Chapter Eighteen

You know the saying “life is good when you cut all the negativity out your life”? No? Well, I never heard that one either until Anna. Speaking of Anna, she has been my rock since day one and a boulder for the past two months. Since giving Karina a piece of her mind, I was fired as her client, and I didn’t care.

Anna met with some agents while in New York and told me I should go with her to meet one of them someday while I am out there. Let me say, it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. I am no longer an LA girl but a New Yorker. Living in this city for almost two months has been nothing but amazing.

I still fly into LA from time to time to finish shooting, Mechanic, a project I got while under Karina. I thought she would slander my name drag me through the dirt after firing me, but no, she praised me to anyone that asked about me, and that took me by surprise. I guess she thought if she slandered my name I would spill the beans about her having sex with a man who sexually assaulted me.

Since leaving LA, I found out even bigger and better news: I am going to be a mother—seven and a half more months to go. I haven’t reached out to Caleb due to him finding out just three weeks after our argument that Evelyn lied about everything. A pap caught her taking body shots off her best friend at some bar in Ohio. Safe to say the world hates how she led the Caleb Hemsworth on. As for Caleb, he is at the height of his career, and numerous teams want him to play for them. Draft season is approaching, and as much as I say I don’t care, I really do, and I am so proud of him.

I am going to tell him once the draft is over. I’d rather he not be stressed about this, and the media string together some conspiracy, and then teams wouldn’t want him as badly due to another headline. For now, I am great. Last week was my last week of acting until the baby is born, then my agent Kristoph has me lined up for a lot of children’s movies and television voice-overs. And when the time is right, I will be the face for Mommy & Me—my way of coming out to the world.

“So, what do you think of this house?” I look at Kristoph and shake my head. We have been looking at homes for the last three hours, and I am beyond hungry. “You didn’t like any of the seven houses?” He leans up against the wall.

Kristoph is a muscular six-foot-three man. Beautiful chestnut skin and breathtaking hazel eyes. He’s gotten mistaken as my boyfriend a lot, but we always tell the paps no; however, they think we are hiding it on the low. Foolishness. When I have downtime to myself, I always wonder if the reason Caleb never reached out to me is because he thinks Kris is my boyfriend as well.

“No, they are all too big for just me and this little peanut. I want to start off with something small like a condo. We can look for houses later, but I think I want my house to be in Texas. So this peanut won’t grow up in the city.” I rub my belly.

“Are you sure? Texas? You will be flying a lot when it comes to work,” he informs me.

I roll my eyes. “Yes, I am sure.”

“Ok, let me tell the realtor that will be all for the day and we can go grab something to eat. I am sure you are starving.”

“I am not.” I playfully roll my eyes at him.

“You are—I saw the way you were eyeing those fake fruits. I thought you were going to eat one when we walked in.” He laughs walking away.

I was going to eat one, but I decided to wait until after the viewing. Good thing he let me know they are fake. I look over at the fruit with disappointment. Damn, I really am hungry.

Kristoph takes me to the nearest restaurant, which is literally an hour away from the home we just finished viewing, and I wanted to strangle him. My stomach kept growling every ten minutes. Sitting down at the table, I devour the bread basket.

“So much for you not starving,” he jokes.

“Well, that was an hour ago.” I kick him underneath the table. “Next time, have snacks in your car.”

“Noted.”

The waitress comes over and takes our orders. I didn’t think I could get my order out fast enough. She chuckles, writing everything down.

“So, are you excited about being Ginger the magic fairy?”

“Yes. I’m going to be the best damn Ginger fairy there is.” I laugh. “I think doing this—something different—is good for me and my career.”

“Well, it can only go up from here,” he tells me.

We talk more about projects over lunch, and I can already tell Kristoph sees me not only as a client but also a human. I think he considers me a friend at the very least. We stay a bit longer in the restaurant due to the chocolate cake, and that has been the best decision Kristoph and I have come up with thus far.

“I hate to cut this lunch short, but we need to head back to the city. I have a dinner date that I can’t be late for.” He signals for the bill.

“Is it a lady?” I pry.

“Yes.”      

“Business or pleasure?”

“Both. No more questions.”

He looks at me then at the waitress handing him his card. He never likes to talk about private things while others are around. I learned this early on. I respect him for that too. The waitress walks off and comes back in record time with his card and receipt. He leaves her a hefty tip and we gather our things to leave. I quickly slide out of the booth, colliding with another.

“Sorry,” I say looking up. My whole body tenses. After two long months, here he is. In the flesh, with a barely clothed woman on his arm. Guess I am just a thing of the past too.

“Selena.” He takes in my appearance and I catch the longing in his eyes before he blinks it away. “How are you?” he asks, shaking the blonde woman off his arm.

“I am great and you?”

“Good as I can be, just visiting different teams before the draft. Haven’t seen much of you in the med—oh I am sorry. The name is Caleb Hemsworth.” He extends his hand to the side of me. That’s when I realize Kristoph is standing next to me.

“Nice to meet you. I am Kristoph Johnson.” They shake hands and I take this time to take in his figure and appearance. He has gotten buffer in the last two months. Football training does wonders. I look over to the blonde and she is staring at me in disgust. I just want to reach over and punch her in the damn face. She snakes her hands back around his arm smiling up at him.

“And who might this lovely lady be?” Kristoph asks.

“Oh, this is Amanda.”

“How silly of you, my name is Amaya.” She leans into Caleb, smiling at Kristoph, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. She is pissed. A smirk makes its way to my lips. She is just another flavor of the week.

Yes, I am jealous, and these damn pregnancy hormones aren’t helping either.

I am not going to deny how I feel. But I refuse to get treated like shit by him. All I know is I won’t go back until he has changed his finger pointing and victim ways. Kristoph places his arm around my shoulders. Caleb eyes it before looking back to my face.

“Right, well, Cameron, I hope you and Amelia have a great lunch,” Kristoph says, escorting me to the front door. I mumble a nice meeting you both and take a deep breath when we get outside.

“You shouldn’t have done that.” I elbow Kris in the side.

“Ouch, what was that for? I was helping you out. You looked like you were going to cry and rip that young’s lady head off at the same time. I know for a fact he knows you are bothered by seeing that woman on his arm.”

“Well, it’s not like he is going to want to talk to me now because he might think you are my boyfriend.” I huff, moving away from him until the valet brought our car to the front.

“Don’t be like that. Trust me he is going to come around sooner than you think. He still wants you. I saw it in his eyes and body language. That man is crazy for you.”

“Whatever you sa—”

“Selena.” Caleb comes out the restaurant. “Can I talk to you for a second?” He looks over at Kris. “In private.”

“Sure, I’ll be in the car.” Kristoph nods.

I make my way towards him. “What’s going on?” I ask.

“It’s not what it looks like back there. She is someone the Jets sent to get me from my hotel; she has been showing me around town and stuff since this morning,” he explains. “I…how long are you in town for?”

“I live here now.” I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “And you didn’t need to explain being with another woman. We aren’t together.” I look into his eyes and there goes that longing again, and I am falling for it. I’m for sure going to cave in.

“There is so much I want to apologize for and explain. If your boyfriend doesn’t mind, can you meet me for dinner? I’m staying at The Ritz-Carlton by Central Park. They have a delicious restaurant, Auden Bistro and Bar. I’ve dined there a few times.” He rubs the back of his neck.

“Kristoph isn’t my boyfriend, but he is my agent and friend. Is your number still the same? I will text you if I am able to make it or not,” I tell him. I can’t fall back into this cycle with him. Old Caleb yes, but this new one is different territory. He doesn’t play fair, and that’s what makes being with him dangerous for my heart. He can either be the enemy or my lover. I don’t want him if it’s in between.

“Selena.” He takes a step closer. “I don’t want to go through this hamster wheel with you anymore—of us not speaking to each other, and then it’s going to be too late for me. I want to apologize for everything, the right way, something I should have done two months ago. I miss you. I’ve missed you since you first walked out my life. Please just come to the hotel tonight at eight. I don’t want anything more than to have dinner with you…tonight.”

I’m torn. “I have to think about it, Caleb.”

“Please, come tonight. I will be waiting inside in the booth at the back of the room. I’m just asking for one more chance to make this right between the two of us. I don’t care if we walk out of that restaurant as friends. Just as long as we clear the air, please just come.” He looks like he is going to reach out and touch me, but stops, shoving his hands into his pockets.

“Caleb, I can’t give you any promises, but I’ll see.” I give him a tight smile and head to the car. I don’t look back. I can’t look back. It would only give him hope, and that’s not the message I want to send him.

“Seemed pretty intense,” Kristoph points out as I slid in the passenger seat. “Care to share?”

“Not unless you care to share who this woman is you are going to dinner with tonight. An eye for an eye.” I smile at him.

He starts the car. “Never mind whatever you and Cameron were talking about, I don’t need to know.”

“It’s Caleb,” I correct him.

“Same difference.” He chuckles, driving off.