She quickly copied and pasted the address of the rental she’d signed off on with Dawson and Sophia Blackwell and started to set the phone aside once again before grimacing and firing off one more text.
I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you for the wedding, but…I’ll do what I can. Just give me time.
I’ll handle the wedding expenses as planned.
Relief flooded to the point she felt a little nauseous and lightheaded. Billionaire weddings were expensive, and theirs had been top of the line everything thanks to the mothers.
Thank you. I’m sorry. Again.
This time she did set the phone aside and rose shakily to her feet. She needed a break. A walk.Somethingto wash away the upset she felt at herself for shoving down her doubts and waiting until the last minute to end things with Rhys.
Time to focus on something else.
Time to find a different place to stay.
ChapterTwelve
It was after noon before Quinley emerged from her room. Elias had been concerned at the silence, given her emotional upheaval with her ex, until he’d finally heard the low thump of her feet hitting the floor and soon after, the shower running.
She’d dried her hair and then things had gone silent once again. For a while. Until he heard her talking. And talking. A few swear words had sounded and then mutters said in tones different than the one she used when talking to whomever she spoke to.
That had gone on for quite a while, too. Hours, actually. He’d left her alone, working on his computer with the television on low before clicking off to scroll through his social media feed. That’s where he’d seen Quinley’s video and recognized the background of the cabin behind her.
All the talking had been her recording her statement for the press. For her ex.
He looked up at the television and realized the station he’d turned on was now playing the video as breaking news.
He turned up the volume until he could hear it better and watched the video in its entirety before hearing her footsteps approaching her bedroom door. He hit the Mute button as she entered the living area.
She wore the same outfit as she’d worn in the video, and he saw her gaze flick to the television before sliding back to him. She looked uncomfortable. Worn down. But maybe a little relieved?
“Well?” she asked. “Any critiques?”
He took in her strained features. Quinley wore a light dusting of makeup that helped but didn’t hide the dark circles beneath her eyes. She’d braided her thick, long hair and wore it over one shoulder.
Today she wore her own clothing and was dressed casually in leggings and a long-sleeved, lightweight sweater that looked soft and expensive, and short leather boots.
She looked…beautiful. Elegant yet casual and very different from the perfectly groomed but frantic doll who’d jumped into the limo days ago.
He couldn’t pretend he hadn’t watched it so he shrugged. “It was perfect. The news crew seems receptive, too, from what I can tell,” he said, lifting his hand to indicate the television. “One of them commended you for stopping the wedding instead of going through with it only to divorce afterward. Has your ex responded?”
She crossed her arms over her front like she held herself together. “He and his people are the ones who released it. I left it up to them. After everything I’ve done, I felt I owed Rhys the right to see it first.”
That was trusting. With today’s technology, videos could be easily manipulated and changed, especially by someone with her ex’s power and employees at his fingertips. “How are you feeling? Now that it’s done?”
Her gaze shifted away from his to the television, and he watched as she inhaled. Her full chest rose, and he quickly forced his gaze back to her face.
Quinley was off-limits. A friend in need and one he’d helped because it was the right thing to do. That was the extent of their relationship. The beginning and end. There would never be anything else. She was too…unpredictable. Like a turbulent sea tossed by wind and storms, lit by lightning, sunshine and blue skies in the distance while boats were battered between.
“Relieved, I think? I mean, I’m sure the haters are going to hate, but I’ve made the statement now, and they can rip it apart if they want, but—at least it’s done. It’s my truth, and it’s out there. Maybe it’ll be enough, and the crazy will blow over soon.”
“I hope you’re right.” For her sake, he meant it.
“I…also texted Rhys and apologized again. He was upset that I didn’t address you in the video, but I told him there was no need. He’s still going to pay for the wedding. I’m not on the hook for that. Nor are my parents, so…that’s good,” she said, nodding like a stressed bobblehead.
He heard nervousness in her tone, or maybe it was leftover adrenaline from sending the video and contacting her ex again. Either way, she shook with it.
“My clothes will arrive once I’m back in town. At the house,” she clarified. “Thank you for that, by the way. I’m not sure I thanked you last night.”
