Page 62 of Forbidden Desires

Gisele

Mae and Paisley were amazing when I arrived home from the hotel in hysterics. They promised to hide out with me in the house all weekend, but after my heart-wrenchingconversation with Brody, I desperately needed space between us—a lot of it. And with my father insisting I come home to audition, my life in Deception Bay felt like it was hanging in tatters. Eventually, I gave in and booked a flight. Luckily for me, when I called Cassie in tears from the airport, she and Brandon had no issues with me crashing with them for the weekend. Now, it’s Friday night, and we’re curled up on her sofa, watching “Dirty Dancing.” My audition is tomorrow.

“Are you crying? We’ve seen this movie at least three times together, and I know you’ve watched it a million times before without me.” She laughs, throwing a piece of popcorn in my direction.

It hits me in the forehead, and I scoop it up and eat it. “I know. I just love it so much. You know, how they go into battle for each other.” I sniff, trying to hold back my tears.

She glances at me, her expression serious. “Right, what is really going on? So far, you’ve said you’re home because your father is demanding you audition for this show, but I see it in your tears. There is more to this trip.”

I use the sleeve of my sweatshirt to wipe my tears away and sigh heavily. I haven’t told her anything because I wasn’t ready to talk about it. I keep replaying that last conversation between me and Brody over and over in my head. His words didn’t make sense, and I can’t shake the image of the hurt expression on his face. “Everything is a bit of a mess back there,” I admit. “I don’t know how to fix it.”

She smiles softly. “I knew it.” She pats my leg on her way by. “Why don’t I get us a bowl of chocolate chip ice cream, and you can tell me what’s been going on.”

I follow her into the kitchen, and she moves with a comforting grace. She scoops out generous portions of ice cream, pouring a cascade of chocolate topping. The sweet aroma fills the room, providing a momentary distraction from my turmoil.

She flicks her head back to me. “Okay, you’re really going to need to catch me up. The last I heard, you were doing your best to avoid him.”

I sigh heavily, the weight of it all on my shoulders. So much has changed in such a short time. How did I fall for him so quickly? “I’ve been a crappy friend then. That was weeks ago.”

“Stop stalling and tell me everything.”

“I was doing my very best to avoid him. When I found out about the twelve-month contract he was on to take over his father’s company and the stipulation that said management can’t date employees, I tried my best. Just focused on getting my work done and that was it,” I try and explain.

As she places the bowl in front of me, she squeezes my shoulder, a silent gesture of support. I take a scoop of it and moan out loud at the creamy, rich flavor. “Get to the good part.”

I roll my eyes at her dramatically. “He got hold of my number, and he started messaging me, and it was nice to talk to him. At first, it was innocent, but it got flirty. You know how it is. You have to remember he was the best night of my life.”

She chuckles. “Oh, I remember the story well.”

“Then we had this thing happen at the fall fair, and it was so hot, like crazy. But then he ghosted me, so I went on a date with Mason, and Brody lost his shit, getting all protective and jealous, and he took me home with him. Since then, we have been sort of sneaking around together.” The words spill out quickly, my brain trying to keep up with everything that’s happened over the last little bit.

“OMG, totally scandalous.” She chuckles, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere. Her laughter echoes through the room, offering a momentary reprieve from the weight on my shoulders.

I look at her more seriously. “Not funny, because it is scandalous. There is this local paper that’s run by someone who hates him, and they keep publishing these stories about thehotel. The latest one has a photo of the two of us sneaking out of a bar together and a story that makes him look terrible.”

“So, you’re hiding out here until it all blows over?” she asks, concern etched across her face as she hands me a tissue.

I blot at tears I didn’t even realize were falling again. “I’m not sure. Dad had already demanded I come back here for this audition, and then the story hit, and I didn’t know what to do. I’m not sure exactly where we stand. When we’re together, it feels like things are serious between us, but he has this whole issue of the contract to deal with now. I don’t want him and his sister to lose the business because of me.”

Cassie’s eyes widen with concern, and she reaches out to squeeze my hand, offering silent support. As she does, she shifts closer, a comforting presence beside me. “Is that really a possibility?”

“I don’t know. Maybe, I don’t really understand it. From what he said when I first got there, management can’t date staff; it was a clause in the employment contracts. Supposed to protect the staff, I think, but he might be in trouble now as well. Emerson assures me I still have a job, but who knows?”

“That’s a lot.”

I nod, feeling the weight of the situation pressing on me. Cassie moves, leaning in, and her arm slips around my shoulders in a reassuring embrace. “And the worst part is when I went to see him after the story was released, he said he knew it was never serious between us, that it was just a fling and he knew I would eventually get sick of my vacation and come back to New York to my real life.”

Cassie's face mirrors the pain in my voice. She gently rubs my back. “Harsh.”

“Heartbreaking. I mean, I knew he was upset about the situation he had to deal with, but he was so cold toward me.”

“But you’re in love with him?”

“I know I sound crazy. I’ve only been there a couple of months, but I can’t see myself ever wanting to be with anyone else. I see us starting a family and growing old together on his ranch. When I left here, I had no idea what I wanted; I just knew what I didn’t want, and that was to be here performing. My father’s little doll.”

Cassie leans in further, offering a comforting hug, and I love that she understands what I’m going through. The girls back in Deception Bay could never get it like she does. “And now you know what you want?”

I nod, my voice barely above a whisper. Cassie’s hand moves to cup my cheek, a tender gesture that adds warmth to her comforting presence. “Him.” She smiles.

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