When Stars Fall [EBOOK and PAPERBACK PUBLISHED]

18. Ellie - Present Day

While Wyatt is in the kitchen, I start up my regular phone. I ignore all the messages, voicemails, and other nonsense I'll have to deal with eventually. My PR can handle the bulk of the shit storm Wyatt ignited.

I scroll through my contacts, searching. Did I keep Calshae's number? We've maintained a polite distance for years. There she is. I send a text asking her to collect Wyatt if she's available.

Slouched into the couch, I wait for her reply. My skin hums from standing so close to him, from touching him. This sensation is new and old. He makes me feel alive, out of control. Any time I came close to something similar with anyone else I cut the relationship short. I told myself I no longer craved the intensity.

But that wasn't it. I fear the kind of love Wyatt inspired. Once you know it's power, a person either seeks the sensation like an addict or runs like hell whenever they sense the emotion coming. I'm a runner; Wyatt is a seeker.

Calshae sends a thumbs-up emoji, and I sigh with relief. He needs to leave before I cave in an epic manner. Haven does not need to wake up tomorrow morning to find her father slept over. If he'd kissed me, he could have asked for anything, and I'd have given it to him.

I wander into the kitchen to tell Wyatt Calshae is on her way.

"Well," Wyatt says, "I pay people to do those things. Just have someone do it. If it's too hard for you to manage with Jamal, ask Camila to look after it."

I stand in the doorway and frown. Jamal? He sees me and looks flustered.

"Look, I gotta go. You know where I am." He listens for a moment and then sighs. "I know, I know. It's fine. It's fine. I'll see you in a few days, okay?"

He hangs up and slips the phone into his pocket.

"I texted Calshae. She's on her way."

He leans against the island and watches me, not bothering to explain his conversation. He doesn't owe me one, but I want it, even if I don't deserve it. He's staring at me, calculating something. "What's up for tomorrow?"

I shake my head. "If we can't agree on how a relationship would work, it's probably best if we just let whatever this once was between us, go."

"There might be some movement on my end about where we live. I have something I'll need to look at, but location isn't a deal breaker for me."

"You're willing to say anything. Anything to get me to say yes."

He shrugs. "So?"

"So, once I say yes I'm worried you'll change the playing field. Suddenly L.A. needs to be a compromise, all your social media accounts are just for fun, maybe just a drink or two socially..." I picture the younger Wyatt I used to know who had no boundaries. He doesn't meet my eyes. Have I pegged him right? I shake my head. The security intercom buzzer goes. With another shake of my head, I walk over and press it. "Yeah, Freddie?"

"Calshae Smith says she's here to get Wyatt?"

Thank God the island is small. "He'll be out in a minute," I say. "Tell her I said thanks for coming."

"Will do."

"Tomorrow, Ellie," he reminds.

"I have a busy day." Only a partial lie. I could rearrange most of my commitments, but I haven't yet. I open the side door.

He stands so close the heat radiating off his body warms me. I shouldn't make eye contact. Avoid the charm. Keep your head down, Ellie. When I look up, his light eyes are filled with sincerity, not the desire or teasing I expected. Whatever he's going to say next, he'll mean it.