Chapter 46
Chapter Forty-Six
“Nashville. First flight out,” I wheezed, bent over the ticket counter, attempting to suck in a full breath.
Brady had hastily dumped me into a rideshare which had gotten caught in what must be the worst traffic I’d ever experienced. We’d pulled up to the airport minutes earlier, and I’d bolted from the car, sprinting for the ticket counter.
“Now!” I barked, unable to take how incredibly slow the woman behind the ticket counter was moving.
She jerked her gaze up, looking faintly alarmed.
Shit. I sounded like I was having a psychotic break, probably drenched in sweat. I forced a smile that probably looked borderline creepy.
“Please?” It came out like a question. I sucked in another breath. I guess running had probably been technically unnecessary, but whatever. I was panicking here.
Where the hell was Trace? What was she thinking? Why would she just up and leave me like that? I’d give anything to be inside her mind right now. I was officially past freaking the fuck out. I needed to talk to her.
“One second.” The woman held up a finger and stepped away from me. Fuck. Did I overdo it? Was she alerting security that some crazed man was begging incoherently to go to Tennessee?
This was unbearable.
I had half a mind to reach over and book it my damn self.
Obviously, I would’ve bought the ticket online if I could, but when they handed my phone back to me at the house it was dead.
And on top of that, I had no clue where the fuck my charger had gone off to.
I must have had one at some point, but who knew where it was now?
Brady probably threw it away just to mess with me.
I tapped my fingers against the counter, agitation creeping in as I watched the worker who’d abandoned me sidle up to another employee and speak quietly.
Do not lose it right now.
I closed my eyes and sucked in a breath. If I freaked out, they sure as hell wouldn’t help me. But closing my eyes only made things worse, because then her face filled my mind.
I’d been so sure we were good after our night together. We’d talked it all through, hadn’t we? Was she better at hiding her doubts than I realized? Did something else happen and Brady wasn’t being honest?
I had to know.
“Excuse me!” I called, probably a little too loudly as I leaned over the counter. I’d drawn the attention of everyone in the line now.
The woman’s eyes went wide. The male employee set a hand on her shoulder, like he was bravely taking one for the team, and stepped toward me.
“Danny!” Someone shouted from behind me.
I whipped my head around at the feminine voice. A woman with dark, wavy, chin-length hair jogged toward me.
“Emma?” She wasn’t wearing her typical all-black production outfit, and she looked younger without it. I almost didn’t recognize her in blue jeans and a white T-shirt. I pushed off the counter and took several long strides until I reached her.
“What’s going on? Do you know where Trace is?” I demanded.
“Shoot, I’m out of shape.” She stopped in front of me, panting.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“One… sec,” she got out in between giant gasps of air.
I tilted my head back impatiently. What the fuck could she have to say?
“Br-Brady lied,” she said between gasping breaths.
Ice ran through me. “About what?”
“Trace. She didn’t leave. We moved her to a hotel room last night. I just found out what he did this morning.”
My mouth parted in shock before I snapped it closed. I knew it.
“Shit,” I said, raking my hand through my hair. “I didn’t want to believe him, but I panicked when he showed me the empty guesthouse.”
“I thought it was weird he wanted to move Trace at the last minute,” she said.
“It wasn’t part of the original production schedule.
We were going to drive to the hotel in the morning to film.
But I’d brushed it off. Figured he’d gotten a good rate or something.
” She shook her head. “I should have known he was being sketchy.”
I gripped both her arms. “Trace is at a hotel? Here?”
She nodded. “Yes, and they’re about to film the finale. Without you.”
I scrubbed a hand along my jaw. “That little shit,” I hissed. Visions of Brady coming to a violent end by way of an alligator flashed through my mind.
Fuck. Did that mean…
“Does Trace think I left her?”
She winced. “I mean, I haven’t talked to her this morning, but yes.”
Rage tore through me. “I’m going to kill him.”
“Honestly, I’ll help you,” she said, shaking her head, eyes narrowing. “He’s been on a power trip this entire show, and I’m sick of it. I would have told you sooner if he’d let me in on the plan. I think he saw how close Trace and I were getting and probably thought I was compromised.”
“Brady did all this to orchestrate some epic breakup?” Man, he’d become brutal since Tough Love. The power of running his own show had gone straight to his head.
She shrugged. “I guess. I mean, he was probably weighing his options. You two ending up together or breaking up, either could make for good TV. But I think he’s still pissed about you two running off like you did, and when you both refused his idea to film a proposal, I think he got bitter. He wants the upper hand back.”
“Is Trace okay?” I asked.
“I’m not sure. Apparently, Brady told her this morning before he briefed me. He said she seemed ‘less heartbroken than he was hoping for’.” She put air quotes around Brady’s line.
“Less heartbroken?” I repeated. What the fuck did that mean? Was she numb? Over it? I tried not to let the stress of it weigh me down. This was unbelievable. Just when I’d regained her trust, Brady had tricked me into the ultimate betrayal.
“I’ve got to get to her,” I said.
She had already started walking to the door. “I can take you.”