The beach wasn’t as beautiful as the one she’d left behind. Ella walked along the shore, trying to concentrate on the positives. The water was beautiful, even if it wasn’t a teal blue. The beach was warm, even if it was rocky and the sand wasn’t as white and soft. Some interesting foliage grew in the cracks, even if they weren’t large palm trees.
“What do you think?” Rome asked, walking along behind her. “You don’t like it here, do you?”
“I do like it,” she said, turning to face him and finding a smile. “It’s beautiful. It’s not the same… but it’s still very pretty. I’m sure I’ll learn to love it even more.”
He raised an eyebrow at her, and she knew that meant he didn’t believe her, but he didn’t want to argue about it either. It was just as well. Ella definitely didn’t see the point in discussing it further.
Finding a smooth rock, she sat down and wrapped her arms around herself, wishing she would’ve brought a sweater. She should’ve realized the wind would make it a little chilly this time of morning. They’d spent the night in their new home, and it had been enough to be with Rome to let all of her concerns go. Now, though, in the morning light, all of those problems were back, but she wasn’t ready to have another conversation with Rome about her concerns.
Besides, it was too late now, anyway. They were in California, and he’d spoken to his agent the night before. Marge was so excited that he was back, she was already lining things up for him. She’d even mentioned contacting the director of the movie Rome had been set to make with Wynnie to see if they were still interested in having him in the film. He might even get to play the part of Robert after all, the role he’d given up so that Tim could have it.
There was another role he’d given up in order to do that movie, and it hadn’t started filming yet either. Marge was under the impression Rome would be a hot commodity now. He tended to think no one would want to work with him since he was tainted now. Some people thought that he had killed Tim, or at least that he should be held partially responsible for Tim’s death. Then there was the fact that word had leaked that Rome had secretly married her shortly before she “killed” herself. The whole thing was enough to put a black cloud over his head, or at least that was his fear.
Marge didn’t see it that way, and neither did Ella. She looked over at him, standing with his hands on hips, staring out at the water. He was unbelievably attractive. Any woman would swoon to have the chance to play opposite him. Besides that, he was also extremely talented. He hadn’t gotten a chance to show everything he could do yet, but Ella knew, as soon as he got the right role, there would be no stopping him.
He turned and looked at her. The sun caught his hair, sending flickers of gold shooting out like a halo. When he smiled at her like that, she knew she’d do whatever she had to do to make sure that he had everything he wanted, that he had his chance to show the world what he was capable of.
Rome turned and took a few steps in her direction, but before he reached her, his phone rang in the pocket of his jeans. With a sigh, he pulled it out, and his face fell as he saw who was calling.
“Who is it?” Ella asked, her blood running cold. With an expression like that, it had to be bad.
“It’s my dad’s number. But… this is that burner phone. How could he have the number?”
Ella turned around and looked behind her. She was on the beach a few feet from their gate, but it wasn’t private. Were they being watched right now?
“Hello?” Rome asked, his eyes also searching over her head. Ella didn’t see anything, and neither did he, but she stood and turned toward the house, wondering if maybe there was someone parked in their drive. If there was, she couldn’t see from here, but then, it was hard to see the entire house from this angle.
She turned back around to read Rome’s expression. His face was still white as he listened to his father’s voice, so loud, Ella could hear him barking through the phone. “How did you get this number?” Rome asked, his voice sounding more astounded than angry.
Ella swallowed hard. What could Monty possibly be saying?
“Fine,” Rome said, a hiss of defiance in his voice. “But if you try anything, I swear to God….” Her eyebrows went up, but he looked away, not wanting to stop the call to explain to her. “All right. See you then.” Rome hung up and shoved his phone into his pocket, glaring off into the distance.
“What is it?” Ella asked, taking a step toward him.
“He wants to meet with me. He says he wants to apologize.”
“Do you believe him?” she put her hand on his arm, thinking there was no way they could trust Monty Verona.
“No,” he said quickly. “But I want to hear him out. We’re going to meet in a restaurant in the afternoon, before dark, in a few days. He said I can bring a bodyguard if I want to. I will. It’ll be a public place.”
“What if he tries to grab you again?”
“I’ll be careful,” Rome said, his eyes darting around to meet hers.
“But… he drugged you.”
“I haven’t forgotten that, Ella. That’s why I want to talk to him. I want to ask him how he could do that.”
“You know you’ll never get a straight answer from him, not one you can trust.”
“I know,” he said, breathing heavily as he turned and looked back up at the house. “But I have to give him a chance, or else I’ll never forgive myself.”
That, Ella could relate to. She was still terrified that, after all they’d been through, Monty Verona would find a way to keep them apart again, but she couldn’t argue with Rome on this one. She slipped her arm around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder. She loved him more than anything, and she knew, if she ever lost him, she’d have to kill herself for real, because she couldn’t go on without him.
She also knew the pain of being away from her family, so she wouldn’t want to be the one to keep him from his parents.
A bird cried out overhead, its tone haunting as it dove down toward the rocky shore. Rome’s lips pressed to the top of her head, and Ella held back her tears. If Monty Verona tried to take him away from her again, he’d pay dearly. At that point, Ella would have nothing left to lose.