Chapter 3
BENNETT
Iwas still riding the high of my win as I was guided backstage. My first stop was the trophy table, where I handed over the prop statue I’d been given on stage and confirmed my information so they could engrave the one I’d take home.
Someone clapped me on the shoulder and shook my hand hard. “Hell of a night, Bennett. You earned this.”
“Thanks.” I grinned. “Couldn’t have done it without the whole team.”
A handler steered me toward the camera, where I was able to give an extended gratitude speech since I’d been limited to under a minute on stage. From there, we headed to the area where all the winners were photographed. “Award a little higher. Big smile. Perfect, hold that.”
Cameras flashed in rapid succession. I turned when they told me to, lifted the award when they asked, and kept my grin in place. It wasn’t hard when everything felt electric.
Next came the official press room where I answered questions from accredited journalists and media outlets. The first question was one I’d anticipated.
“Bennett, congratulations. How does it feel to bring this award home for the show?”
“Incredible,” I answered. “This one belongs to the entire cast and crew. They’ve poured so much into making The Wrong Side of Right what it is.”
“Any message for the fans who’ve supported the series from the beginning?” someone else asked.
“Just thank you. Seriously. We don’t take any of it for granted.”
There weren’t any surprises until I got to my last curtained booth for quick, social-media-friendly video clips with digital outlets.
As we were wrapping up, the interviewer’s eyes widened as they glanced down at their phone.
Then their head jerked up, but just as they started to ask another question, my handler tugged me away with a murmured, “We need to hurry so you’re back in your seat before the next segment.
The commercial break is starting soon and only lasts three minutes. ”
Award ceremonies ran on a strict timetable, so I wasn’t surprised when they hurried me back to my table. Which was fine by me because I couldn’t wait to get back to my wife.
I headed back into the ballroom still smiling, and a few people near the aisle offered quick nods or raised their glasses as I passed. I barely slowed down. All I wanted was to find Laina. But when our seats came into view, hers was empty.
I paused for a moment, wondering if she’d stepped away to use the restroom during the commercial break.
The rest of the table was still there, but the energy felt off as I approached.
Conversations that had been lively earlier now seemed muted.
A couple of people glanced up when I approached, then looked away again just as quickly.
Pausing at my seat, I scanned the nearby tables. There was no sign of her.
Charlotte sat a few chairs down, her eyes fixed on the stage even though nothing was happening there. I leaned slightly toward her. “Hey. Have you seen Laina?”
She turned her head just enough to lift her chin toward the main doors before she shifted her attention back to the stage without a word.
The smile I’d been wearing since my name was announced slipped a little. I glanced around the table again, then toward the exits. Still nothing. Someone across from me offered a polite smile that didn’t reach their eyes. Another person suddenly became very interested in their drink.
I didn’t understand what had changed while I was backstage. Laina wouldn’t have left without saying something. Not on a night like this.
And I only had a minute and a half remaining to figure out what to do before the break ended.
Luckily, Reid Hawthorne walked past on his way back to his table, and I was able to catch his attention quickly. We weren’t close friends, but he was a partner at the law firm that represented me, so we knew each other enough for me to pull aside without it looking strange.
“Reid.” I kept my voice low. “Have you seen Laina?”
“Pretty sure she left.”
My brows drew together as my head jerked back. “What do you mean she left?”
Reid glanced toward the stage, then back at me. The commercial break was still running, but the clock was under a minute now.
“The room didn’t take the end of your speech the way I’m hoping you meant it. Shit got awkward fast. She walked out right after.”
I stared at him, not understanding how the night had gone so wrong. “I was thanking her.”
Reid shook his head. “Bennett, you told everyone the most mocked character on television right now was based on your wife.”
I opened my mouth, then closed it again, at a loss for words, which was unheard of for me. Around us, people were starting to shift back toward their seats. The break was almost over.
Reid continued to his own table, leaving me standing there wondering how I could’ve fucked up one of the best nights of my life so badly.
There was no time to spare, with only seconds to go until the commercial break ended. I quickly turned away from the table and headed for the nearest exit. I didn’t stop for the people who tried to catch my eye or offer another round of congratulations. I just kept moving.
Once I was in the hallway, I pulled out my phone and called Laina. It rang through to voicemail. “You’ve reached Laina. Leave a message if you feel like it, but texting me is the only way this is getting seen anytime soon. Okay, bye.”
I hung up and tried again but got the same result. I typed out a quick text as I walked toward the Town Cars waiting in front.
Me
Where are you?
She didn’t reply by the time I climbed into the back seat of the car, so I sent another message.
Me
Please answer my call, baby. Or call me back. I’m worried.
Both texts still said delivered, not read. Dammit.
“Home,” I told the driver. “As fast as you can.”
He nodded and pulled away from the curb. I sat forward in the seat, my phone still in my hand, checking for a reply from Laina every few seconds even though the screen stayed dark.
I couldn’t believe the speech I’d agonized over had been taken the completely wrong way. All I’d wanted to do was thank my wife for her years of unwavering support and belief in me. But what Reid had said made it clear the audience had heard something very different.
I still didn’t fully understand how the line had landed that badly.
Laina knew me better than everyone else in the audience, though.
She’d understand my intent had been the furthest thing from hurting her.
She might’ve left because things were tense at our table, but I hoped that we could laugh about the misunderstanding after we talked things through.
We had a long-standing rule about never going to bed angry, so odds were good she was taking a shower since she hated wearing so much makeup and took it off as soon as she could whenever we attended an industry event where she had to get glammed up.
I was glad the drive was relatively short for LA. Every minute felt like too long when I needed to get to my wife and make this right. I watched the streets blur past and willed the car to move faster.
When we finally pulled into the driveway, I stretched my arm out to give the guy a tip for driving so quickly. “Thanks.”
Then I climbed out and rushed through the front door, calling her name as I stepped inside. “Laina?”
Lucy was in the living room, sitting on the couch with her phone. She glanced up when I came in, then looked back down at the screen.
“Where’s your mom?” I asked.
She shrugged without looking at me. “She seemed upset when she went upstairs earlier.”
I headed for the stairs and went up them two at a time. Our bedroom door was open, and the lights were on, giving me hope that I’d find my wife in there.
Instead, the bed was still made from this morning, and there was a piece of paper on my pillow.
I walked over and picked it up, my breath catching in my lungs as I read the four words she’d written.
It was nothing like the usual playful tone in the notes she’d given me over the years.
Even worse, she hadn’t signed it with her love, like she always did.
I sat down on the edge of the bed, clutching the paper in my hand, and felt the full weight of the night settle over me for the first time. Laina hadn’t stayed to talk it through. She’d packed a bag and left.
She was really gone.
And it was because of me.