Page 38 of If My Wishes Came True
When I pull away, he winks at me and smiles.
On the walk home, I begin to think that maybe the universe sent me to Grady’s for a reason. A corrective experience, to make up for the times I couldn’t trust men in the past. And not only that…
Is it possible that seeing Grady’s ocean-blue eyes smiling at me was precisely what I needed to heal? Maybe their resemblance to my ex-boyfriend’s wasn’t a warning to stay away from Charlie—but a reminder that Hunter loved me once. A signthat I can be that loveable girl again. The one who believed in her own happy ending. I know that Hunter will never forgive me. But maybe it’s time I forgave myself and moved on. With Charlie Sutton.
Grinning, I take my phone out of my purse the minute I get home and scroll to his number, which I put in my contacts before I went to sleep on Saturday night. It’s Monday morning now, and I’m sure he’s anxious to hear from me. I can’t wait to finally thank him for the beautiful photograph.
But as I’m about to call him, my phone rings.
It’s Dex.
“Hey!” I say brightly. “How are you guys?”
“Um…good,” he says, his voice low and gravelly. He doesn’t sound like himself. He soundsangry, which is rare for Dex. It makes my stomach flip.
“Are you sure?” I ask, my heart beating faster. “Wait—is everything okay with the baby?”
“The baby’s great,” he says, his voice softening a bit. “Sunny had an ultrasound just the other day. But—where are you right now?” he asks, that unfamiliar edge creeping back into his tone.
“I’m home. Why? What’s going on, Dex?”
He lets out a deep sigh. “I just got a text from Grady.”
“Oh,” I say, my brow furrowed. “Yeah…that’s why I called you yesterday. He hired me to design one of the rooms in his penthouse.”
“Look, Jenna. I don’t want to overstep here, but you’re my friend, and…I think you should know that Grady Brooks isnota good guy.”
I nod. “I understand why you think that. But he’s changed.He’s been sober for a year, and he was a perfect gentleman when I met with him yesterday. You have nothing to worry about.”
Dex clicks his tongue. “I know it’s none of my business who you sleep with?—”
“I’m not sleeping with him. And I don’t plan to. I could see us becoming friends, though. He took care of me last night. I had dinner at his place, but I drank too much wine, and he let me sleep it off in his bed. But he didn’t make a move on me, or anything. He slept in one of the guest rooms.”
Dex is quiet.
“What?” I ask, my palms sweating.
“That fucker,” he finally mutters under his breath.
“What do you mean?” I ask, losing patience. “Just tell me what’s going on.”
“Grady’s had it out for me for years,” he begins to explain. “He thinks I stole Bella Landry from him.”
“Oh,” I say, remembering Grady’s tattoo. “Yeah…he told me she was the love of his life.”
Dex scoffs. “I guess he didn’t mention that he cheated on her with a stripper. She found out while we were filming, and?—”
“You were there for her,” I say.
“Ever since then, Grady’s made this game out of sleeping with as many of my exes as he can,” he goes on. “It’s sick. He asked me about you after that party, and I told him to stay away. Obviously, that backfired. I’m so sorry, Jenna. I would’ve warned you, but I hadn’t heard he was filming in Chicago.”
“But I didn’t sleep with him. Like I said, he didn’t even try.”
“That’s the thing…” Dex pauses, and my stomach churns. “He sent me a picture of you.”
My heart lurches.This can’t be happening again.“He did what?”
“He texted me a picture of you, asleep in his bed. Wearing his shirt. But he didn’t stop there. I don’t want to repeat what he wrote. But he described your rose tattoo, in detail.”
