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There’s no doubt that this has destroyed something special.
The sun is setting as I walk away from the set, dejected and incredibly lost. My head tilts toward the sky, a mixture of orange and pink.
This is gonna hurt.
I take another deep breath, thinking about what I’ll say to him.
A confidentiality clause, as well as not breaking Teagan’s trust, has my hands tied. I can’t tell him about her issues with her mother or that she deliberately sabotaged this project. In the end, it’s going to look like I don’t care about him at all.
The air around me is heavy with my thoughts as I return to my hut to pack and prepare for the journey home.
“I thought I told you not to walk around by yourself.” I jump at the sound of Paxton’s voice.
I stop, closing my eyes and preparing for what’s to come. I’m not ready. I thought I’d have time to pack and work through my words.
Turning around to look at him, I offer a small, weak smile. My eyes roam his handsome face, and my hand lifts to rub at the pain in my chest. The time I spent with him is something I’ll carry with me always.
“I’ve never been a very good listener.” I shrug.
He takes a step closer. “Are we . . . are we okay?” he asks, searching my face, likely seeing the sadness I feel deep in my bones.
“We . . .” I swallow the lump in my throat, closing my eyes to stave off the tears welling up and threatening to fall.
It’s no use. One slips past my lids, dripping down my cheek.
“Mallory,” he says, hand lifting my chin. “What’s wrong?”
I choke back a sob, shaking my head back and forth, not ready to face him.
“I’ve got to go.”
When I open my eyes, I find his head tilted, a look of confusion written all over his face. “Where are you going?”
“I’m going home,” I say so quietly that it comes out as only a whisper.
Another tear falls, and I swipe it away. I need to pull myself together. To be strong. If I’m broken and weak, he’ll ask too many questions, and I can’t have that. I’ll break and tell him things I can’t.
“Home?” His voice drops low. “What do you mean, home?”
I straighten my shoulders and look him straight in the eye, playing at being strong. “To New York. It’s time for me to leave.”
He takes a step back and crosses his arms over his chest. “I don’t understand. Did something happen? Is it your father?”
I laugh, but it lacks humor. “This has nothing to do with him. I’m taking Teagan home.”
Tears are in my eyes again, and I pray they don’t fall. I can’t fall apart now. My heart feels heavy. My mouth opens slightly, and I take a deep breath to steady my emotions.
“We’re leaving, Paxton. I just spoke with Jeffrey and Stefan—”
His head jerks back as if I’ve slapped him. “What exactly did you tell them?”
I steel myself for the incoming storm. The time has come for me to stand tall and own my decisions. “That Teagan’s out. The movie is done for her.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” He paces. “Were you even planning to tell me? Or were you going to sneak off the island and let me find out that way?”
I step forward and raise my arm to touch him, but then I stop, letting my hand drop. “This isn’t a safe environment for her anymore. I have to protect her.”
“Safe environment? What the heck does that even mean? Did something else happen?”
“I’m not at liberty to talk about that.” Paxton’s expression fades from concern to anger.
“I thought you trusted me.”
“I do trust you, but I signed a—”
His hands lift, and his face pinches. “Save it. I thought things were different. Guess I was wrong.” He turns away from me, and now I can’t see the hurt in his eyes. “Guess the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.”
“That’s not true, but I have a duty to my client.” My voice is barely a whisper now.
He pauses, his back facing me. For a long moment, neither of us says anything. We stand there in silence, my heart pounding in my chest. I watch as his shoulders rise and fall, his head lowered.
Finally, he turns back to me and shakes his head slowly.
“Just go,” he says softly. “We both knew this was how it would end.” Paxton takes a deep breath, turns, and walks away, leaving me alone and broken.
“Goodbye, Paxton,” I whisper into the wind as I watch him walk away.
Taking my heart with him.
45
Paxton
@Stargossip: Welp. That was fun. Now what? What tea do you want?
@Bradforlife: I hear Brad is already on to his next role. Maybe news about that one?
@Betterthanfiction: Brad is old news.
@CruelGirl810: We can talk politics ;)
