Page 84 of See You Soon

Wes strode past her and opened the door to a uniformed police officer.

“Power lines are down at the intersection.” He pointed up the road. “Georgia Power is working on getting it clear, but we’re asking residents to stay in their homes until we resolve the situation.”

Wes thanked the officer and then closed the door, leaving them alone. The fire that had burned between them now felt like ice. Wes avoided her eyes, and she could feel tears building, clogging her throat.

He shoved his hand through his hair. “Cara…”

“It doesn’t have to be a thing, Wes.” Cara gathered the cards scattered on the floor. She didn’t have to ask what he was thinking. It was all over his face. “We got carried away.”

“We did.” His hand ruffled his hair.

She plastered a fake smile on her face. “Great, we agree.”

“It can’t happen again.” His eyes were determined, and Cara’s temper sparked. She hadn’t been alone in what had happened. He had been more than a willing participant. “I have plans—”

“Oh, yes. The infamous plans,” she mocked. “Plans that involve you living happily ever after with someone you’ve never been in a relationship with, and who is currently engaged to be married! The woman who told me you were ‘like a brother.’ Sex is fun, Wes! Really, really fun. You should try it sometime, instead of holding out for some fairy tale that will never happen.”

Wes’s face turned stony, and his hands fisted at his side. “You can’t possibly understand. At least I have goals for my life, dreams of a family. Your family is a giant, dysfunctional mess, which has somehow convinced you love is a weakness, a weapon to be used. You don’t even see how fucked up it is! You had the benefit of two women who worked to create a semblance of normalcy for you, despite your father—who frankly sounds like a selfish asshole—and you’re convinced it was a great childhood. Instead of deciding you want something better for yourself, you’ve doubled down on this idea that falling in love and staying in love is a fantasy.” The veins in Wes’s neck bulged.

“At least I know who everyone is in my world! I don’t think you know Melody at all!”

Wes stared at her and then spun on his heel, slamming his bedroom door.

Cara wrapped her arms around herself, trying not to cry. She’d been right.

Sex ruined everything.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-TWO

The next day,the weather and roads were clear, and Cara left early for work. It surprised her, a short time after arriving, to hear her name called over the radio. Usually, if the director needed makeup, they called for ‘Skye’ or ‘Makeup.’

“This is Cara, over.”

“Go to channel three, please.”

Cara raised her eyebrows at Skye but adjusted her radio to the requested channel.

“There’s a delivery for you at production reception?” The voice was disapproving. “You need to come and get it.”

“I’ll be right there.” The two women exchanged a confused look. “What should I do? Am I going to be in trouble? I didn’t order anything.”

“I’m good here if you hurry. We probably have another ten or fifteen minutes until our first application. Take the cart,” Skye said, after consulting her clipboard. “But hurry.”

Parking under the portico, Cara tried to look confident as she entered the building. She recognized one of the runners, Tanner, standing next to a gigantic bouquet on a low table. Her stomach knotted, a feeling of dread taking over.

“I know you’re new. That’s why I went to the other channel, but it’s not cool to get personal deliveries. Tell whoever it is not to do it again.”

“Sorry, I’ll take care of it.”

Cara carried the flowers, red roses again, to the cart. She sat still, staring at the crystal vase. She glimpsed a bit of white buried in the stems and let out an exhalation of relief. Thank God!

“Those are pretty.”

Cara was happy her groan was silent. “They are.” She didn’t have a specific problem with her stepbrother, Trey, but she heard Declan’s voice in her head, reminding her to stay away from the entire family.

Trey shoved his hands in his pockets and turned his head to look back at the building’s front door. Cara wanted to back out, but the way he was hovering made her feel like he was waiting to say something.

“I better get back to the trailer,” she said.