Page 106 of All Signs Point to Malibu

Still, I scan her for any sign of weapons.

All clear.

“Hi... Come on in.” I step back to let her enter.

Sonia shakes her head. “I can’t stay...late-night movie shoot.”

“Right. I read the piece inVariety—again, congrats.” She’s really doing it, and the indie thriller is getting a lot of buzz already. She may only be playing a secondary character but given her status as a Banks, the movie press is highly focused on her acting debut. It will do wonders for future roles.

“Thanks,” she says. “I just wanted to stop by and say that while what you did was shitty, you weren’t exactly entirely wrong.”

“I appreciate your forgiveness, but—”

Sonia holds up a hand. “I didn’t say I forgive you.” But a hint of a smile plays on her lips. “But you did help Liam and I realize that we need to figure out what we want in our own lives before we move forward together.”

It’s what he said too. I wish I could take solace in the fact that they do genuinely seem happier now not having gone ahead with the wedding, but unfortunately, this whole thing has illuminated so many flaws in my own character, the error of my judgment, that it’s hard to feel any kind of victory in how this has played out.

Sonia glances at her watch. “Anyway, I have to go but I also wanted to say thank you, for your unorthodox way of putting me on the right path...for me.”

I nod, unsure what to say as I watch Sonia head back to her car. I know the likelihood of us being friends is next to none, and deep disappointment fills my chest. I enjoyed getting to know her. Strong female friendships have always eluded me and for a while, it had felt nice. But my situation hasn’t changed and if the disaster of confessing my secret to Warren is any indication, I can’t be truly vulnerable with a friend, so it’s best I continue on my solitary path. But I am happy that I was able to get Sonia one step closer to her dream. I’ll be cheering her on as her number one fan from afar.

Back in my office a moment later, I sit at my computer. I stare at the email I’m about to send canceling my appearance. It’s the right thing to do. What value can I offer attendees now? No one trusts me anymore. No one believes in my value as a coach. Everything I had planned to say was just empty industry lingo—a sales pitch to draw new clients...

My gaze lands on my client pride shelf.

Alice’s bestsellers, Frost God’s Top Bakery awards, photos of Darren and me at the Brooks’s Bar opening...

All of those people put their faith in me. Had I made their lives perfect? No. But I had helped them get to a place they wanted to go. And I’d done it from a place of sincerity and genuine interest in helping others succeed. I had to build that trust and reputation. It might be harder now, but I’ve always preached the value of hard work and commitment...

With the same focus and principles guiding my own actions this time, maybe I can do it again.

I delete the email.

Standing, I pick up the framed posters that are still propped against the office wall—“Hailey Harris—Top 30 Under Thirty,” “Life Coach to the Stars”—and start to hang them back up.

I may have hit a roadblock, but these images aren’t a lie. They are who I am—for better or worse—and I need to strive harder to live up to this successful version of myself staring back at me.

I lie in bed and stare at the ceiling. Since dropping Liam off at the airport, memories of the last few weeks have been flooding my mind. With his blessing and the knowledge that he and Hailey aren’t planning to reconnect their relationship, I’m even more conflicted as to what to do.

It’s been over a week since I pushed her away. I’m not even sure where her heart is right now. Putting myself out there and having her reject me would be even harder to come back from, but I’m not sure I have a choice.

I miss her. Everything about her. Even the bickering.

My pillow still holds the lingering scent of her, but it will be gone soon and there will be nothing left...

Reaching for my cell phone on the bedside table, I open her social media and see the hashtag #CancelHaileyHarris is still trending. The life coaching event is tomorrow.

Will she still attend?

Realization dawns and I quickly get out of bed. As I pull on my jeans and hoodie, I dial Marcus’s cell.

Two rings then, “Hey, Coach, what’s up?”

“I need you to meet me somewhere.”

“Text me the location ping.”

Twenty minutes later, Marcus and I stand at the base of the highway billboard with my ladder and cleaning supplies.

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