Chapter Thirty-Four - Blaire
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Blaire
Nothing in me wanted to leave the cottage this morning. Actually, that’s a lie. There was one thing, and that’s seeing Kaylee tomorrow. I’ve been texting her quite a bit while she’s at camp and she’s been sharing a saga of her crush on one of the guys she met there. Apparently, he’s absolutely awful at riding. A city kid who got sent there by his wealthy parents because they thought he needed to be humbled. He seems like the kind of guy her brothers would probably hate, and I’m absolutely obsessed with Kaylee rebelling a little. She’s such a good kid, she deserves a little forbidden romance. I’m already making plans for how I can get her alone and out of earshot of her brothers, so she’ll spill the goods.
But besides that, I can see no good reason to leave this place. It’s tiny and there’s not another person in sight as far as the eye can see. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I haven’t worried once if there’s someone taking our picture or if I’ll turn the corner and see Patricia. I even sunbathed topless on a warm afternoon, which I don’t even dare to do in my gated backyard in Los Angeles. And the time with the guys has just been …
Well, I’m not sure how to describe it. Love doesn’t seem like a big enough word for the way I’m feeling right now. I feel more at ease than I can ever remember being. It’s as if I’ve gotten a nervous system transplant and the donor was a Tibetan monk. I imagine all the sex has something to do with it, too. I should donate my body to science with all the orgasms I’ve had recently. I’m pretty sure it’s unlocked some powerful inner peace that can’t be sold in any bottle. And I’ve tried every bottle of anything someone can package for happiness. Nothing has ever worked like this.
But unfortunately, this time hasn’t been our real lives. The guys need to get back to the ranch and Kaylee needs them when she gets back tomorrow. And I…
What do I need to do? I need to finish fixing up the camper. And then what?
There’s a resounding thought that keeps racing through my head. It used to be a hum, but now it’s a loud yell.
And it’s that I can’t go back to Hollywood. I just can’t. I don’t know if the guys will want me to stay at Rile Ranch with them long-term. It might be too much all at once and too much for Kaylee. But I could find a house nearby and let this thing between us unfold naturally. Hollywood would hate me, but I’ve put Hollywood first for too long. I can handle a little hate as long as I’m here.
It would be an extended break. Actors do it all the time.
A glimmer of hope blooms in me, and I know it’s the right decision. I’ve never had anything close to a normal life since I started acting at 10. And I’m not na?ve enough to think that my life will ever be normal. But it could come close. It would mean I could give this thing between the four of us an honest try.
“What are you thinking about there, princess?” Colt spots me taking a long look at the cabin.
“When did princess become my new nickname?” I brush my hand through his hair as he pins me against the car.
“Since I realized that Solace Springs suits you more than Hollywood, so the name didn’t seem right anymore. Plus, we both know you like some spoiling sometimes, princess.”
I laugh as I bring him in for a kiss. I guess my not going back to Hollywood is on his mind, too. And I’m not surprised because I know they’re feeling this as intensely as I am.
Briggs pounds the side of the truck after he swings the last of our bags into the bed. I hop into the front seat. Even though I insisted I take my turn sitting in the back, they wouldn’t have any of it. It’s that dash of cowboy chivalry embedded in them. And I’m woman enough to admit I kind of love it. They’re right, there is a princess in me that isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon.
Now that we’re on the road, I whip my phone out to text my friend Ruby and tell her that I’m finally ready for a diagram of that position she mentioned. Among my notifications, one name stands out to me. Mika Lane, my supposed fiancé, texted me. He’s given me my space ever since I left, likely not knowing what to even say to me.
I click on it, already feeling anxious.
MIKA LANE: I’m sorry. I know this wasn’t the most ideal way to end things in the public eye but Frederic found evidence of you being with another guy and was going to craft an entire story about me being cheated on by you, and I knew I had to get ahead of it. When I saw the picture, I realized that you look happy. Even though we don’t know each other very well on a real level, I’ve known you’ve been unsatisfied for a really long time. We’ve lost too many peers in this industry to that kind of unhappiness, and I’m not willing to be a part of pushing someone else to the edge. We might not be liked in this industry after the interview I gave, but it’s better than not liking ourselves. Hope you understand.
I cover my mouth in shock and press the link he included to understand what the hell he’s talking about. An exclusive interview with Variety pops up.
“It was all for show”: Mika Lane Details Deceit with Blaire Evans
I hold my breath as I skim the article. Mika details to the interviewer how there was never anything romantic between us and how it’s not uncommon in Hollywood to have these kinds of relationships between celebrities to promote their image. He also explains how ours got so out of control because our agents saw how well it was being received by the public. Finally, the interview ends with him saying the engagement was out of our comfort zones, and he doesn’t blame me for needing to leave the spotlight for a bit.
I release an incredible sigh of release. He was absolutely right in his decision. I’ll take the vitriol from the public gladly rather than having the Riles dragged into this. It’s ironic that now when Mika is no longer my fake fiancé, I’ve never liked the man more.
“I’m free,” I respond to the Rile brothers’ curious stares. “ The world now knows my engagement with Mika was a sham.”
“Wow,” Colt says as he slows down the truck to look at me. “Are you okay?”
I smile broadly. “I don’t think I’ve ever been better.”