Page 102 of Take Hold of Me

Emilie

Idropmy keys on the kitchen island. Rinaldo drove me home and wanted to come in to wait until Wills returned, but I refused. Wills will need my undivided attention when he gets here and having my ex-boyfriend hovering around would not help matters.

Walking into my room, I shed all of my clothes in favor of a pair of white yoga pants and a light blue t-shirt that matches Wills’s eyes. Padding into my kitchen, I put a teakettle on the stove. I need some calming chamomile right now. Wills will need it later.

While I prepare an icepack for my throbbing cheek courtesy of Wade, my cell rings and I race to see if Wills is answering one of my voicemails or texts. Instead, Val’s face lights up my screen. While I am disappointed not to hear from Wills, Val is a welcome call.

“Hello, Val.”

“Emilie, what’s going on over in LA? I saw a breaking Twitter alert about a scuffle at a party you were at.”

News sure does travel fast. Sighing, I relay what happened with Wade while steeping a teabag in boiling water. “Wade was very drunk. He accused me of being a tease when I slapped him on the set of the shoot. Said I really wanted him.”

“Oh, my God, Emilie. I never would’ve thought he could so such a thing.”

Removing the icepack for a second to let my cheek warm up a bit, I reply, “I did not either.”

“Are you going to press charges?”

I consider her question as I press the icepack back to my cheek. “I gave my statement to the police. But,oui, I will.” He cannot do this to anyone else.

“Good. He deserves to go to jail. What an arse.”

“Agreed.” I try my tea, but it is still too hot. “So, Rinaldo drove me home. Right now I am waiting for Wills to get here.”

“You were with Rinaldo at the party?”

“Oui.” I roll my eyes remembering our last conversation. “He keeps pressing me to get back together.”

After a pause, she says, “I would take Rinaldo up on what he’s offering. Think about it. You two were great together. He’s clearly into you, and already is a part of your friend set. Most importantly, he knows how to handle the media. He got you out of the mansion without getting attention focused on you, correct?”

“Well, yes. He did escort me out of the party and shielded me from the papps. He did all the talking while we waited for his car and said all the right things.”

“Right. And where was Wills?”

I blow on my tea to cool it down. “He was with the paramedics and the police.”

“Come to think about it, where was he before that? Wasn’t he supposed to be your bodyguard? Why wasn’t he doing his job?”

My whole body tenses. Rinaldo pointed out the same thing on our way home. “Honestly, I do not know. He was there, then he disappeared. I needed to go the ladies’ room and when I came out, Wade cornered me out of nowhere.” I shudder once again at the memory of Wade grabbing me. “But it was Wills, not Rinaldo, who came to my defense and pummeled Wade into a bloody pulp.” I complete my last sentence on a sob. Tears stream down my face.

“Oh, Emilie. I wish I were there with you. I’d give you a big hug.”

Gulping air, I reply, “I would like it.”

“Sending one through the phone.”

Sniffling, I say, “At least I got in a good self-defense move on Wade.”

She giggles. “No one ever said you weren’t badass, Emilie.”

A half-smile fills out my uninjured cheek, ending on a yawn. “It has been a very long day, Val. I had better go. Thank you for reaching out to me, it means more than you know.”

“I’m always here for you. Please listen to me. You’d be well rid of Wills. I thought he was a bit of a jerk, anyway. Those brooding, silent types are hot at first, but they come with too much baggage. Go back to Rinaldo. He’s guaranteed fun and the tabloids would eat that up.”

After we hang up, my phone rings a few more times, but I do not have the energy to answer any calls. I let McKenna, Rose, even Cole all go to my voicemail. Feeling numb, I finish my tea and put the mug into the dishwasher, my ears attuned to any noise from the street. A Jeep never makes an appearance.

I walk to the salon and peek out my curtains at my empty driveway. Collapsing on the sofa, I remove the icepack. When the silence stretches for too long, I pull up Maman’s number. She is the only person I have the energy for, and who I know will give me the guidance I need right now.

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