Page 45 of Flawless

I tell the others goodbye and head back to the cottage.

For the remainder of the time that I have here on this island, I’m going to fight for Dani. I’m going to fight to make sure that she sees her worth and that she’s worth fighting for.

Most importantly, I’m going to fight to make her see that I love her and that with me is where she belongs.

11 – DANICA

I wake up to the sound of music and lots of noise happening in the front of the cottage. A glance at the nightstand clock tells me that it’s shortly after eight in the morning.

Sniffling, I sit up in bed and walk to the windows. I pull the black-out drapes open, and I see that the sun is beaming brightly, and I know that today will be another scorcher.

I thought that I saw somewhere on the forecast that rain was predicted for this afternoon.

Rubbing my eyes, I stifle a yawn and head to the bathroom. Staring into the mirror, I take in my groggy appearance and shake my head sadly.

God, I wouldn’t want a magazine, paparazzi, or anyone else to catch a glimpse of my current appearance. My hair is a rat’s nest, and I need a deep conditioner and cut. My skin is a darker golden hue than its normal light honey appearance, and I’ve gained quite a few pounds in the last almost four months since I haven’t been on the show.

Heading back into the bedroom, I change out of my nightgown into running shorts and a tank top, pressing down the thought of needing something to make it through the day. After I’ve laced up my gym shoes, I head into the main part of the house.

I can see Zenon out on the back deck, and it looks like he’s working on something. The music is loud, and I don’t want to disturb him, so I head out to the front and begin running.

My habits have become addictive and unhealthy. One of the requirements that I had to do in rehab was to create a list of positive habits that I could develop to deal with the pain.

One of them was running, which is something that I used to love doing in the earlier years but stopped because I became consumed with pursuing my career.

There’s only so long that I can hide out here in this cottage before I need to return to Charleston. I need to see my parents and my brother. Then, there are my cousins, Shep, Cade, Ezra, and Poppy, and their respective spouses.

I have damaged my relationship with all of them at some point. I don’t think that any of the damage is irreparable, except for the damage between my father and me, perhaps.

Tears well in my eyes at that thought. I have always been a daddy’s girl, even when we didn’t see eye to eye. When I would get so angry at him because I felt he was using his power to manipulate me into doing what he wanted me to do, or that he was exerting control over me and trying to quiet my voice, I would blow up.

Our arguments would become so explosive at times that it made our mom nervous. Onyx would give me hell for being disrespectful to my father.

It would only take two days for both my daddy and I to calm down before we would be back to normal again. For the most part, I could never do anything to displease my daddy.

That all changed when I decided to pursue my modeling career.

Looking back over the years, I don’t regret pursuing my career.

What I do regret is not working as hard at the relationships in my life as I worked for my career. Had I cared a little more about their feelings, then I wouldn’t be so weighed down as I am now.

On the return jog, I look out onto the ocean and think about taking a dip in the water. Maybe by the time I make it back to the cottage, change into a bikini, and grab something to eat, I will have a little time for a swim before the rain comes.

I slow my jog to a speed walk as I draw closer to the cottage.

“Danica!”

Looking back over my shoulder, I see Amaris speed-walking in my direction.

I have half a mind to resume jogging again. The last thing that I want to do is play friendly and have this trick all in my face asking about Zenon.

For all I care, they can have each other. I haven’t missed the way that she’s always checking for him, or how he seems to encourage her advances.

I know that he’s attracted to her, and that’s fine by me, as long as he doesn’t bring her into my cottage. The thought of the two of them having sex bothers me but the thought of them being together in my cottage infuriates me.

I know that I hurt Zenon. He deserves someone who will care for him and love him. He deserves to have a good girl in his life, and while I want him to be happy, I don’t think that she’s the one that he needs to be with. Amaris is mean and selfish.

It’s been my experience that women like that can be vengeful if they can’t have their way. The last thing that I want is for him to be with someone who will purposely hurt him the moment that she can’t have her way.

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