“It’s not a big deal, seriously.” Troy’s tone changed to defensive, which stirred Elle’s anger even more.
“Not a big deal? Are you kidding me? Every time I screwed up, you went back to her, Troy. You did it to hurt me, didn’t you? Just like in college!”
Troy threw his arms up in the air, glaring at Elle. “So?”
“So, while I was writing you love letters and begging you to take me back, she was with you, sleeping with you, easing your pain?”
Troy stood in the middle of the room, hands on his hips. His jaw was clenched as he broke eye contact.
“The feet behind the door—how do I know they weren’t hers?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I came to your door so many times . . . and every single time, someone would look through the peephole and walk away. Did Amanda see me through the peephole?”
“I don’t remember, Rigby, it was a long time ago.” The guilt on Troy’s face betrayed him. Even if those feet never belonged to Amanda, the possibility was clear. While her heart was consumed with guilt, Troy was sleeping with Amanda. The thought made bile rise in Elle’s throat.
“I think I’m gonna be sick.” She jumped to her feet and ran to Troy’s bathroom, slamming the door behind her. She held her hair with one hand and lifted the toilet seat with the other, hovering over the commode until her nausea settled and her nerves calmed.
Knock, knock, knock.
A chill ran down Elle’s spine as the entire scenario took her right back to Las Vegas. Her, emotional and sick in the bathroom, with Troy knocking on the other side. Only this time, she wasn’t worried about Troy’s state of mind. It was time for self-preservation.
“Rigby, please . . . I didn’t mean to hurt you, and I’m sorry you found out this way, but I’m never going to regret my daughter. She’s my world—my entire world.”
Elle’s heart sank. She didn’t want Troy to regret becoming a father, but the pain he caused her by rebounding with the one person he knew would upset her was like a nail through her already wounded heart. She climbed to her feet, splashed cold water on her face, and opened the bathroom door.
Troy leaned against the door frame, his brow furrowed in frustration.
“You’re linked to her forever, Troy. No matter what happens with us, Amanda will always be in your life. When Payton graduates high school and college, when she gets married, has kids—you’ll always be linked to her. Forever and always.”
Troy sighed, leaning closer to Elle, his feet crossing the threshold of the bathroom. “Yes, that’s true. But we’re friends, Rigby, nothing more. I need you to believe me.”
Elle wanted to brush it off, to believe that, outside of Payton, Amanda would have no role in their possible future together, but she couldn’t do it.
“Please tell me you can get past this, Rigby, please.”
“I don’t know.”
It was the truth. Yes, she’d hurt Troy deeply and hadn’t forgiven herself for the mistakes she’d made. But, they were just that: mistakes. The pain that Troy caused her was deliberate. He fought dirty, and having a child with Amanda was one way to continue Elle’s pain for years to come.
“I’ll try,” she said. “I promise I’ll try.”
Elle wondered if she and Troy would ever be able to stop making things more difficult for themselves. For each other. Would they ever be able to simply be happy together? Was it even possible?
This place is gorgeous, Luke.”
Elle ran her fingers across the granite countertops of the rental house Luke was considering in the Pacific Palisades. He asked her to visit the house with him on their lunch hour. The Pacific Palisades, a district on the west side of Los Angeles, was notorious for two things: being right on the ocean and being the chosen neighborhood for several Hollywood A-listers. He would be close to work, a short drive from Elle’s place, and he would be on the water, but he would also be surrounded by big names. She could only hope he was more interested in the beautiful view than the hope of rubbing shoulders with big-name directors, actors, and actresses.
The ocean view caught Elle’s eye and she quickly walked outside to the wooden deck, taking in the sea breeze. Luke followed, wrapping his arms around her, linking them across her midriff. All that stood between them and the ocean was a flight of stairs and a hundred yards of sandy beach. The waves crashed against the shore as they took in the majestic view.
“What do you think? Do you love it?”
“It’s . . .” Elle turned to face Luke. “It’s wonderful.”
“The house is okay, nothing too impressive, a little small. But you can’t beat this view. Look, there’s even a hammock over here.” He gestured to a cozy-looking hammock in the corner of the deck before nuzzling his nose into her neck. “You. Me. Naps in the sunshine with the sound of the waves crashing in the background. I should sign the rental agreement this second.”
That thought delighted Elle. It was serene, calm, and sexy—every word she could use to describe Luke himself. When she was with him, life was fresh, new, and filled with possibilities. His calm demeanor and relaxed approach to life was contagious—she’d spent so many years entrenched in anxiety. Yes, it had led to success in her life, success she wouldn’t trade for the world. But Luke was successful in his own right, and he wasn’t bogged down with worry the way she was. Or the way Troy was, for that matter.
“Seriously, though, are you going to take it?”
“I have to see the rest of the place, but yeah, I think so. It’s a year lease, which is perfect. It’ll carry me into next season, and then I can figure out what to do next. Gotta wait to see if my contract is extended.”
Elle placed a chaste kiss on his cheek. “I don’t think you need to worry about that. Viewers love you. Our ratings are the best they’ve ever been.”
“Ahh, but the creator of the show . . . I’m not so sure about her.” His words were playful, impish, and so Elle decided to play along.
“Yeah, I hear she’s a real hard-ass.”
The wind blew and Elle’s hair swished to the side, rising in the air like the flames of a fire. Luke took the ends of her hair gently in his hand, pressing it to her shoulder. “I wouldn’t say that. But she may get sick of me.”
“That seems highly unlikely.” Elle giggled as Luke’s hands drifted down to her waist. The tips of his fingertips stroked her skin gently under her blouse. She squirmed as he tickled her skin and Luke grinned from ear to ear, proud of his ability to keep her on her toes.
“I love that laugh. It’s so beautiful.”
“I didn’t realize a laugh could be beautiful.”
“Yours is.”
Luke pulled Elle in for a kiss just as the leasing agent opened the screen door and cleared his throat.
“Mr. Kingston, I have another client arriving shortly. I need to know if you’re interested—”
“I’ll take it,” Luke said with confidence, his eyes never leaving Elle’s.
“Excellent.” The agent stepped outside to join them. “The paperwork is on the kitchen counter. Deposit of first and last month’s rent is due today, and you can move in on the first.”
“Sounds great.” Luke extended his arm to the agent, who then smiled and shook his hand.
“Excuse me, please. I need to make a phone call.” He retreated back into the house, and Elle turned to Luke, a smile of excitement crossing her lips.
“Congratulations! I’m so excited for you!”
“Thank you.” Luke grinned, then lifted Elle off her feet and spun her around the deck, his hands clutching her rib cage. For a split second, Elle wanted to slap his arm and demand to be put down. But then she forced herself to let go, to enjoy the moment. And within seconds, she was laughing with Luke, her hair blowing in the ocean breeze. When her toes touched the wood of the deck, she gazed into his carefree eyes, enveloped in his lively, seize-life-whenever-you-can outlook. And she liked it. She liked it a lot.