One Wish

CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE

Eli

I’m woken by the most ear-splitting scream I have ever heard in my life. In my completely dazed and confused state, I open one eye, unable to open both initially as I’m still zoned out from a restful sleep. But as the screaming continues, panic sets in: something’s wrong with Audrey.

Audrey!

Shooting up in a seated position, fully awake now, I spot Audrey standing at the foot of the bed, her cute little green nightgown with I need coffee written on it, hands on hips.

“What in the hell are you doing in my bed? And what in the hell is this I’m wearing?” She tugs at the fabric of her nightie.

Everything comes crashing down on me at once when I realize something. “Kendra?” I ask, hesitantly, just in case I’m wrong.

Please say I’m wrong.

“Are you high?” she screams, causing my eardrums to almost burst. It’s way too early for this. “Who else would I be?”

Just as she screeches this, Max bounces in barking like crazy and growling at her ankles.

“Shut up, you little shit!” she screams, causing Max to whine and retreat back from where he came.

“Leave Max alone!” I snap, already angry, my head beginning to pound at the knowledge that I’m not with my sweet Audrey anymore.

Closing my eyes, I sigh as my legs find movement. I swing them over to the side of the bed, hoping that when I stand up, the floor will somehow swallow me.

“Eli, why aren’t you answering me? Why are we here? Aren’t we supposed to be in that crappy town in Sheridan for your stupid movie launch?”

Yep. Definitely not Audrey.

How on earth did I put up with this woman for so long? She’s nothing but a spoilt, attention-seeking, philandering brat. And it took Audrey to finally open my eyes.

Audrey.

Oh, shit, Audrey!

Rushing to my feet, I grab my phone and head for my ensuite bathroom. All the while I have Kendra on my tail.

“Eli!” she shouts, angry that I’m ignoring her.

“I have to make an important phone call,” I all but growl at her.

“What were you doing in my room, and why are we here? Answer me, dammit!”

I stop by my bathroom door, my angry gaze finally hitting her. Those eyes. They’re not the same as what I remember. Audrey’s always had a spark in them. A twinkle, as it were. Staring into these eyes, all I can detect is an empty, dark void.

“I need to make a phone call,” I snap. “Then we will talk.”

Detecting my no-nonsense stance, her head rears back, robbing her of speech. That is until I walk into the bathroom and shut the door, locking it. Pretty soon the banging and shouting commence, but I ignore her demands for me to open the door and instead call Trent, hoping and praying he will answer. It rings several times, then goes to voicemail, so I call another two times. When it still goes to voicemail, I leave a message asking him to call me back as soon as possible as Kendra’s back. He will no doubt know what that means, so hopefully he will check on Audrey the moment he listens to my message. I then call the hospital, but they don’t give me any information.

Frustrated, I decide to keep my mind occupied for a few minutes by taking a shower and getting ready for my day ahead. I have a feeling it’s going to be a very long and busy one.

I take the quickest shower in history before picking out an outfit from my walk-in closet off the bathroom. I guess I will miss some aspects of this house, but I have always felt it’s too pretentious for me. In fact, the more I think about my new chapter in life, the more my smile widens.

Once I have on a pair of jeans and a white long-sleeved top, I grab a suitcase and start to pack. When I open the door to my bedroom, Kendra is still standing there, but she has her head deep into her phone.

“I missed the Vogue spread! How did I miss that? I would never miss that!” She then growls out loud at something else she reads on her phone. “I’m supposed to be doing this stupid video for some nobody musician! I never agreed to this.” Then a gasp at something else. “And why am I at this restaurant eating pizza?!” She then proceeds to grab at her non-existent fat like that’s the most important thing on earth.

“Oh, my God, I’m fat! How on earth did I put on so much weight?”