Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 116760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Hell. He didn’t know what to think.
And now he really wanted to know what her wish had been.
“Come on, I need another drink,” she told him.
The TV screens around the pub flicked onto advertisements during half-time. Corbin wasn’t a sports guy, but he knew Hayes would appreciate being able to watch the game.
“What the hell?” she whispered, coming to a stop in the middle of the room.
“Bebe? What is it? What’s wrong?”
“She . . . she wouldn’t.” Bluebelle spun around, taking in another TV screen. “What does she think she’s doing?” Her head started shaking back and forth.
Corbin finally stopped and looked at the TV.
What. The. Fuck.
“You had no idea about this?” he asked her, unable to believe what he was seeing.
They were filming The Benner Life again? It was coming back on in two months’ time?
How? Why?
Neither Barb nor Benton had told them that. Although it did make Barb’s quip about them being on camera more understandable. And why she’d had them sign NDAs.
Then the announcer’s voice came over and a shot went to Bebe. It was a clip of that episode where she listened to Ericc the dick, explaining that he didn’t love her, that he was using her. The screen panned to her expression.
God, it hurt him.
It really did.
“She’s back,” the voiceover said. “Your favorite girl you love to love and love to hate. It wouldn’t be The Benner Life without the youngest Benner. Bluebelle!”
“No, no, no,” she cried. “This can’t be happening.”
“I don’t understand. Have you been filming more episodes of The Benner Life?” he asked, confused.
She glanced over at him, looking pale and ill. “No. No, I haven’t agreed to more filming. Why would I? I left that world. I don’t . . . what is she doing? There are no new episodes with me. And there never will be. She’s trying . . . she’s trying to control my life. Control me. I can’t . . . I can’t do this again. I just can’t!”
“Bebe, Bebe, listen to me.” He tried to grab her shoulders, but she slipped away from him, stepping back and shaking her head.
He could see the panic overtaking her. And he had to get through to her somehow.
“I won’t do this. I just can’t,” she said, her voice shaking. Her breathing was growing more erratic by the second, and she was rubbing at her chest as though she wasn’t getting enough oxygen.
“Bebe, I need you to stay calm,” he said in a low voice. Around them, people continued their conversations, but it wouldn’t take long before someone started to notice what was happening. “Just take slow, deep breaths for me. Everything will be all right, but panicking won’t help.”
“No, no! You don’t understand. I can’t! Not again. I can’t!”
Suddenly, she turned and took off through the crowd. Fuck! What was she doing? Where was she going?
If she wanted to leave, she was supposed to fucking wait for them, not just run off in a cloud of perfume and fear.
He moved after her, looking around for Hayes.
Fuck! He was on his own.
Bounding up the stairs, he yelled her name. “Bebe, wait! Stop! You can’t run off on your own!”
“Sh-she will always c-control me! Always!” she screamed back before he heard a door slam above.
Fuck!
21
Corbin reached the door at the top of the stairs and headed out into the small foyer. Then he grabbed his phone, calling Hayes as he headed for the entrance.
“Where are you both?” Hayes demanded.
“Bebe’s upset. She’s run off. I’m following. We’re at the entrance.”
He headed out the door.
Please let her just be standing in the alleyway.
If she’d taken off on him . . .
Christ.
But when he exited into the alleyway, she wasn’t there. He raced toward the street, just in time to see her getting into a taxi. Running to the SUV, he was thankful he’d driven and had the keys.
Hopping in, he started it up and followed the taxi. Where did she think she was going?
He called Hayes again. “I’m following her. She’s in a taxi.”
“I’m coming now,” Hayes barked.
“I have this. Might not be much point in you following, especially as I’ve got the SUV.”
Hayes grumbled. “I’ll head back to her place, perhaps that’s where she’s going. Call me if anything happens.”
“Yep.”
Ending the call, he tried to call Bebe but she didn’t pick up. And it didn’t seem like they were heading to her place.
Where was she going?
They drove for a long time and he managed to keep up with them okay until the taxi sped through a yellow light.
Fuck. He hit the steering wheel with his hand in frustration.
The light went green and he took off, breathing a sigh of relief when he caught sight of the taxi pulling off to the side of the road.
Bebe jumped out of the back of the taxi and took off just as Corbin parked.