“Doesn’t everyone in Hollywood hate me?” I ask, confused.
“Are you kidding? Trinity put you on the map. You’re famous now, buddy. SharkQuake has doubled in profits overnight. And it’s all thanks to their big star.”
“So, they moved up production because of me?”
“That’s what it’s like to be a big star.”
I rub at the back of my neck, not believing what I’m hearing. “I’ll get back to LA straight away.”
“Good thing.” He hangs up, and I set my phone down, staring at it like it holds all the answers of what to do with Rachel.
I pick it up, dialing her number.
I launch into a full monologue. “I have to be on set earlier than planned, so I’m leaving tomorrow. I want to see you before I go.”
“Come for dinner. Tonight, six o’clock.”
“I’ll be there.” I suck in a deep breath before telling her, “I just can’t leave Alaska without seeing you one last time.”
She hangs up without another word, and I’m hoping it’s because she feels the same way I do. Maybe there is something real here.
I show up at her house precisely five minutes before six.
“You’re early,” Joanie says to me as she swings the door open. She pulls me into the arctic room before we enter the house. “Rachel’s upset.”
My eyes widen. “Why? Is it something I did?” Or didn’t do?
Joanie shakes her head. “No, my father got caught lying again.”
I smile. “Lying about what?”
Joanie smiles. “You’ll see.” She opens the door to the house, and as I step inside, I spot Rachel in a soft red dress. She looks ravishing, and I try to keep myself in check while I’m in her father’s home.
Rachel stares at her father. “We’ll talk about this later, Dad.” She crosses her arms, clearly upset.
“Good to meet you, sir,” I say, shaking her father’s hand when he steps closer to me.
His blue eyes, same as his daughter’s, study me. “Heard a lot about you.” He’s smiling, so I don’t know whether to take that as a good thing or a bad thing.
“Don’t believe any of it,” I say back.
He slaps me on my shoulder blade, bringing me into the kitchen and further away from Rachel.
Joanie follows us into the kitchen, sticking by my side.
More than anything, I want to be alone with Rachel. I’m leaving tomorrow, and that thought alone slays me. I don’t want to go away.
I want to take her with me.
Always.
Chapter 14
Rachel
* * *
After dinner, I lead Fender up to my room so we can talk.
He walks around my room, inspecting every tiny detail. I’m a little mortified he’s seeing all my personal items, but he’s seen me naked, so there’s that.
He holds up Mr. Wrinkles, my stuffed boxer puppy I’ve had since a child, and smiles. “Cute.”
“Mr. Wrinkles always kept the bad dreams at bay. I couldn’t get rid of him.”
“Wish I was Mr. Wrinkles,” he mutters, placing him on the bed. “Rachel, I don’t want to leave.”
“But you have a movie career.” I sigh. “It’s fine. We had an expiration date from the beginning.”
He moves closer to me, wrapping his arms around my waist and kissing the top of my head. “Come with me.”
I step out of his embrace. “I can’t go anywhere with you.”
“Yes, you can. You can stay with me. Come with me.”
I shake my head, half of me contemplating moving to LA with him. “I can’t.”
My father needs me. My sister needs me.
I can’t leave them.
“Please. I’ve never felt this way before in my entire life.”
I nod, silently agreeing with him. “Me either.”
He wraps his arms around me again, holding me tight. “I can’t leave Alaska without you.”
“My family needs me.”
He appears dejected. “I can come up in between filming. I can come back once we wrap. We can move in together, up here.”
“You hate Alaska.”
He leans his forehead against mine. “I’d live anywhere if it meant I could be with you.”
My heart swells. “Fender, I just don’t know.”
“Be with me,” he breathes across my lips. “Rachel, please be with me.”
I close my eyes, trying to picture a life with him. It comes so easily. Us spending time in Alaska, and then jetting to California every time he has to work. I think about my father all alone, needing me, and my sister getting into trouble.
“Fender, I can’t leave.” I step back from him before I kiss him and forget every reason I have to stay.
“I’ll come up. We can make this work.”
I think about his words for a second, but I can’t live this life where he visits me on weekends, trying to cling to a new relationship. As much as I think it could work, doubt creeps in. Long-distance relationships are hard, and we’re just beginning.
“No, we can’t,” I say, tears welling in my eyes.
“We can.”
“I don’t want to hold you back.”
“You’re not holding me back.”