Page 88 of You're The One
That finally wipes the smile from her face. Her brows lift, just slightly.
“Excuse me? Who do you think you are?” She pushes to her feet, stumbling before catching herself on the back of a chair. “You know nothing about my son.”
Ryan rounds the table and comes to stand beside me, his presence solid at my side.
But it doesn’t deter her. She lets out a brittle laugh, the kind that belongs to a Disney villain. “You must not watch the news. My son can have anyone he wants. Aren’t you, what, one of five?—”
“Four,” I correct, even though that’s beside the point.
How dare she talk about Dom like that? Sure, he has a reputation. But one real conversation is enough to know he’s not exactly proud of it—or the press’s obsession with turning it into his entire personality.
“It doesn’t matter if I’m one of four or one of a hundred,” I snap. “I’m his friend. And you hurt him by showing up here… for what, exactly? Please enlighten us.”
“That’s none of your business.”
“Itismy business.”
Ryan clears his throat, but I don’t dare look at him.
“Listen, Krista?” he starts carefully. “I think Mia’s right. You should leave.”
She scoffs, likewe’rethe ones being unreasonable.
“Okay.” Bodhi finally steps forward. “Let’s call it. I’ll get you a car, Krista. You’re done here.”
“But—” she protests.
“We agreed to pay for your trip based on what you told us, which was clearly lies. Leave now, or you’ll have to find your own way home.”
That gets her attention. “Can I at least talk to Dominic first?”
“No,” I cut in. “You won’t get help from him.”
I don’t know if that’s true, but I must say it with enough certainty, because she pauses, then lets Bodhi guide her toward the front door, her heels clicking too loudly across the hardwood.
“I look forward to reading about him breaking your heart,” she tosses over her shoulder, just before Bodhi helps her down the brownstone steps.
Funny that it’s the laid-back surfer bro who manages to reason with her. But whatever works. She’s gone.
“I’m so sorry about that,” Charlie apologizes, stepping beside me. “Are you all right?”
It’s clear I won’t be winning any points with Dom’s mom, so all I can hope is that I haven’t burned a bridge with his dad, too.
“I’m okay,” I tell him, and for once, I mostly mean it.
Dealing with other people’s problems is always easier than dealing with my own.
He pulls out his phone, probably to call Dom, but I gently stop him. “He won’t have it,” I explain. “Phones are off-limits with production.”
Charlie frowns. His flight leaves in two hours, but he’s reluctant to go without making sure his son’s okay. I promise I’ll find Dom and have him call from a landline.
He hesitates, then nods. “Seems Dominic has someone else watching out for him. Thank you.”
Ryan orders him a car to the airport then I walk him to the door with a promise to see him soon. I hope that’s true.
Bodhi steps back in long enough to tell me he genuinely had no idea about their history and that they’re heading out. I’m a little surprised he doesn’t try to wrangle me back to the hotel after everything that’s just happened.
He gives the crew and the chef a few clipped instructions and starts ushering everyone out the front door. Before he leaves, he reminds me of the ten a.m. call time.
