen. Even an arsehole like you deserves to be happy.”
“If only loving her was the problem.” I bury my head in my hands.
“Then what is the problem?”
I lift my head and look at him. “How to be with her.”
“If you can’t figure that out, you can’t be helped.”
“Harsh.” I groan.
“Just speaking the truth.”
I nod and take another sip of my drink, thinking about what to do. Love has a funny way of making everything seem much more complicated than it already is.
Charles stands, leaving his now-empty glass on the table. “Go get your girl.”
48
Mallory
@Stargossip: Things are happening. Back to the island they go...
@CoolCat4: We don’t care.
@Meangirl12: Someone put @Stargossip out of her misery.
@Ilovebrad: I’m excited.
@CoolCat4: @Ilovebrad Get a life.
This isn’t real.
My heart beats faster, like a hummingbird’s wings, as I see him standing outside my door.
