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“Truth is,” I began, my voice barely above a whisper, “I’ve been thinking about breaking up with Remi.”
Talia’s eyes widened slightly, but her expression remained sympathetic. “You have? Why?”
I glanced down at my hands, ashamed to admit this out loud. “Remember how I told you I had that massive crush on Ghost? Well, it was a bit more than a crush.”
The corners of her mouth turned down in a frown. “I thought you got over that? You said once you started dating Remi, all those feelings went away.”
“That’s what I wanted to happen. I really did, but I can’t shake my feelings for Ghost, no matter how hard I try.” I gazed out over the park and laughed bitterly. “And you know what’s ironic? Remi just got an assignment to cover Ghost Parker’s tour for Hollywood Exposé. She’ll be traveling with them for months.”
“Shit, that must be difficult for you,” Talia said, her voice filled with genuine concern. “How do you feel about her being away and around Ghost?”
“Terrified, honestly,” I admitted, my heart racing at the thought. “I trust Remi, but I don’t know if I can handle her being so close to the one person I can’t get out of my head. She’ll be talking to him — interviewing him. It’s very intimate, in a way. That’s how she and I got so close, to begin with.”
Talia stood up and adjusted the sun shade on the stroller. “Does she know? About Ghost?”
“No, she knows that I still have feelings for an unnamed man, but I’ve slightly downplayed my fucking obsession.” My jaw tensed. “After I found out about her assignment, I thought about telling her that Ghost is that guy, but that might make things complicated. It might skew the way she interacts with him and mess up her assignment if she can’t remain neutral. This particular assignment happens to be very important for her career.”
“Keeping secrets can come back to bite you in the ass,” she warned.
“Any relationship I have with Ghost is all in my head. He doesn’t even like being in the same room as me. He’s straight as an arrow, so it doesn’t even matter, anyway. What good would it do to tell Remi?” The bitterness and pain in my voice were unmistakable.
Talia sighed, her gaze drifting toward the gently swaying trees. “Greyson, I wish I had some insight into Ghost for you, but he’s always been mysterious, keeping his emotions under wraps. I don’t think he is specifically avoiding you. There’s just something tragic in his past — he hinted at it once — that holds him back.”
“Maybe that’s why I can’t let go,” I mused, the weight of my unspoken fears settling heavily on my chest. “I see his pain and loneliness and it draws me to him. It’s like we’re both struggling with our demons and somehow, that makes it impossible for me to truly move on.”
“Grey, I think you need to be honest with yourself and Remi,” Talia advised, her tone gentle but firm. “I think you did the right thing, postponing the marriage proposal for now. You need to sort out your feelings first. There’s nothing wrong with that. Maybe both of you should take a break from your relationship during her assignment to work on yourselves. That would be one way to test if your love for each other is real.”
“Maybe you’re right,” I agreed, my mind already racing with the possibilities. Although it terrified me, I knew that confronting my feelings was the only way to find the happiness and acceptance I craved. And maybe Remi and I could weather this storm together.
“Whatever you decide, Greyson,” Talia added, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze, “remember that you deserve love and happiness, no matter who you choose or what path you take.”
I nodded, grateful for her unwavering support. “Let’s head back. I’ve got some thinking to do.”
A stiff ocean breeze blew on occasion, but the warmth of the midday sun kept it from feeling too chilly. The rhythmic sound of baby Zoe’s stroller wheels rolling across the sidewalk provided a soothing backdrop to our contemplative silence.
“Hey,” Talia said, breaking the quiet. “I just want you to know that I’m always here for you. You can talk to me about anything, anytime.”
“Thanks, Tal,” I replied, feeling the warmth of gratitude wash over me. “I don’t know what I’d do without you. You’re the only one I can talk to about this stuff.” Because I was a celebrity, I had to be very careful who I opened up to. I’d learned that the hard way.
She smiled, and I couldn’t help but notice the way her eyes gleamed in the bright sunlight. “That’s what friends are for, Greyson. And don’t worry — I won’t charge you for therapy. Yet.” She winked playfully, and I chuckled at her lighthearted attempt to ease the tension.
“Deal,” I agreed, laughing despite the turmoil bubbling beneath the surface. “But seriously, thank you. I’m going to take your advice to heart and really confront my feelings head-on. I’ve got to figure this out if I want to move on with Remi.”
Talia nodded. “It’s not an easy thing to do, figuring out all this complicated crap, but it’s the only way to find true happiness. And you deserve that. Don’t ever forget it.”
As we approached the beach house, the lingering scent of saltwater filled my nostrils, and I could hear the distant squawking of gulls. I took a deep breath, letting the cool ocean breeze clear my mind and fortify my resolve.
“Alright,” I said as I took one last peek at Zoe snuggled safely under her blankets. “I guess this is goodbye for now. Tell Ryder I said goodbye and good luck on the rest of the tour if I don’t see him.”
“Will do,” Talia promised, pulling me into a fierce hug. “Take care of yourself, Grey. And remember: no matter how hard the road gets, you’re never alone.”
“Thanks, Tal,” I murmured into her shoulder, feeling the comforting weight of her support. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
With one final squeeze, we released each other, and I turned to leave. As I walked toward my car, I knew what I had to do. Sometimes, the most difficult choices were the ones that ultimately led us to the right path — even if they seemed impossible at first. It wouldn’t be easy, but I was taking the first steps toward a future where I could finally be true to myself.
And hopefully, Remi and I would find ourselves on the same path on the other side of this.
Chapter 7
