Page 10 of Until the End (The Lost Letters #3)

Ginny

“ G inny!”

My heart jumps at Chelsea’s voice. “What?”

“It’s been four hours! Come back upstairs.”

Four hours? My phone concurs, and at the same time, my stomach growls.

I look down at my notebook, where lines of text have filled the pages.

It isn’t unusual for me to lose all sense of time while I write, but I’m a little taken aback by what I’ve written.

The refrains are filled with longing and desire for a love I’ve never known. They make me want to cry.

I shake my head. “I’ll be up in a second!” Making a quick stop in the bathroom attached to my recording studio, I splash cold water on my face to wake up a bit. It’s been too long since I last wrote like that. I’m a little worn out and simultaneously invigorated.

Upstairs, I find Tanya and Chelsea pulling out snacks from my fridge.

“Girl, do you live like this every day?” Tanya turns with a platter in her hands. “I wouldn’t be able to stop eating if I had snacks like these handy.”

“Trust me, I don’t do this often. I only made these when you called to tell me you were on the way.” I settle onto a barstool and watch the two of them make themselves at home. I love that about them. They’ve always treated me like a friend first, not a celebrity.

“You made these?” Chelsea raises her eyebrows.

“Don’t get too impressed. If it’s cold and all I have to do is chop, I can handle it. If it involves a stove or a pan, I’m out.”

Chelsea hands me a plate with a laugh. “Same. Meal delivery services have saved me from starving.”

“Me, too. I can cook,” Tanya says, loading her plate with snacks. “I just don’t have time for it.”

“Knock, knock. I bring sustenance,” Carson shouts from the front door.

I whip around to find my best friend holding two bulging bags labeled La Mensa on the sides. I squeal. “Are those La Mensa breadsticks?”

Carson flashes me a cocky smile. “You’re damn right they are.”

“Talk about scrumptious,” Tanya murmurs under her breath.

I don’t think she’s talking about the food.

Carson’s auburn hair is wet, making it look more brown than red.

In his tight T-shirt and shorts, he’s stacked with muscle and sexier than my best friend has any right to look.

I’ve always thought he was annoyingly attractive.

Why did he, of all people, have to be the one who made my heart flutter every time he smiled?

It’s not like he’d ever go for me. I was always the shy girl who stayed in the background.

There wasn’t a point in telling him how I felt. I knew he’d never feel the same for me.

And as he sends a wink toward us, I know he never will.

Carson moves confidently across the room. “Thought you girls could use some dinner, although it looks like you have the appetizers covered. Seems Ginny has been hard at work. ”

“Bring it over, handsome.” Tanya makes grabby hands at Carson.

He sets the bags on the counter next to the platters, then comes over to give me a hug. “Hey, Goose. How was your day?” He pulls away, leaving his hand on the back of my chair.

I tilt my head back to take in his penetrating emerald eyes. “I wrote today.”

His eyebrows rise. “You did? How did it feel?”

I grin. “Great.”

“She spent four hours in her studio,” Chelsea says, pulling my attention away from drowning in Carson’s gaze. Her eyes bounce between me and Carson, a smirk ticking up the side of her mouth.

“Then you’re probably starving.” Carson squeezes my biceps and grabs my plate from in front of me. He stuffs one side with appetizers and the other with pasta before handing it over.

“I’ll never be able to eat all that.” I breathe out a laugh.

Carson shrugs as he sits next to me. “I’ll eat whatever’s left. Did you guys put together a plan for the Weasel yet?”

Tanya points at him. “That needs to be a thing. How have we not thought of that before?”

“We were going to talk while we ate.” Chelsea brings her full plate to my other side while Tanya sits next to Carson.

“First, we need to know if you want to come out with the truth, a version of the truth, or on the attack,” Tanya starts. She bites into a breadstick with a groan. “Gee-zus, that’s the best damn thing I’ve ever eaten.”

I snicker around my own bite of breadstick. They really are the best in the world. “Part of me wants to say a version of the truth, but I think accuracy will be the best course of action. I don’t particularly care about my own reputation, in all honesty.”

“Is that smart?” Chelsea asks. “Not that I’m saying we don’t do it, I just want to discuss all the possible consequences.”

I shrug. “I don’t know.”

“Most of your fans are going to be on your side,” Tanya points out. “Especially if you’ve got proof of his cheating.”

“I didn’t exactly think to take a picture.”

“Security cameras?” Carson asks.

“We could call the venue to see if they have any footage,” Chelsea suggests.

“Daren could call. He’d be a little more official.” Carson grabs a fork and picks at my plate. I move it closer to him for us to share. “He could say we think someone stole stuff from one of the groomsmen.”

“So with proof of his cheating, you think people would understand? Has he said anything yet? I’ve kept myself far away from anything resembling news.

” Even if Wesley had made an announcement, there’s no way I could watch the vitriol spill out.

Everyone would’ve blamed me for our falling out, and technically, they wouldn’t have been wrong.

I was the one to end our engagement. It wouldn’t matter to anyone if Wesley cheated.

“Cecelia released a statement saying the two of you were taking some time apart,” Tanya says. “That’s why the journalists have been rabid over trying to get eyes on you.”

“We really need to make a statement. Especially before the Weasel does,” Chelsea insists.

“Okay, here’s what we’re going to do.” Tanya has her business tone on. “We’re going to say that you and Wesley have decided to go your separate ways. You wish him all the best and happiness in the future. In the meantime, we still get the security footage.”

Chelsea hums in approval. “The partial truth will prevent a scandal, and if he decides to be a scumbag, we’ll have the proof in our back pocket. We can make you look like a saint because you could’ve shared that info from the start.”

“What do you think?” I look at Carson.

“Sounds like a solid plan to me. I’d hate for you to be dragged through the mud if you don’t have to be.”

“I agree.” I catch Tanya’s and then Chelsea’s eyes.

“But I’m not afraid to put up a fight if needed.

” Grabbing my phone, I send Daren a text to ask him to come into the kitchen.

While we wait, Tanya and Chelsea pepper Carson with questions.

They ask about his life in Sonoma and what he likes to do for fun.

I had no idea he still liked to draw, although I did know he lived with Michael and Ryan. I can’t imagine what that bachelor pad looks like these days.

Daren comes in a few minutes later, his thick arms testing the limits of his black T-shirt sleeves. “Hey, Miss Ginny. A call just came through from the LAPD, but what can I do for you first?”

“Oh, I hope everything is okay. Um, yeah, we were wondering if you could call the venue to get the security tapes from the groom’s suite.

It would be nice to have some insurance, just in case.

” Since I left the venue without him, I made sure to stay in contact with Daren the entire time Carson and I were at the hotel.

He didn’t like not being there to protect me, but he knew it would be too suspicious if there were security guys around our hotel room.

Daren’s shoulders soften. “I’m one step ahead, Miss Ginny. I got the tapes already.” He grits his teeth. “I…also have text exchanges from Mr. Reed’s phone. Don’t ask me how I got those, though.”

Carson snorts. “You have the best security team in the world.”

Tanya leans around Carson. “Agreed.”

I smile at Daren. “Thank you for having my back. ”

“My pleasure, Miss Ginny. Unfortunately, I’ve got some bad news. The LAPD told me someone broke into your house in California.”

“What?” I gasp.

“They’re going through it, and I’ve got our guys combing the security footage.”

“What are the chances they’ll find anything?” Carson asks.

“It’s not likely.” Daren sighs. “It was probably a thief looking to make a quick buck.”

“You’ll keep me updated?” My hand shakes as I take a sip of water.

“I will.” Daren nods and says goodnight before heading back out to the security house.

“Out of the fire and into the frying pan,” Carson murmurs, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. “Daren will take care of it.”

I lean into Carson’s hug and pray he’s right.