2. Chapter Two
Chapter Two
Ava
Rick Springfield’s Jessie’s Girl blasts through my car speakers and my hands tighten on the steering wheel. When Caroline’s name appears on my phone, the tightness gripping my body releases.
Since I ended our engagement two days ago, Nathan, and the press, have been calling nonstop. Knowing that his team is responsible for the media circus only confirms ending things was the right choice.
Breathing out a sigh of relief, I answer the call. “Hi, Caroline.”
“Ava!” Caroline’s voice is tinged with worry. “Are you okay? My phone has been ringing off the hook. Nathan has repeatedly called me asking where you are, and the media is hunkered down in front of my office.”
“Yeah, he’s called me continuously, too.” My chest tightens again. This entire situation is a complete mess. “Doesn’t he get that when you end an engagement, things are over? Do you think it was his team getting the press involved?”
“To answer your first question with another one: Did you really think his ginormous ego would let you walk away?” Even though her tone is light, she’s serious. “To answer your second question, sadly, I do. He’s doing all types of damage control and if that means putting pressure on you to get back together—he’ll do it.”
I run my hand through my hair and swallow hard past the lump in my throat. This is a complete disaster. Nathan’s reaction to all of this shows me that who I thought he was and who he actually is are two completely different people.
Maybe it was naive of me to think he would just let me end things easily. I definitely didn’t think he would sic the press on me.
“How did I not see who he really is?” I mumble, hurt and confused by my blindness. “I guess he’s a better actor than I realized.”
The truth is, Nathan and I knew for a long time that our relationship wasn’t going to last. It was more about the perception of us as a couple, than us being in love.
We met while working together on the hit movie Cars, Men, and Pretty Faces, and we had fun. The idea that we had fallen in love on set was great press for the movie.
That small detail was a surprise boost to both of our budding careers. The movie being a smash hit was the icing on the cake.
After my twin sister Fiona passed away, I was devastated and desperate, and I leaned on Nathan. Now, years later, when he asked me to marry him, I said yes because it seemed like the next step.
It was only when my pesky co-star, Sean O’Connell, started asking me what I saw in Nathan and digging into my relationship that I began asking myself the same question.
Sean was annoying, but he helped me admit what I had known for a long time. Nathan was never going to be the man for me. The only reason I stayed with him was because of the grief.
My sister, ironically, didn’t like Nathan at all.
Fiona’s voice runs through my head, and a wry grin crosses my face.
“Sure Av, he’s hot, but, really, where’s the substance?” Fi asked, a frown marring her face.
“Who said I was looking for substance?” I answered her question with a question, rubbing the frown from her brow. “He’s fun, and it’s helping our movie.”
Her clear blue eyes penetrated mine, looking deeply into my soul in a way that no other person has since. People talk about twins having a deep connection, but it’s hard to understand unless you are one.
That look was filled with a million words that were never spoken. All of them said, ‘Don’t fall into that trap, Ava. Don’t fall into the Hollywood love relationship’.
“Stop worrying about me, Fi!” I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close. “I’ll be fine. Besides, not all of us can marry our high school sweethearts.”
The smile she gave me was forced, and sadness filled her eyes. But it was her response that haunted me. “Promise me that you won’t fall into the ease of what you and Nathan have. You deserve someone who will treasure you, Ava. A man who loves you more than they love themselves won’t hesitate to do anything for you.”
“I promise.” A huge smile crossed my face. The high from the success of our movie and all the other offers I was getting consumed me with an excitement that made me giddy. “Nathan is Mr. Right Now, not Mr. Right. I know that, Fi.”
The grin on my face falls. My sister knew me so well.
An ache pings my heart as an image of Duncan holding Scarlett in his arms at Fi’s funeral flashes. His layers of softness hidden deeply under the gruff exterior he shows to the world have always been endearing.
The intense longing I felt at that moment to be held in his arms terrified me.
The grief that filled me at Fi’s sudden loss and the acute need to be comforted by Duncan had me running toward Nathan instead of from him. Everything I knew was forgotten in a moment of desperation.
“Sean’s team has been calling too,” Caroline’s voice pauses my trip down memory lane. “They told me the plan was to lay low. Sean, however, is taking the opportunity to go home and visit family.”
“Sounds like Sean. He would be the person to make lemonade out of lemons.” A soft chuckle falls from my lips as I think about my happy-go-lucky co-star making the best of any situation. “I feel bad he’s caught up in all of this. But that’s fame for you.”
The early reviews for Web Of Love came out at the same time news of my breakup did. Because of our chemistry, Sean is being blamed for the things ending with Nathan.
“I really did think Nathan would let this go easily. It’s not like we didn’t know this was more about us being a power couple than actually being in love.” Saying the truth out loud is freeing. A heaviness lifts from my chest for the first time in a long time. Nathan had been a crutch for so long, longer than I ever meant him to be. “I didn’t realize how much of an ego he truly had.”
“I think it’s more about a bruised ego,” Caroline jeers. “With everything being said about the chemistry between you and Sean, everyone is speculating.”
She’s right. Nathan hates to be one-upped. I’m sure that’s how this feels to him. The timing of things gives everyone fuel for gossip.
“What do you think you’re doing, Ava?” Nathan growled. His eyes were hard, disgust filling his voice as he stared at my hand holding out the three-carat engagement ring. “Do you know how bad this is going to make me look? All the reviews are talking about the chemistry between you and Sean. This is going to hurt the release of my new movie!”
“Silly of me to think he would handle this maturely.” I scoff. Of course, he’d only think of himself. “Please promise me you won’t tell him where I’m headed.”
“Of course not!” Disbelief fills her voice at me even insinuating that she would do something like that. “In order to do that, which I never would, I’d need to know where you’re going. Since you didn’t tell me, I have no information to reveal.”
Her statement reminds me that I didn’t tell anyone where I was going; I just packed a bag and hopped into the car. Once on the road, I called David to tell him I was visiting.
“You know Scarlett and I will be thrilled to have you here, but this is sudden. Is everything okay?” David’s voice was filled with worry. “And why are you driving instead of flying?”
“I ended things with Nathan.” The words fell from my lips for the first time.
“Yes!” David yells. “Uhh..I mean, I’m so sorry, A. Are you okay?”
A small smile creased my face at his reaction. “The news isn’t out yet, but he’s not handling it well. I think being out of the spotlight for a bit will be a good idea, which means driving rather than flying.”
“Well, with that ego, I wouldn’t expect anything else.” Shock filled me. David had never said anything negative about Nathan. “I know why you stayed with him, A, but I’m so grateful you’ve come to your senses.”
I snorted. “Tell me how you really feel!”
“I think I’ll let Scarlett tell you how she really feels.” He chuckles.
The thought that my eight-year-old niece had thoughts about my ex made me laugh out loud.
“I’ll be staying with David and Scarlett,” I tell Caroline.
“Of course,” she replies. “That’s your safe place.”
Running to my sister and my best friend, David, has always been what I’ve done whenever I needed support.
The tightness is back in my chest, knowing Fiona won’t be there this time when I arrive, but David and Scarlett will be. It’s been too long since I’ve seen the two of them in person; I’ve missed them. This visit should’ve happened a long time ago.
My goddaughter is growing up fast, and I’m missing it. Whenever a picture of her shows up on social media, I swear she’s grown. Our video chats are satisfying but never enough.
The last picture of her I saw was with David and Duncan and her latest missing tooth.
Her long auburn hair flowed down her back, and her smile was huge as the brothers pointed out her missing canine.
I ignore my tension for a moment as I remember David wearing a massive grin and Duncan with his typical stoic expression. The one he wears for the world to see. But if you look closely, you’ll find a slight sparkle in his green eyes.
That’s how it’s always been. Duncan looking bored and uninterested unless you—
“Nathan will figure that out at some point,” Caroline says, interrupting my thoughts again. “Maybe you should have that handsome hunk of a goalie protect you.”
“Who?” My brows pull together, confusion coursing through me.
“ Duncan ,” Caroline says, surprise in her voice. “He was traded to the Colorado Wolverines.”
Duncan was traded to the Wolverines?
Drat! He lives in Maple Ridge, close to David and Scarlett. It’s why he’s been in so many recent photos.
My stomach drops and starts to swirl. Emotions I’ve kept tucked away forever begin racing through my body, causing my heart to crash against my ribcage.
Seeing Duncan wasn’t on my radar. Suddenly, it seems like the history I pushed down just crashed headlong into my reality, and I’m powerless to steer clear of the wreckage.