Page 111 of The Write Track
“Which is why you had your mother change my wardrobe and your father give me a job. I have to ask, if you didn’t like anything about me, why did you want to be with me in the first place?”
“I never said I didn’t like anything about you. I just felt you could excel more with a few tweaks under your belt, something I proved.” He was back to looking smug.
“Yes, I was perfect for you, right?”
“Of course.”
“That’s why you cheated on me with your father’s secretary.”
The look he shot me was full of annoyance. “Good grief, Bella. Let it go. Sex has nothing to do with feelings. Just because I love you, that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy myself with others.”
“Except that’s not the way it’s supposed to be.” I was exasperated to the nth degree. “When you love somebody, you’re not supposed to want anybody else.”
“It’s impossible to go through life not wanting anybody else. That’s naïve thinking. You need to get over it so we can get back on schedule.”
Back on schedule?He was a complete and total idiot. “I have no idea why I ever convinced myself that I loved you.” I said it out loud, but it was a message to myself. “I’m embarrassed I let things go on as long as I did. It’s mortifying.”
“You’re embarrassed of me?” His temper finally snapped. “You did not just say that you were embarrassed of me a second time! I’m the one who had to make allowances for you.”
“Of course I’m embarrassed of you.” I kept my voice even and calm. “Why wouldn’t I be? Mostly, I’m embarrassed about how I let you treat me. I have no idea why I went on so long letting you run my life. It will never happen again, though.”
His smile was chilling. “Never say never.”
I wasn’t worried about him. Not any longer. There was nothing he could do to ruin this for me. I wouldn’t allow it.
“Never,” I repeated.
“I guess we’ll see.” He lifted his chin and stared forward. “We should head back before it gets too late.”
Yes, because his plan was being implemented at this very moment. “Sure. Let’s head back.”
29
TWENTY-NINE
Watching Preston sneak off after the women on the walk he insisted was just for the female authors was annoying. He would go after Bella now, make his ultimate move. I couldn’t follow, though.
She would be safe. It wasn’t just that Bree, Hayley, and Taffy were with her either. Bella was strong enough to take care of herself. She always had been. She just needed to remember that.
Now that she had—and I was convinced she was about to eviscerate Preston, for hopefully the last time—I was ready to do my part.
Heather hadn’t gone with the other women. She thought she was being sneaky when she exited the main building—which she’d entered under the pretense of hitting the bathroom and then catching up. She didn’t even look at the lake when she appeared again. She was focused on the cabins. Our three cabins.
Brody moved in beside me. “You know what she’s doing, right?” He looked frustrated but was too loyal to chase after her and stop what was to come.
“I know,” I confirmed, exhaling heavily. “She’s about to find a surprise in there.”
Brody smirked. “Yeah, that will be fun.”
“Totally.” I looked around. There were only a handful of us left. For whatever reason, there were far more women authors than men in our group. “I guess it’s time to make myself scarce. This won’t work if I’m standing here when they get back.”
“Go to our cabin,” Brody instructed. “I’ll let you know when it’s time.”
I pursed my lips and nodded. “I just want this over with. It sort of feels as if we’re trapped in aScooby-Dooepisode.”
Brody burst out laughing. “Do you think we’ll be able to pull a rubber mask off Preston when it’s all over?”
“Unfortunately, his mask isn’t detachable. It’s always there for us to see.”
