Page 66 of Sunrise

I nod and turn and head up to my room. Once inside, I lean on the door and close my eyes. Last night was amazing, and today is a shit show. I barely get my thoughts together when my phone rings. It's my mom. Seems the news reached her before I could.

"Mom," I answer, waiting for her to go off with whatever she heard.

"Is it true? Your daddy is here too," she says.

"I said it, but it's not true," I tell them.

"You best get to explaining, son," my dad says.

I tell them about my conversation with Lin last night and her idea about the test and that yes, I said that to him, but I had no intention of asking her to marry me. I go on to tell them about my conversation with Wren, the bridge opening, the new role, and my mixed feelings. I lay it all out there to the only two people in the world I know are on my side and will give me the best advice.

When I'm done, they’re both silent, and I'm pretty sure they are staring at each other.

"Sounds like a real pickle," my dad says.

"Yeah, tell me about it," I mutter.

"So, you need to start by figuring out your feelings for this girl. If they don't go beyond being friends, I doubt you'd be this confused. Is she your forever girl? If she is, you know what that inn means to her, and you have to be the one who makes a change to make it work. You’re happy there; she is happy there."

"But my job is in Hollywood. This role is everything I've been working toward, and the whole reason we did this fake relationship to begin with."

“Plans change. Jimmy down the road has always been into horses and horse training. He had this plan to breed racehorses, which takes a lot of work and time, but then he met Jenny, and that girl is everything to him. They wanted a family, so he switched to cattle on his land. It takes less time, so he has more time with his family, and I've never seen him happier. Plans change, my boy, and what you wanted last week, month, year doesn't have to be what you want today," Dad says.

"Too many people are counting on me for this role. It's not just me. It's Wren, too. He and my personal assistant both make a name for themselves if this goes well. I have staff who depend on me making money for a paycheck." I think of my housekeeper and chef back in Hollywood.

"All of whom could get another job tomorrow with you on their resume. Hell, some might even get a pay raise at a new job because they have been loyal to you all these years. You can find them another job, and you know it," Mom says.

She doesn't get it. Hollywood is a different beast.

"I fly out tomorrow to meet with the studio. We will be filming on location, so once I know more, I'll call you," I tell them, my decision made.

"Well, I have to say I'm disappointed in you, son. But you let us know about this movie, and we will plan a weekend to come see you on the set," my dad says.

They have always spent a weekend with me on set when I film on location. They may not like Hollywood, but when I film elsewhere, they are always right there. Hell, most movies now are filmed at least partly on location.

"I love you, son. Use the time on the plane to think," Mom says as we hang up.

I toss my phone on the bed, not wanting to even look at it anymore. What a mess.

I head down to Lin's office. I need to get her on board with Wren's breakup plan. At the thought of breaking up, my heart clenches and dread fills me. I've never felt like this before. It has to be because of the media circus that will ensue after this, and Lin is too precious to be in the middle of that.

I want to protect her and make sure she comes out of all this unscathed. I could do that if I was here, but that isn't an option, so I need to figure it out. Maybe I can hire some extra security for her around the inn and hire a PR rep to filter out the inquiries for the next little bit. Nothing permanent, just enough to help keep the media and crazy fans at bay.

I will get Wren on it as soon as I get back to my room. Lin's office door is open, but I still knock on the doorframe to get her attention.

"Hey." She looks up and gives me a forced smile.

I sit on the couch in her office and just look at her. What will my days be like when I'm not seeing her every day? I'm going to miss her like crazy. No, I won't have time to miss her with this new role.

I talked to Wren, and the studio loved the idea of me proposing—" I start.

She doesn't let me finish before she cuts me off. "I will not be your fake fiancée or wife. I will not follow you out to Hollywood. We had a deal, Kade."

I love the fire in her voice and her determination.

"Goldie, let me finish. The studio loved it and offered me a role. Not just any role, but the role of a lifetime. Wren says we should use this leak in our breakup."

I have to be imagining the stormy look in her eyes when I talk about our breakup. Or the hurt that flashes on her face as fast as it's gone.

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