Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84673 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 423(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 282(@300wpm)
But the moment she heard him calling her name out—-
Blake—-
It was just too much.
And she found herself running.
Blake?
Slamming the door shut before she could see his face.
Blake?
She fell to her knees and barely managed to cover her mouth in time.
Blake?
The sobs kept tearing her apart, and she could only press her hands harder against her mouth.
Blake.
Baby.
Tell me what's wrong.
She wanted to die, hearing those words. How could she tell him what was wrong?
How?
How?
"Please."
The hoarse pain in his voice made her sob harder. It had to be a lie. It could only be a lie. But even so, she couldn't bear it. Couldn't bear hearing him hurt. So much so that when she heard him speak again—-
"Don't do this."
She somehow found the strength to push herself up. Unlock the door. Face the man she loved and who was now destroying her.
Thornton could feel himself turning white when he saw the tears falling on Blake's face.
"I...Curt..."
He stiffened.
"I'm...sorry."
"What are you saying sorry for?" he asked rawly.
"Just...sorry."
"Blake—-" He tried reaching for her and was stunned when she jumped back like she found his touch revolting.
She saw the look on his face, and it ripped her to pieces.
Oh God. Oh God. Oh God.
She wished she could believe it was love, but she knew it wasn't.
It was just pride, just pride, she told herself feverishly, because she had changed the rules of the game he had been playing with her.
Just hurt pride, because now she was rejecting him, when it was supposed to be him eventually losing interest and kicking her out of his life.
Just hurt pride, she desperately screamed at herself as she watched Thornton stare at her with lifeless eyes.
"You love him."
Pain tore at him, but still she managed to choke out, "Yes."
"But I love you."
Oh God. Oh God. Oh God.
"Won't you choose me?"
She wrapped her arms around herself. "I can't."
"I see."
She watched him swing away rather clumsily.
She watched him walk away.
I won.
I saved my pride.
But the knowledge didn't make the tears stop or make her feel any less hurt or empty.
Chapter Twenty
"YOU LOOK AMAZING." It was a lie, of course. And while Frankie rarely lied as a rule, right this moment she didn't think she had a choice.
"Really?" Blake worked hard not to sound too desperate and hopeful.
"Really." Another lie, but Frankie was genuinely worried the slightest insult would send her friend reeling into a mental breakdown.
"I didn't really do anything special, though."
"Must be the air then." And apparently, what everyone said was true. A single lie was all it took, and you'd never stop lying.
But still, Frankie didn't regret it. At least now, Blake was more herself, chatting nonstop about her day as they walked the last ten-minute leg to Redwood Cafe, where the movie crew was celebrating the last day of shooting.
Although it was an invitation-only party, Elizabeth had added Blake and Freddie's name to the list. Host perks, the other woman had explained cheerfully when Blake worried about gatecrashing a Hollywood party. They're having the party at the cafe, which means whatever Arden and I say goes.
Frankie caught sight of the pensive look on her friend's face. "Are you thinking of..." Blake shot her a glowering look of warning and she hastily corrected herself. "—-the celebrities? That we're, um, going to see at the party?"
Blake made a face. "That's lame, even for you."
"I'm not used to lying, okay?" Or if she were honest, it was really a hit-or-miss thing with her.
"And no, I wasn't thinking what you're thinking."
"Really."
"Swear to God."
Frankie had no choice to believe her friend with that. "Then what were you thinking about?"
"Rich people."
"O-oh?"
She noticed the way Frankie had tensed and remembered what Curt said.
I think Freddie knows.
Her teeth sank into her lower lip.
Did Frankie know? Was that why she had so been against her friend hooking up with Thornton? But if she knew...then why didn't Frankie warn her? Or maybe...she couldn't. Maybe...she had signed away her rights with some non-disclosure agreements. Rich people loved their NDAs so much they would probably go to bed with it if they could.
"Blake?"
She looked up, startled and feeling just a little bit guilty. "Yup?" She hated the way she had been distrustful of her friend lately, and even though she instinctively knew Frankie would never do a thing to hurt or betray her...it didn't seem to make any difference.
Frankie finally decided to be blunt. "You've been giving me strange looks lately."
Sheep.
"I'm sorry," she heard herself mumble. "But it's really not just you. Sometimes, I don't even notice where or who I'm looking at. I just lose myself in my thoughts so easily these days."
"Because of Thornton."
She nodded. This, at least, was partially the truth.
"It's been two weeks, you know," Frankie said gently. "What really happened?" She genuinely wanted to know, if only so she could better understand how to help her friend.