Chapter 31

Dallas

There was a path in my grass from where I’d paced back and forth the past three days. Desperation couldn’t even begin to describe the way I felt. The sun shone bright above with clear skies as far as I could see, but there was a dark cloud hanging over me. Nothing would be right again until I had Callie back.

It’d been three days and I hadn’t heard a word from Callie or anyone. It was like she’d fucking disappeared. No one would tell me where she was, and the media had no clue, either. There were stories floating around on the Internet about how she hadn’t left her house, but Maddox and Justin had and never returned. I had a feeling they’d taken her away somewhere. I couldn’t blame them, especially with the media breathing down her neck.

My phone rang, and of course it was the only person who cared to talk to me. Ty was happier than a pig in shit that I was doing the show. “Yeah,” I huffed.

“We have a meeting with the producers today at two. Can you be here at the hotel around one?”

“Yep.”

“Good. See you then.”

I hung up and tried calling Callie again. There were times it’d go straight to voice mail, and others where it’d ring and ring. I wasn’t going to give up until she answered the fucking phone. This time, it rang and I waited. Once her voice mail came on, I hung up and called again, and someone finally answered.

“Dude, that’s enough! Do I need to get stalking charges brought against you?” Justin shouted.

I breathed a sigh of relief. “Is Callie okay?”

“No, she’s not. She’s fucking heartbroken, asshole. I thought she was going to be okay until the commercials started playing on every goddamn TV channel. Why don’t you leave her the hell alone?”

Pulse racing, I clenched the phone tight. “She has to know the truth. Just let me talk to her, please.”

“Fuck no. I told you what would happen if you hurt her. I’ll be seeing you tomorrow.”

The line went dead and my whole body shook. I wanted to hit something so fucking hard to make it hurt like I did. Patience was not in my blood, and everywhere I turned, it was being tested. Getting into my car, I headed straight for the hospital. There was only one person left to try, and I prayed to God I could get through to her.

When I arrived, I hurried inside to the floor I visited last time. The two nurses at the desk froze, mouths gaping. I recognized the nurse with the short brown hair from the last time I was there. According to her name tag, her name was Sandra. She stood and cleared her throat. “If you’re looking for Callie Davis, she’s not here.”

“I know,” I told her. “If it’s possible, I’d like to speak to Hannah Martin.”

Gaze narrowed, she stared at me for a few seconds. I could tell she didn’t know what to do. Judging by the looks on some of the other nurses’ faces as they walked by, I wasn’t exactly welcome. Sandra nodded and picked up the phone. “I’ll call her. She might not be able to take visitors right now.” I took that as code for she’s going to be too busy to talk to you.

“Hannah, there’s someone here to see you. It’s Dallas Easton,” Sandra said, her voice low. I could hear Hannah’s voice on the other end and I knew the blow was about to come.

Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out my car keys. There was nothing I could do to make Hannah see me. The last thing I needed was a warrant for stalking. Sandra set the phone down and walked out from behind the desk.

“Follow me,” she said, hurrying down the hallway. “I don’t think you want to be out here when she sees you.”

She was Callie’s best friend. I knew it was going to be bad. “Hopefully, she won’t try to kill me,” I replied sadly.

“Can’t guarantee that.” She opened the door to the empty break room and nodded for me to go inside. “She’ll be here in a minute.”

Taking a deep breath, I paced the floor. A few minutes passed and the door slammed open. Hands on her hips, Hannah glared daggers at me. “You have a lot of nerve coming here. What do you want?”

I held my hands up in defeat. “I need your help. All I want is five minutes.”

She stormed toward me and looked down at her watch. “You have two. Starting now.”

Hannah gave me my two minutes and that was it. If I got through to her, I had no clue. After I was done, she’d told me to leave and that was it. On the way to the hotel, a call came in I wasn’t expecting.

“Hey,” I answered.

“Hey. I wanted to call earlier, but I thought I’d wait for things to die down. What’s going on with the show and with Callie?” Madison asked.

“I figured you’d be upset about what they said about me and you.”

She snorted. “Please. We both know it’s not true.”

I pulled up to the hotel and got out. “Callie doesn’t. She’s not talking to me right now. No matter what I tell her, she doesn’t believe me.”

“Anything I can do?”

“Nope. I’m on my own in this. I plan on getting her back.”

“You’ve always gotten what you wanted, Dallas Easton. It’s in your blood. I just don’t see how that’s going to happen with you doing the show.”

The hotel lobby was busy with people roaming around everywhere. I went straight to the elevators and pressed the button. “You’ll just have to see. Make sure to watch it.” We hung up and I rode the elevator up to Ty’s floor. I knocked on his door and he opened it, dressed in gray pants and a white T-shirt, his hair still damp from the shower.

“You’re early.”

I shrugged. “Had nothing else to do. Everyone hates me.”

He dismissed the comment with a wave. “They’ll get over it. You’re about to be on TV. Your fans still love you.” I walked into his room. “Have you told your friends and family?”

“Didn’t have to. The tabloids did it for me.”

“You might want to pretend to be somewhat excited about the show,” he grumbled, running a towel through his hair. “Wasn’t it you who said, and I quote, ‘Think of all the hot girls I get to fuck’?”

It seemed like forever since I said those words. It was right after I signed the contract to be on the show. “I don’t want that anymore.”

“Seriously?” He stared at me like I’d lost my mind. “Take a look.” Reaching into his briefcase, he pulled out a file and handed it to me. “You can’t tell me these women aren’t sexy. I’d give anything to be in your place right now.”

“Maybe you should be on the show. You’re rich and single.” Thanks to me. I looked through the photos of the women I’d be meeting in just two days.

Ty chuckled and disappeared into the bedroom. “Believe me, if I was the kind of guy the show wanted, I’d do it in a heartbeat. There’s no better way of getting over a girl by fucking another. You’ll forget about what’s-her-name soon.” He chuckled again. “And Madison, too. I didn’t realize you two were seeing each other again.”

Clenching my teeth, I stood and walked over to the window overlooking downtown Charlotte. “We’re not,” I snapped. “It’s just some bullshit the tabloids made up to get sales.”

“Obviously, your girl couldn’t handle being with someone like you. Lies are going to be spoken and exploited about you while you’re in the spotlight. It’s the way it is.”

I didn’t even bother with a reply. He closed the bedroom door and I could hear him fumbling around in his suitcase. The man was worse than a fucking female so I sat down on the couch. It’d take him at least thirty minutes just to comb his hair. Closing my eyes, I leaned my head back on the couch. His phone vibrated on the coffee table and I tried to ignore it, only it kept vibrating.

I picked it up, fully planning on giving it to Ty, when I looked down at the screen. Rage bubbled through me as I saw messages from Georgie Hilliard, a man I completely despised. My hands shook as I clicked on the texts and read them all.

Ty: I have a story about Dallas Easton. Want it?

Georgie: Hell yeah. We need some good dirt.

Ty: That’s exactly what you’ll get. Can you meet me in the hotel lobby at 9?

Georgie: I’ll be there.

Georgie Hilliard was the owner of Celebrity Gossip magazine and the same prick who wrote the garbage in the tabloid. The new text messages only confirmed it.

Georgie: Thanks for everything. We’ve had record sales this weekend. You’ll have your share of the money in your account tomorrow.

Blood rushed to my face and I felt like I was on fire. Gritting my teeth, I stormed through the bedroom door. Ty’s eyes widened in shock and he ducked when I threw the phone at the mirror, shattering it.

“Son of a bitch!” I shouted, grabbing Ty by the shirt. Adrenaline coursed through my veins and all I wanted to do was snap him in half. “You are the one who fed Celebrity Gossip the story.”

He grabbed my wrists and I slammed him against the wall. The breath whooshed out of his lungs and he coughed. “I’m not going to let you screw up your life over a girl,” he spat. “It would’ve been over in a matter of weeks anyway. I know you, Dallas. You get bored too easily.”

Letting him go, I punched him so hard in the jaw I felt it crack. He howled in pain and fell to the floor. I wanted him to suffer, but unfortunately I had to do it the right way. “That’s not me anymore. I’m done here.” Turning on my heel, I marched to the door.

“I’m the one who got you where you are. Without me, you’d be nothing,” he hissed. I glanced at him over my shoulder, watching him wipe the blood from his lip onto his shirt.

It was true, he’d made me a celebrity, but I didn’t give a shit about fame anymore. It wasn’t important like it used to be. “Without me, you are nothing. You’re fired. I’ll have my lawyer contact yours.” With those words, I walked out and never looked back.