Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 102394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 410(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
“You look amazing, Juliette,” he said as we got into his car. “I’m so glad this worked out.”
“Me too.” I smiled nervously, still preoccupied with Wes.
“You said this is your first feature film?”
I shrugged. “Yes. Not my first adapted screenplay, but the first full-length project that’s been produced.”
“Amazing. Do you have family attending?”
My family attending. Yeah, right. “No…” I shook my head. “They’re all on the East Coast.”
By some miracle, it also seemed Allan hadn’t been privy to the news coverage about me. I kept feeling him out to see if he was playing dumb, but he seemed genuinely unaware. And I certainly wasn’t going to volunteer that information.
“How long have you been an agent?” I asked.
“About ten years. I love it, but it’s cutthroat. Generally, once a client hits it big, other agents try to swoop in with incentives to jump ship. I’ve had very few loyal, big-name clients over the years.”
“That stinks.”
He glanced over at me. “Well, that’s show business, as they say, right?”
Within minutes of arriving at the auditorium, I spotted Wes standing near the door. I could hardly breathe with how damn amazing he looked in a dark suit.
His eyes met mine, and his mouth curved into a smile—which faded the moment he noticed Allan next to me. Allan placed his hand at the small of my back, and Wes almost immediately turned away. I couldn’t blame him.
During the screening, I was barely able to think of anything besides Wes. When the show ended, Allan spoke into my ear. “That was fantastic. You must be very proud.”
“I am. Thank you.”
“How about we hit the after party?”
I opened my mouth, prepared to forge ahead, but then I shook my head and made an executive decision for my mental health. “I’m not feeling so great, actually. So if you don’t mind, I’d like to head home.”
“That’s too bad.” He frowned. “But of course.”
Allan drove me home, and when we got to my door, he leaned in to kiss me.
I moved back.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I—”
“No. I’m the one who’s sorry.” I shook my head and inwardly cringed. “It’s not you. I’m just not ready for this. I apologize if I’ve led you on. I’m just getting out of a relationship. I thought dating would be good for me, but I misjudged, and I’m so very sorry you got dragged into it.”
“I totally understand.” He smiled sadly. “And I think you’re fantastic, so if at any given point you find yourself ready to date again, you know where to find me.”
“Thank you, Allan.” I nodded. “That’s very sweet of you.” I waved as I closed the door behind me.
But alone in my house, I wondered if I’d ever be ready for another man as long as Wes was alive.
CHAPTER 31
* * *
Juliette
A few days after the screening, I was flopped on my couch, still unable to stop thinking about Wes. He hadn’t come by again. Not that I could blame him after I’d shown up with a date the other night…
As I flipped through the channels, trying to put my mind on something else, I felt like I was going crazy. Nothing worked to distract me, so on impulse, I decided to go see Wes at his new place, though I had no clue what I was going to say or do when I got there.
I noticed Tommy getting into his car to follow me as I’d once again given him no information when I left the house. Eddie and Tommy had gotten used to having to scramble when it came to me.
I parked just down the street from Magnolia Apartments, where Wes had told me he was living now. My plan was to walk into his building and attempt to figure out which apartment was his. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it to the building. Before I got there, I spotted him at the café on the corner. My heart nearly stopped at the sight of Wes sitting across from an attractive blonde.
The Earth seemed to sway. He’s on a date? This was my fault. I’d led him to believe I was moving on with Allan, when that couldn’t have been further from the truth. But right now I needed to move before he saw me staring through the window like a creeper. So I forced one foot in front of the other, and rather than going to his building to wait for him, I hung my head and went back down the street to where my car was parked. I couldn’t bear to risk witnessing him taking that beautiful woman back to his apartment.
Oh God. I felt sick.
As I drove home, my mind churned. What the hell did you expect? I asked myself. That a gorgeous, virile man like Wes was going to just stay celibate, pining for you in perpetuity? I’d given him the green light to move on by showing up with Allan at the screening. Wes didn’t know I was still hung up on him.