Page 63 of Her Movie Star's Secret Plan

Chapter 14

Lauren had Rita, one of the stylists from her salon, come to the Whitmore House to work on her hair the morning of her wedding day. Rita, in her typical fashion, wore a hot pink mini skirt and a black tank top with giant silver hoop earrings. Alexis and the other bridesmaids were crammed into the bridal room upstairs where Lauren was getting her hair transformed into soft curls.

Alexis had stayed up late baking the wedding cake. She was putting the finishing touches on it this morning before she headed over for the wedding. Delilah would be bringing it to the wedding venue an hour before the wedding was scheduled to begin.

Alexis’s heart felt like it was gaping wide with a bleeding wound. She could hardly look at Owen without feeling an immense longing that threatened to overwhelm her. She’d caught a glimpse of him in his tux earlier. He looked mouthwateringly good, and it hurt knowing that she couldn’t have him anymore.

She didn’t want to ruin Lauren’s big day with her sadness, though. So, she pushed down her brokenhearted feelings and put on a smile. Today, it was her job to be supportive of Lauren and make sure that her wedding day went smoothly. It was bad enough that Lauren had taken her time to make sure Alexis was okay at the pool party. She couldn’t lie to Lauren; the breakup had hit her hard. She’d started to let her mind wander to when her own wedding day would be. She’d let it form into a possibility in her mind. But she hadn’t stopped to think through the practicality of such a daydream. There wasn’t a way that she and Owen could be together.

She accepted that reality now.

Tessa sat on the bed beside Alexis. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Alexis found a way to put a smile on her face, even though it felt forced. “I’ll be fine.”

“You don’t look fine.”

“Then I’m not doing a good enough job of faking it.” Alexis smiled weakly at Tessa.

“I can’t imagine what you’re going through right now.”

Alexis glanced over at Lauren. “I just don’t want Lauren to be worried about me today. It’s her special day.”

Tessa looked over there too. “She’s busy talking to Sariah right now.”

“We can make sure Lauren is distracted if you need to talk. That shouldn’t be too hard to pull off.”

“Thanks,” Alexis said.

“Hey.” Tessa reached over and squeezed Alexis’s shoulder. “We’re here for you.”

“I just wish there was a way Owen and I could have worked it out.”

“I know, honey. We were all hoping for that.”

“I just need to put it past me and figure out a way to move on.”

“Maybe you can find a nice guy in Maple Creek.”

Alexis shook her head. “I don’t think so. I can’t think of anyone but Owen.”

“You really have it bad for him then.”

“I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. I’ve never felt chemistry like this with another guy, ever. I don’t think I could ever find someone else who connects with me on this level.”

“That’s beautiful.”

“I got caught in the rain on the way to Owen’s house the other day, and he gave me some of his pajamas to change into. I ended up snuggling up next to him, and it felt so right. My makeup had washed off. I didn’t feel like I had to be all dressed up around him. I could just be me, and he wanted me, the real me. I’ve never experienced anything like it before. Every other date I’ve been on has been superficial. But nothing has been superficial with Owen. Well, maybe it was at first. But he took his mask off, and I saw the man he truly is. And, Tessa, he’s beautiful. I want to be with someone like that. And now I’m scared I’ll never be able to find that again. And I don’t even want to.”

“If you really feel this way about Owen, then you need to fight harder to keep him. A love like that only comes once in a lifetime. You can’t let that slip through your fingers.”

“I don’t think I ever had it to begin with. That’s the problem. I knew from the beginning that I was playing with fire. I knew I was setting myself up for heartbreak, and now I have to face the consequences of my actions.”

“Maybe you just need to talk to Owen again, see if he’s changed his mind.”

“And say what? I love you, now please give up your fame and fortune for me?”

“I think you’re looking at this wrong.”

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