Chapter 29
Kendyll
(One Year Ago)
I WATCHED BETHELMA FROM ACROSS the hotel ballroom with a bland scowl.
She waved her hands dramatically while talking to the group of fans that had bumped into us as we checked into the grand hotel.
We weren’t filming an episode here but were merely rooming here before going to our actual shooting location the following day.
This meant the opulent hotel was full of guests, and guests meant showing off her skills.
That was, her acting skills, because the ghost she claimed to be communicating with was standing right next to me and watched the farce with just as much annoyed befuddlement as me.
“She’s ridiculous,” the ghost woman said with a shake of her head. “Telling people I’m touching them when I’m nowhere near them!”
Catsper meowed in agreement, watching the spectacle from beside my feet.
Bethelma had asked as we’d arrived here if I felt or saw anyone.
I apparently hadn’t learned over the years, because I’d answered honestly about seeing a few ghosts in the lobby, including the woman she was pretending to communicate with right now.
Just watching exhausted me, and I knew I’d be even more drained if she suddenly improvised too much and needed my assistance.
Deciding now was my chance to make my getaway, I turned to leave the ballroom with the black ghost cat padding through the air after me.
Bethelma would be pissed when she realized I’d left midperformance for her fans, but I couldn’t be bothered to give a damn.
I didn’t care about her outbursts anymore.
I didn’t care about much anymore.
“Kendyll. Wait up!”
I slowed in the bustling lobby to let Alex catch up to me. His freckled cheeks pinkened, and he smiled sheepishly at me. “Are you heading up to your room?”
“Yeah. I don’t feel like watching her for another hour.”
“I know it’s already late, but maybe we could go grab a bite to eat or something. You and me. You’ve been working like a mad woman for the past year, taking on extra loads and working ahead of schedule. I thought we could maybe catch up and enjoy the evening a little.”
The past year had been mostly a blur as I practically drowned myself in traveling for work and getting investigations done.
I worried that what I ran from would catch up to me if I didn’t keep moving.
So I was on autopilot with a laser focus on work.
If I didn’t lose myself in the grueling tasks, I’d wonder. I’d remember.
I’d crack.
Clearing my throat, I replied, “What’s there to catch up on? I eat, sleep, and breathe work.”
He laughed nervously and ran a hand through his chestnut hair. “R-Right. True. Still, we could grab a bite to eat and chat a little. We’ve worked together all these years, but we’ve never really sat and … talked.”
I reached the elevator bay where twelve elevators circled us. People waited for a cart to take them up to their room, but the area was so large that there was plenty of space between everyone as we waited.
“Alex, I—”
A riot of female laughter disturbed the easy chatter of the guests in the elevator bay.
I turned to glare at the obnoxious newcomers, but instead of a steely stare, my eyes widened and breath halted.
Two well-endowed and scantily-clad women were tucked under each of Xander’s arms. He smiled casually as the two blondes caressed his chest and murmured salaciously to him.
Xander’s dark eyes caught mine as the trio drew closer, and the easygoing smile he wore fell away in stunned silence.
The note I’d left behind as I fled his apartment before the sun had even risen became vivid in my mind.
You were a mistake, and I regret it all.
Don’t look for me, because I won’t be looking for you.
Quickly gathering myself, I faced the elevators again and plastered on a blank expression. My stoic shell was unshakable. Only my racing heart signaled how rattled Xander’s sudden appearance had me after a whole year apart.
The elevator dinged, and I boarded it with a murmur to Alex, “Come on.”
I held my breath and hoped that the doors would shut without anyone else getting on.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t that lucky. Xander and the two women boarded with us.
They continued to tease each other and Xander about being chosen for some fun after his concert.
I barely managed to keep from curling my lip in disgust as I stared at the climbing numbers on the elevator display screen.
Alex stepped closer to me, seemingly just as uncomfortable with the heavy sexual energy now in the elevator.
Alex leaned down and whispered, “Isn’t that the famous guy Bethelma wants on the show? He’s a bit … much.”
I ignored my coworker, because it was only then that I realized the trio hadn’t selected a floor, which meant we were on the same fucking floor. Not that it mattered. Neither of us were acknowledging the other.
The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. Alex and I got off, but the sound of Xander’s companions trailed behind us.
Almost to my room. Just a bit farther.
“Are we grabbing something from your room or changing?” Alex asked as he followed my brisk walk. “What did you want to eat? We could—”
“Kendyll.”
My gut twisted sharply. I thought about pretending I hadn’t heard him, but I’d already frozen midstep. I made sure my face gave away nothing as I slowly looked behind me.
Xander, in his black band t-shirt and dark jeans, pulled himself away from the women and offered them a room key card before gesturing down the hall. “You two go ahead. Room 1213.”
“Don’t be too long,” one giggled.
“We’ll start the fun without you if you do,” the other threatened with a salacious grin and kiss to his neck.
The girls left in a whirl of blonde curls, tight black dresses, and expensive perfume. I looked down at my plain t-shirt and jeans with my dark hair hanging naturally by my shoulders. They were the complete opposite of me. Good. That was good.
Xander faced me and drifted closer, throwing a glance Alex’s way as he did. It may’ve been petty, but before I could think better of my actions, I turned to Alex.
“You can wait in the room, too,” I said, giving him my key card. “You know the room number. Order us room service for dinner. Whatever you want.”
Alex’s eyebrows rose. He only knew the room number because mine, his, and Bethelma’s rooms were right next to each other.
Xander didn’t need to know that, though.
Whether Alex found my sudden friendliness strange or not, I didn’t know.
He seemed much too happy about me offering to eat and hang out with him to care.
With a wide smile and nod, he accepted the key card and went in the direction of my room.
I faced Xander, and despite my effort, I couldn’t help but look him over.
His black hair had grown longer over the past year.
The strands were full and looked like they would run silky soft through my fingers.
Everything else seemed the same for the most part.
Muscular build, septum piercing, tattoos, onyx eyes.
Only the soul in his dark gaze was different now.
The brightness in them seemed forced, the teasing air concealing something painful.
I wasn’t conceited enough to think that had anything to do with me.
He shoved his hands into his pockets and put on a smile, which seemed just as feigned as the carefree glimmer tightening his face. “How have you been?”
“Great,” I answered flatly while crossing my arms. “Busy. In fact, I’m busy right now, so if you’ll excuse me …”
The smile he wore cracked, and his gaze hardened. Pulling back his shoulders, he huffed, “Okay. Screw this. I’m not one to pretend around the elephant in the fucking room. What’s up? Why are you being so cold? You just fucking left, never reached out, never said where you were going. Why?”
I snorted around a condescending laugh and covered my mouth with my fingers. “Oh, no. Did you think this was more than what it was?” I gestured between the two of us.
Xander’s nostrils flared, and his brow furrowed even deeper. “No. But I thought we were at least friends.”
“That was your mistake, not mine. Your real friends are waiting on you in your hotel room, just as mine is for me.”
I thought a look of hurt flashed across his face, but I spun on my heel too quickly to be sure. I hoped my words hurt him. I hoped my cold, indifferent attitude infuriated him. I hoped it wounded him enough to keep him away, just like my note had.
Alex perched on the swivel chair at the desk in my hotel room.
He’d ordered us food to my room, and with a sigh, I realized my haste to get rid of Xander had left me stuck with my coworker’s company.
Thankfully, Alex talked enough for the both of us.
We ate our dinner with his chatter keeping the awkward silence away.
The minute we were done eating and the conversation seemed at a good stopping point, I feigned being tired and wanting to sleep.
Alex left with a smile, albeit with a hint of disappointment.
I knew Alex was interested in more than a working relationship with me, but I had no such sentiment.
I’d resigned myself to being a bitter, lone woman for the rest of my life.
I patted Catsper’s phantom head as I passed by him to change into my oversized t-shirt for bed. My phone rang at the same time. With a glance at the caller’s name, my sour mood lifted slightly. I answered and put it on speaker.
“Hey. You’re up late, old man. It’s past 10 where you are, also known as your bedtime.”
“Funny,” Terrance mocked. “I was waiting on you to call, but my sister is so slow. Guess she doesn’t care about her brother at all.”
“You’re so dramatic,” I laughed, tugging the large shirt lower over my underwear. “I was getting settled into the hotel, and I got stuck having dinner with Alex.”
“He doesn’t know how to take a hint, huh?”