Chapter Twenty-Four - Blaire
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Blaire
I wake up with renewed purpose. Last night was a kick in the ovaries, thanks to Lacey. She stayed with me late into the night. We sorted through Gram’s papers while she filled me in on all the things I should have already known about her life in the last five years. I’ve been so locked down in my own shame of how much I’ve missed in this town, even when Gram was alive. And that’s something I’m going to have to live with. But at least I can start to face it.
And in the meantime, I’m going to do what Gram asked of me in her will and do it damn well.
I get myself ready for some hard, humbling work on the ranch. I’m not sure what the guys will have in store for me today, especially after what happened yesterday. And the truth is, I need more time for myself before I see them. I feel too raw and vulnerable right now. So I’ll text Kaylee and see if she has any ideas about what I can work on.
I pick up my phone to text her when I see a notification that makes my heart stop.
It’s a notification from the chatroom I was in with my three Mountain Studs, before they blocked me. I read it five times to make sure I understand it right.
You’ve missed a message in ‘Goldilocks and Her Three Bears’.
I cover the laugh that escapes my mouth. I know it’s a ridiculous name but, wow, I’ve really missed notifications like this popping up on my phone. I click the notification and it takes me to our chatroom.
TAKEAHIKE001: Long time no talk, Goldilocks. How are you?
I take a deep breath, debating if I should respond. This isn’t the text I was expecting after being blocked and now unblocked. Some light groveling for my forgiveness would have been nice. He’s not even addressing anything in our last conversation where I try to explain who I am. Maybe he realized I might be telling the truth after seeing me around town? Or they decided that even if I am a catfish, they don’t care?
And then what about the fact that I can’t deny to myself any longer that I have feelings for Colt, Reese, and Briggs? Even if they don’t have feelings for me.
I straighten my posture and tuck my phone back into my overalls. I need to think about this.
I’m the only one up, which is the first time I’ve managed that. I have to admit to myself that I actually am pretty fond of waking up to Briggs’ cooking. I thought I’d appreciate not having the extra calories to worry about, but instead the silent kitchen just feels lonely.
I grab a peach and decide to head back to the camper. We made good progress clearing it out yesterday, so I’ll keep the momentum going while I take a moment for myself.
I swing open the front door and stop short, almost choking on my bite of peach.
Standing in front of me is the last person I would have ever expected to see here. It feels like a slap in the face and I blink just to make sure I’m seeing correctly.
My mom.
I haven’t heard a word from her since she ran off to Panama City with my life savings. She’s tanned and her hair is bleached blonde, a change from the mousy brown woman who I last saw. Her face is plump with fillers and Botox that I guess I paid for.
Anger boils in my blood.
And she has the audacity to smile.
“I knew you’d be here,” she says, looking completely self-satisfied. “You never could stay away from the Rile brothers.”
“That’s the first thing you say to me? After you stole practically everything to my name?” I want to slam the door on her, but I also want to scream as loud as possible. I want to make that smile melt off and see her run away, defeated, like I’ve dreamed of doing for so many years.
“Blaire, still so dramatic. I didn’t steal anything. That money was money you would never have made if it weren’t for me. You probably replaced it in one movie.” She takes a step toward me and I recoil. “Honey,” she continues. “You have to understand how unhappy I was. I needed to do something for me for once.”
“It’s not about the money.” I shake my head in utter disbelief. “How can you think this is about money?”
“What’s it about then, sweetheart? Tell me.” She says with obvious fake concern. It used to work on me so damn well as a kid. I would say that I didn’t want to do another movie. Or that I wanted to go to school like a normal kid. And she would pretend to be so understanding, nodding and comforting me, and then she’d get me to do the damn movie, anyway. I never had a say in anything. I was only tricked into believing I did. And for what? So she could run away to another country and pretend she’s not a shitty person for the rest of her life?
“Why are you even here? Did Patricia put you up to this?” I look around the corner, expecting a swarm of people to be waiting.
At least it only seems to be my mom.
For now.
“Patricia called me because she’s concerned about you.” She tilts her head and her fake sincerity makes me want to vomit. “She thinks you’re going through something and I’d say she’s right. Honey, that’s a multimillion-dollar contract you’re messing with by running away like this. To do what? Play house for a little? And look at you, you’re wearing overalls and, well, the way they fit. It doesn’t look like you’ve been eating right-”
“Alright, I’ve heard enough,” an angry voice booms from behind me. I don’t need to turn around to know it’s Colt. He settles his body behind me and I take a deep breath for the first time since I opened the door. “Why don’t you get the fuck off my property?”
My mom opens her eyes wide as if she’s the victim here.
“Honey, are you going to let him talk to me like that?” She looks at me.
A hand braces the door and opens it wider. I know that Briggs and Reese have now joined me at the entrance.
“I’m going to agree with my brother here,” Briggs says with more aggression than I’ve ever heard from him. “Get the hell off our property.”
My mom’s face instantly changes from concern to anger. She knows she’s been beat, and no wounded bird act is going to get her out of this .
“Fine. Throw your life away, Blaire. I’ll watch from the comfort of my beachfront property.” She says with venom. “You never did appreciate everything that I did for you.”
Now Reese steps out and begins guiding her off of the front step.
“Get your hands off of me,” she steps away from him.
“Man, no wonder Blaire has such a hard time trusting people.” He lifts his hands up as she continues to walk away. “You’re about as toxic as they come. All the beachfront property in the world can’t even fix that. Just remember that as you spend Blaire’s money.”
“Blah, blah, blah,” she says loudly as she steps into her car, attempting to block his words out. It’s so ridiculous that the urge to break down in sobs suddenly gets hijacked by the sight of her looking like a petulant child.
It’s… so absurd. I start to laugh.
My laughs can be heard over the sound of her engine and until she drives away out of sight.
Reese turns around after watching her drive away and looks at me, confused.
“You okay there, Hollywood?” He smiles uncertainly as he walks towards me. “Because I gotta say, this isn’t the reaction I was expecting.”
“I’m great,” I say, wiping a tear of laughter away from my eyes. “To be honest, I don’t even know why I’m laughing. I think I just have never seen anyone stand up to my mom before and her reaction was just…”
“Blah, blah, blah!” Reese mimics my mom, getting down the angry walk and everything.
Now we’re all laughing.
When we finally quiet down, another realization hits me.
“On a not so funny note,” I say. “She’s been talking to Patricia, so it’s only a matter of time until this place is swarming. ”
“Well, good thing none of us will be here.” Colt grabs my shoulders and turns me in the direction of my room. “Pack your bags, Hollywood. We’re going to the mountains.”