CHAPTER THIRTY #2
The flight attendant looked at me like I had lost it.
“Whatever you wish, sir,” she said, barely containing an eye roll.
I could practically read her thoughts about rich people and how fucked up they were.
She wasn’t wrong, actually, but I didn’t normally count myself in that group.
I mean, yes, I was rich. But I didn’t think I behaved like an asshole about it.
“Could you please video this conversation that’s about to take place?” I handed the flight attendant my phone. She took it and pointed it at Sara and me.
“Now,” I hissed at Sara, “tell me right now how much they paid you and how they found you to begin with.”
She was making crying sounds, but there were no actual tears coming from her eyes. I couldn’t believe I’d ever been with this woman. “Edward, I’m so sorry. I just wanted another chance with you, and I thought…”
“You thought wrong. Now tell me what happened.”
Through fake tears, she began talking. “This man came to see me. I… think he said his name was Eric. Anyway, he gave me twenty-five thousand dollars if I’d approach you at your house.
He wanted me to talk to you, hug you, kiss you, whatever.
And he said if I could get you to sleep with me there was an extra fifty thousand in it for me.
” She sniffled. “Of course, you didn’t. It wasn’t about the money, I swear.
I just wanted to get back together with you.
” She magically quit crying and arched an eyebrow at me.
“You know, I bet we could still get that deal. I’d split the money with you, Edward. Then we could go on a nice vacation…”
“That’s never going to happen. Did you know they were going to take pictures of us and give them to my girlfriend? Who I’m in love with? My girlfriend who I want to marry?”
“Yes,” she said quietly. “It’s that Hargrave girl you used to be in love with isn’t it?” She had the nerve to sound angry. “The girl you dumped me for.”
“Of course it is. And now she wants nothing to do with me because of those pictures. They made it look like we were together. She thinks I cheated on her.”
I saw the flight attendant’s eyes go wide.
Sara got a satisfied smile on her face. “It doesn’t feel good to get dumped, does it?”
“My God, Sara, that was six years ago!” I tried to keep my voice level, but I wasn’t exactly successful.
She flinched. “I’m sorry, Edward, I just wanted you back…”
“Have I contacted you even once since we broke up six years ago?”
“No,” she said, rolling her eyes. Then she studied her nails as if she was bored.
“Did this Eric person tell you who he worked for?” I asked.
“Just some rich family in Charleston, that’s all.”
“Thank you. That’s all I need from you. I don’t want to talk to you again until we land.” I got my phone back from the flight attendant and immediately texted the video to Cara and then to Declan and Livy. For good measure, I texted it to Lufton, too. He might as well know what was going on.
I heard from Declan almost immediately. I almost didn’t answer because I wanted to keep the line open for Cara.
“Thanks for sending that. So that’s sexy Sara, huh?” he asked in a low tone.
“Yeah,” I said, my eyes moving over to where she was slouched in a chair and staring out the window. “Maybe don’t call her that, man.”
“Sorry. Old habits and all that. Never knew she was unhinged. She’s seriously been after you ever since you dumped her?”
“Yeah. Off and on anyway.”
He let out a low whistle. “Seems like maybe Monty Hart should go for her instead of Cara. They’d be perfect together.”
“I don’t know,” I said noncommittally. “I wouldn’t wish my worst enemy on the Hart family.”
“You’re just like Cara, you know? Neither one of y’all has enemies. You’re both too nice for that.”
“I don’t feel very nice right now. I’m pissed.
” I turned my head away from Sara and lowered my voice.
“I’m pissed at Sara, I’m pissed at myself for ever dating her in the first place, and, most of all, I’m pissed at the Hart family.
” I thought about what he said. “And right now it feels like both of us have plenty of enemies.” I sighed.
“I just can’t believe Cara would end things without even giving me a chance to explain. ”
“I get it. But you need to stop and think why Cara’s mad at you, man. This is Sara MacAllister we’re talking about. You need to make sure and cut Cara some slack, don’t you think?”
“Why?” I didn’t want to cut her any slack. I wanted to show up and demand to know how she could fall for those pictures. I wanted her to admit our love was strong enough to withstand anything, including years apart and meddling families.
“Oof—what the hell…” Declan’s voice cut off suddenly.
I frowned as I heard what sounded like a scuffle over the phone. Then Olivia’s voice took over the conversation.
“Sorry, but I couldn’t just listen anymore. Don’t be a dumbass, Edward. You’d be the first to admit that Cara has proof of you choosing that girl in the past, right?”
I rubbed the bridge of my nose. “Right.” I knew this, of course. I did. It didn’t make it any easier to know that it was my own past that was kicking me in the ass right now.
“So, get over yourself. You’ll be lucky if she believes you even after she sees the video. Her phone is off, by the way. None of us can get her.”
God. She was right. I’d fucked up so badly when I was younger. I’d hurt her with the very woman the Harts paid to come after me. All the indignation and anger evaporated. It took most of the hope I’d felt with it, and I suddenly felt like a deflated balloon. “You’re right.”
“I know I’m right. But you making Sara get on that plane with you to explain things to my sister in person? Genius. I don’t see how she can discount that.”
I perked up a little. “So, you think I have a chance?”
“More than a chance. I’ve heard the way she talks about you. Y’all are supposed to be together. I really think that. But that’s not the important part.”
“It’s not?”
“Hell, no. We’ve got to get her away from the Harts. The sooner the better. Think about it, Edward. How did they know to target Sara—a woman you’ve had next to no contact with for six years?”
I was quiet for a long moment as a chill went down my spine. “I… I don’t know? Maybe Cara told Nora in college?”
“Nope. I know for a fact she never gave Nora Hart any details about who broke her heart back then. No, the Harts have people watching you. And Cara. This has to end now. Their behavior is definitely escalating, and it’s freaking me the hell out.”
She was right. As usual. “You’re not going to get any arguments from me. I want to bring her back home with me today or tomorrow. I don’t care about the rest of the season or anything else except for Cara’s safety.” I was glad to have someone like Livy in my corner.
“Good. I’ve got some things to take care of here or else I’d come help you convince her to get out of there.
But I’ll be calling her to drive the point home that she needs to leave sooner rather than later.
There’s no way she should stay there until January.
Cara had convinced herself that the Harts were through messing with her, but this little stunt proves that’s not even close to being true. ”
I smiled for the first time in hours. I was going to have back-up. And, if I had to choose someone to back me up with Cara, Livy was my first choice.
“Call me and let me know if you think she needs more convincing than just you and me, okay? I’d be happy to sic Dad and Mom on her.”
“I will.”
“Good.” She sounded like she was pacing while talking to me.
“You’ve got a lot on your shoulders. You need to make her understand the thing with Sara was a set-up.
Then get her to talk to her director about getting out of that contract early.
Now. No more of this ‘waiting until January and fulfilling obligations’ bullshit.
She needs to come home. We can all band together to help her figure everything out once she’s back in Wixby.
If she wants to take over that dance studio from her old teacher?
Great. If she changes her mind and wants to dance again?
Also great. There’s time to figure all of that out.
We’ve got to make sure she’s safe first.”
She didn’t need to convince me. I was completely in agreement with her. But it was great that Livy and I were on the same page. I knew how much Cara loved and respected her sister. If Livy thought she needed to get out of Charleston now, Cara would listen.
We talked a bit more about plans and then hung up. I glanced quickly at Sara. She was turned away from me, but I could see that her shoulders were shaking as if she was crying. I tried not to care, but I found myself feeling a little bad for her.
I mean, at least she’d agreed to come with me. This was going to be a difficult conversation between her and Cara, and she could have refused to come at all.
Of course, I did threaten to call the police, sue her, and potentially get her fired from her job. Those were strong motivators. It’s not like she was doing this out of the goodness of her heart.
She turned where I could see her better, and I realized she wasn’t crying at all. She appeared to be laughing at videos on her phone. It figured. That was more in line with the Sara I had known and briefly dated.
I turned away from the sight of her and stared out the window on my side of the plane.
I couldn’t see much besides farmland far down below.
My thoughts took over, and I focused on coming up with a plan to get Cara out of Charleston and away from the Hart family before their behavior escalated any more than it already had.
I wanted to help her pack up just a few essential items and get out of there today. That is, if she’d even talk to me once I got to her townhouse.
The minutes passed by slowly even though it was a short flight. As soon as we landed, I was up. I grabbed my bag and turned to see what Sara was doing. She had put her phone away and was looking pissed off now, but at least she was up and had her bag ready to go.
I had called an Uber before we left Wixby and instructed them to be waiting in the parking lot. They weren’t there yet. Sara and I waited in the parking lot, awkwardly silent.
“Edward…” she started.
“I don’t want to hear it,” I snapped, just as the Uber pulled up.
Sara and I put our bags in the trunk and got in the car.
I gave the driver Cara’s address. The drive to her townhouse from the airport took longer than the flight from Wixby.
I was silent the whole way. Sara stared out the window.
Did she even care what she’d done to me?
Probably not. From what I remembered she was self-centered to the point of narcissism.
It had felt as if she was more upset to be dumped at all than for things to be over with me in particular.
It had always seemed as if she was hoping for a chance to get back with me because I’d been one of the few guys to have no problem walking away from her.
But maybe I was overthinking it. It didn’t matter anyway.
The only thing that mattered was getting to Cara and explaining what happened.