After Actors Novels & Stories

Becca's Pov Was he fucking serious right now! I thought shocked, was he really breaking up with me? Even though I was shocked, I wasn’t really surprised. I had somehow been expecting something to happen after I had overheard a conversation three weeks ago, between Ken and his best friend Pete.

I really only have you. But he would never find that watch again. Six years were over. I refused him one last time. "Grant, it's impossible. There will be no future for us." He went speechless. His mouth opened, but no words came out. I checked the time. My flight was close. "Our story ends here. Don't contact me again. "Also, I've sold the apartment." Then I pulled my suitcase away and left without looking back. Later, I found a good job overseas and lived a relaxed, peaceful life.

What followed was three evenings I will remember for the rest of my life. We read those files like board papers. We were not gentle. Sary vetoed a man for his eyebrows ("they're negotiating with each other, I can't"), another for using the word wanderlust unironically. Andin cross-examined credentials like a prosecutor for two evenings, found nothing — actually nothing, she checked citations — and declared the entire shortlist "suspiciously clean," which from Andin is either an accusation or a wedding blessing. Grace asked questions about the psychological screening protocols that made the rest of us feel underqualified for life in general. Nina fell asleep on evening two, woke up, pointed a

I am going to regret this in the morning. “Damnit Ashton, what is going on?” “Did you sleep with her?” “What?” “Did. You. Sleep. With. Her?” “With who?” “Zain don’t play dumb with me right now. I saw her hanging back and watching you talk to me.” “Okay first yes, she came back to the house to party.” I took another shot. “I didn’t have sex with her tonight Ashton.” “Whatever.” “I don’t understand what is going on right now.”

I follow his gaze, and my blood turns to ice. Brian Cruise and Graham Scott are suddenly right there — smiling, talking to our girls like they’re old friends catching up over tea and cake. WHAT. THE. ACTUAL. FUCK.

I forced out, my voice flat. He pushed off the door frame and walked closer. He wore a dark blue shirt that made his eyes seem even darker. "Drop the 'Mr.' Maeve. We're past that, aren't we?" He stopped right in front of me, making me feel small and exposed. "From now on, it's just 'Caden.' You can manage that, can't you?" My teeth clenched. "Yes, Mr. Ca— Caden." The name felt wrong, like something I shouldn't be saying to him. Like it gave him more power.

"But seeing you act so unreasonably, maybe I won't come back tonight after all. Stay home by yourself and think about what you've done." Beep. Beep. Beep. The call was cut off without mercy. The busy tone echoed through the empty villa. I slid down to the floor. My phone screen lit up, and a breaking entertainment headline popped up. [Oscar-winning actress Victoria Quinn spotted having late-night supper with rising star Noah Bell. Romance rumors spark online frenzy!] In the photo, Noah had Victoria firmly protected in his arms. The worry and tenderness in her eyes were exactly the same as the way she had looked at me seven years ago.

My sister had sharp eyes and found the letter under the old pillow. Dad wiped away his tears and unfolded the paper with trembling hands. "Mom, Dad, and Heidi. By the time you see this letter, the countdown should have ended. I'm so happy I get to live with all of you. Thank you for your hard work in the last 18 years. I hope we can still be a family in my next life! Oh, right, use the money in the piggy bank to buy a toy for Heidi! Consider it an early birthday gift."

He nodded, "I just want you to be careful, we both…" "I have to go Sebastian; I have to handle a few emails." I didn't wait to hear what he had to say, I clicked the end button. I let out a low huff as I stared at the wall in front of me, I had just gone off on Sebastian, I didn't know how to feel about it.

She laughs at his words and gestures, and forgets about their argument after their heart-to-heart talk about their past that they overcome after all these years. To be continued...