Page 66 of Mess With Me
“You don’t understand. For Hollywood, work and fun are mixed together.”
He let out a long breath. “I guess.”
“You don’t approve.”
He hesitated before saying, “Is this what would make you happy? Is this your true purpose?”
“It’s an adventure. Maybe you could come with me? Like as part of her security detail?”
He shook his head. “I didn’t become a cop to follow around some actress. And I’ve put in a lot of years with Eastman PD. I’m not that far from retiring with a full pension.”
“Retiring? You’re not that old.”
“Cops can retire after putting in twenty years.” His gaze was intense. “Besides, everything I need is right here.”
“Do you not want me to take the job?” She held her breath. Now she’d know where she really stood with him.
He clenched his jaw before saying in a low voice, “I’d never stand in your way, Ally. I want you to be happy.”
Her heart sank. Why had she hoped for a declaration of love? Why did she get her hopes up like this every time? She always read too much into her relationships.
“Claire told me to sleep on it,” Ally said. “So I will, but Misty needs someone right away.”
“For how long?”
“I don’t know.”
They were quiet for a few moments. She took in his serious expression and gave it one last try because she had to be sure about him before she made her decision.
She leaned close. “Eth,” she whispered, “how do you really feel about us? About me.”
“I like you.” He nodded once. “A lot. I like you a lot.”
“I love you,” she blurted.
He jerked straight up in his seat and stared at her like she’d grown a third head. Maybe he was in shock. Maybe she’d held back so much before that he hadn’t realized how much he meant to her.
“I love you, Ethan,” she said again through the tightness in her throat.
Still no response.
Because he didn’t feel the same way.
She stood on shaky legs, her heart sinking to the pit of her stomach. “Okay. I’m going to go now.”
He remained still and silent.
She headed back toward the ballroom, needing the comfort of her friends, nausea rising in her throat. Ethan was just like every other guy she’d gotten involved with; they never cared about her as much as she cared about them. Or maybe they were all just closed off, emotionally stunted. What did that say about her that she seemed to find this kind of guy?
She took one step into the ballroom, took in all the happy couples, and made a beeline for the ladies’ room, where she promptly threw up.
So much for single me, happy me. Nothing with men had ever been easy for her.
15
Ethan punched the living room wall and then shook his sore knuckles. Dammit. Ally had just texted that she took the stupid movie star assistant opportunity. The woman was true to her word. She said she’d sleep on it and literally the very next day she made her decision. She was hoping to leave in two weeks. He should’ve told her he loved her, but he’d choked. He couldn’t get the words out. Why couldn’t he say it? His whole life he’d been waiting for someone to say it to him, she finally did, and he’d gone numb. Something in him just shut down. What the hell was wrong with him?
His phone rang and he snatched it up, ridiculously hopeful that it was Ally. Nope. Joe, his honorary dad.
