Page 119 of Heartstruck at Dawn
But actions speak louder than words and all that crap. So I turned around, trying to walk away from him, but he blocked my way, of course. His towering presence had it easy for the five-feet seven inches of me.
“Getoutof my face.”
“You need to keep the dirty talk in check, Guille. If you expect me to leave, that is.”
“Hey, Billie. Is everything okay?” Tobias asked, placing his hand on my shoulder. Four people I didn’t know stared our way. Tobias was probably talking to them, and they were waiting for him to return. He was busy. It was his night to shine, not his night to be dealing with my drama.
“We’re fine,” William said, sniffing once and looking away. “We’re just talking.”
“I think it’s best if I leave Tob. I’m sorry.”
“What? You can’t. I promised Nathan I’d make you feel comfortable tonight. I want you to stay. Come.” He pulled me toward the three guys and the woman he was speaking to before and introduced me as a member of his family. He was the sweetest.
I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to be there for him. I knew how important this night was for Tobias. But I couldn’t stand to see William’s face anymore.
A small group of people William seemed to know immediately approached him, and that was that. Joel and Lily were laughing with Eric and two other guys. They were having fun as I’m sure I’d be too if Nathan would’ve come with me. Nathalie, their mother, stood there with them, and although she was smiling, I could see that she seemed sad. It broke my heart.
People kept approaching Tobias and congratulating him for the film. He even introduced me to a few of his cast members.
We all made our way inside the screening room, and I sat next to him as promised. Another girl, around Tobias’s age, sat to my left. Behind us sat Lily, Joel, William, Eric, and Nathalie. She smiled sweetly at me when we made eye contact.
“Is your father coming?” I asked Tobias. I hadn’t seen him since we arrived.
“No, he’s in L.A., working,” he said, looking at the screen. I could tell he was disappointed. And it wasn’t challenging for me to relate to that feeling. I knew firsthand what it felt like not having your father show up for you.
I knew my father had many responsibilities as an ambassador, but he did miss more than a few important events of mine growing up. I just hoped Nathan wasn’t going down that same road—always putting work first.
The director took the microphone and said a few words before the film started. Joel and William kept tapping Tobias’s shoulders with big smiles on their faces.
His father didn’t show up, but we were all here for him.
Thank God I stayed.
TOBIAS’S FILMwasamazing, and he was great in it. There was a lot of action as promised. He looked so happy when it ended. Tobias hadn’t seen any of it until today. It was so surreal to see him on the big screen. That reminded me of the many films William had been in and how I hadn’t watched a single one. I’d lie if I said I wasn’t curious.
There was an after-party right after the film was over, and I wasn’t allowed to skip it, of course. I mostly hung out with Lily, Joel, and Eric. But I snuck out an hour after we arrived. It seemed to me like they would be there for a while, and I just wanted to go home and see if I could speak to Nathan. It all had been too much for me.
At least, I’d gotten my message across with William because he hadn’t tried talking to me after we left the theater. I didn’t see much of him at the after-party either.
We got home, and Caleb offered to walk me back to my apartment. “Are you okay?” I asked as soon as we were alone. I was worried about how our last conversation ended.
“Yeah, I shouldn’t have said anything.” He smiled as he summoned the elevator, but I didn’t buy it. I couldn’t stop thinking about what he said earlier, what he implied.
“I just want us to be okay,” I said softly. He met my gaze with a sincere smile.
“We’llalwaysbe okay. No matter what.” He grasped my shoulders and led me inside the elevator. I wanted to feel relieved when he said that, but I still didn’t.
I learned that part of my overall well-being depended onusbeing okay.
“Then why do I still feel this—weird vibe between us?” I asked as he clicked the ninth-floor button.
He took a deep breath in and let it out with a defeated sigh. “You look at him the way you looked at me when we lived in Paris”—there was a long pause—“times ten,” he added. “That’s all.”
That’s all? He just threwthatin my face and went all Miranda Priestly on me. What was I supposed to reply?
“Caleb, what are you talking about?” He kept looking at the doors, but I finally caught his attention and locked my gaze with his. “Why do you keep bringing William up? And why does he bother you that much and not Nathan? I’m withNathan.”
“Yes, you’re with Nathan. And I know you love him, but the way you—look at William …”
