“No problem.”He gives me a mock salute.“Good luck with the girl, Jannik.”
He’s sincere, but he’s no actor.His interest in Leah is evident to anyone who cares to look.
Shoving the thought aside, I answer Mateo’s call.“It’s a bit late in the evening for business.”
“Gage, I have something for you,” he says without preamble.As if we’re picking up a conversation we left off yesterday, instead of several years ago.
“Mateo.We’ve had this conversation.”
“This script, Gage.You need to see it.Kobayashi is directing?—”
“It’s good hearing from you, Mateo.I hope you’re well.But you’re no longer my agent.”
He clears his throat, offers me a half-hearted chuckle.“I could be.And you could get back in front of the camera where you belong.”
“Nothing sounds worse than that.My answer is the same as it’s been for the past sixteen years, Mateo.No.I’m not interested in returning to Hollywood.Not now, not ever.I’m done.”
“Gage, this is the opportunity of a lifetime.”
“You said that about the last three scripts.Goodbye, Mateo.”
I end the call, shutting off his protests.
As soon as I do, my phone rings again.I swear under my breath, ready to decline the call without looking.Luckily, I glance at the screen first.
The new caller is Leah.
8
Dmitri
I haul everything from the dock back to the house.My heart thuds heavily in my chest.I don’t know how to make this better.I don’t know how to help Leah get over Gage’s past.
A part of me doesn’t want to help.
I meant what I said—I’ll share Leah if that’s how I can have her.But what if I didn’t have to share?The idea is tempting, tantalizing.
As soon as I go inside and see Leah sitting at the base of the stairs, knees tucked to her chest and arms holding them in place, my fantasy melts away.I can’t stand to see her hurting, and this is tearing her apart.
She’s happier with Gage.That doesn’t mean she isn’t happy with me.But she wants him, too.Can I live with that?Yes, I fucking can.Because in the end, I want my girl to be the happiest she can be.
I kneel in front of her.
She sniffs and blinks, holding back tears.“I’m sorry I’m an asshole.”
“You’re not an asshole.But you shouldn’t give up.Fight for the people you want.”I stare into her troubled blue eyes.
“I don’t think he wants me back.”
“The fuck?”Leah’s one of the smartest people I know.Shehasto know he wants her.“He’s been blowing up my phone, pestering me for updates.He seems all tough, but baby, for you he’s a simp.”
“Really?”She brightens.“Like, he’s been contacting you?”
I unlock my phone and show her the missed calls and voicemails.“I haven’t told you because you haven’t wanted to know.But he’s even texted a few times.”
Her lips part in surprise.“I shouldn’t ignore him.It hurts so much, though, seeing what happened before.”
“He would never hurt you on purpose.”I grin.“At least, not in ways you don’t want.”
