Page 22 of Bryce

“We both hadtumultuous childhood and somehow bonded. He was far different fromthe person he is now – quite gawky and awkward and was bullied.I stood up for him and we became friends.”

Sandra stared as ifshe was just now meeting her. “You stood up for him. For BryceWhitlock. Girl, you could make millions with a story like that. Thetabloids would pay through their teeth to get that in print.”

“Not from me,”she knew her friend was joking, but she took it seriously.

“Of coursenot.” She waved a hand dismissively. “But still. Did youknow he was coming here?”

She shook her head.“We did not stay connected. And he booked under an assumedname.”

“And now?”

“What do youmean?”

“You’rereunited with the man from your past who is now a famous celebrity.How do you feel? And did he remember you?”

“He did and wetalked.”

“Just that.What’s he like?” Her friend leaned forward, an avid lookon her face and it struck her to realize that this was what he facedon a regular basis. He was talked about, speculated on, dissected andregarded as an object, not a person. For the first time in her life,she felt a stirring of pity for him and others like him.

“He’sjust a person.” She found herself saying. “With normallikes and dislikes. He gets annoyed and insecure. He came here to tryand reconnect with his inner self.” She shrugged. “Hecame her to try and find some peace. He desperately wants that.”

Sandra leaned back onthe cushions and nodded in understanding. “It’s funny. Wesee them on the screen and never once considered them to be justpeople. Albeit people with loads of money, but people just the same.”She sipped tea thoughtfully.

“And he came tothe right place. The residents here are not in the habit of beingstar struck. And if they realizes that he’s a friend of yours,he will be treated as such.”

“You’reright. I should pass the word around.”

“Leave that tome, honey,” Sandra had a sparkle in her eyes as she said it.

*****

And thinking of theconversation, it made it easier for her to treat him as a friend.Another couple had registered and kept her busy with the details ofseeing to their rooms and making sure they had everything theyneeded.

He opted to eat lunchin his suite, and she sent Jessica up with some lunch for him. Whenshe was finished, she knocked on his door to check on him.

“Come on in,”he swept the door open with a smile.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. No.”He blew out a breath as he walked into the bedroom where he had beensitting around the small desk. His laptop and phone was there as wellas some papers.

“Which is it?”

Raking a hand throughhis already disordered hair, he went to stand by the window, hisexpression bleak. “I just received a call from Blaine. My dad.”

“Is healright?”

“Yes. Hediscovered where I am staying and gave me the lecture. It seems thepapers are speculating on where I have taken off to and spinning allsorts of stories. My parents like things to be tidy and in theirproper places.

Nothing out of order.Even when my dad is having his affairs, there’s always someorder to it.” He shrugged and looked so unhappy and miserablethat she had had to quell the urge to go to him. “He’sordered me to come back home.”

She felt a jolt atthat. “You’re a grown man.”

“I reminded himof that.” He turned then and smiled at her, just a slightmovement of his lips that sent emotions and sympathy racing throughher. “And told him to go to hell.” He mused. “Iwould never have found the courage to tell him that if it wasn’tfor you.”

“Me?” Shestared at him in surprise.

“Yes.” Hewanted to go to her, take her in his arms and kiss her until theywere both lost in the sensation, but stood where he was.

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