Ties that Bind (Sunshine & Shadow Book 3) (6 page)

     “Elliot…what’s up?”

     “I’ll get straight to the point, April; we need
you to come back to L.A. The producers have already booked your airline ticket
and there will be someone waiting to pick you up at LAX this evening.”

     “This evening? But…I quit my job, sir.”

     “I understand that in all of the stress of the
day, your resignation might not have been an accurate reflection of your true
intent.”

     “I quit, sir. That’s all there is to it.”

     “April, you are under contract with us. Frankly,
you can’t just quit and leave. You need to fulfill your contract. We have
counted your recent absence as paid vacation time and will be happy to continue
your employment starting first thing tomorrow.”

     “But…sir, I can’t just drop everything. I need
more time.”

     “Your plane doesn’t leave for a few hours;
organize your affairs, and as I said, someone will be waiting to pick you up at
LAX.”

     “Sir…is this really necessary? Now? Can’t you
find…”

     “April, let me be frank with you. I don’t want
you back. I’d be happy if I never had to see your face again. But unfortunately,
I’m under contract with the production company, too, and I intend to fulfill my
duties. I have tried to find a suitable replacement for you, but all other
trainers who are worth their money are currently tied up with other companies. Since
your untimely departure, Damian has taken over your responsibilities, but he’s
already snowed under with work. There is no way he can handle the extra load. What
you did was irresponsible, and highly unprofessional. You’re going to return to
work tomorrow morning, or I promise you this – I’ll bring the entire fucking legal
system down on you. You fulfill this contract of yours and stay until the movie
is finished filming or I
will
sue you. Do you understand me?”

     April was shocked. For a moment, she was
speechless, and then she said, “I understand sir, but…you haven’t given me any time
to…make preparations.”

     “You didn’t give me any time. April, your plane
leaves at 8:00 pm tonight. You need to be at the airport by 6:00 pm. I repeat,
if you decide to ignore your responsibilities, not only will I make sure you
never work in this industry again, but you can expect to hear from our lawyers.
You better be on set first thing tomorrow morning.”

     The line went dead.

     April shoved the phone back into her pocket and
balled up her fists. She thumped her hand on the barn door as she trudged her
way back through the snow to the lodge, now more annoyed by it than enthralled.

     After packing her suitcase, April rushed
downstairs. Adam was then returning from a ride and she grabbed him before he
could take his boots off.

     “Adam!” she said. “Can you to drive me to the Greyhound
station in 100 Mile?”

     “You’re in luck. I’m just about to head to the
store, but…” He frowned. “Why?”

     “I have to get back to L.A.”

     “Like, now?”

     April nodded. “Now.” She searched for a pen and
paper. Finding what she was looking for in the junk drawer in the kitchen, she scribbled
a note to her parents, apologizing and promising she would call when she had a
chance.

     “Can’t you wait an hour? Your dad and Kip will be
home soon.”

     Trying to stop her eyes from filling with tears
at the mention of his name, April shook her head. “I have to go now. There’s a bus
leaving in one hour and I can’t miss it. I’ll barely make my flight as it is.”

     She grabbed her cell phone off of the dining
table and rushed past Adam, hurrying him along with a stern look. She jumped
into the passenger seat of Adam’s truck after heaving her suitcase into the
back and slammed the door.

     As they pulled out of the driveway, the truck was
silent. April’s mind was spinning, her cell phone clutched in her hand. She
didn’t know what she could say to Kip to make it all okay. He would think she
was leaving to be with Lex. He would feel betrayed.

     She shoved the phone in her pocket and listened
to the radio as they drove to town. Watching the trees rush past, she tried to
memorize the sights of the fields and forests. She didn’t know when she would
be back.

     As they pulled into the Greyhound station in 100
Mile House, April thanked Adam.

     He looked defeated.

     “What?” April asked.

     “What do I say to your mom and dad?”

     “I left them a note. You don’t need to say
anything.”

     Adam raised his eyebrow.

     “I’ll call them when I get there, okay?”

     “What about…Kip?”

     April’s stomach lurched. “I’ll call him…when I’m
on the bus.”

     “He’s gonna kick my ass for helping you leave…Bye,
April.”

     “He’ll be fine. Bye.” She slammed the truck door
and hurried inside the bus station, settling into one of the plastic chairs for
a short wait until the bus arrived. Her phone vibrated.

     “Hello?” she answered after a moment.

     “Hey, baby.”

     “Kip…”

     April’s heart broke in two at the sound of his
voice. Tears welled in her eyes.

     “I just wanted to let you know we’re running
late. We’ll probably just grab something to eat here. I’ll see you when we get
home tonight.” Kips voice was crackly; bad reception.

     The tears in her eyes overflowed, and ran down
her face, sliding over her lips and tainting them with salt.

     “Kip, I…I won’t be there.” Her voice was shaky.

     “Why not?”

     April bit her lip.

     “April?”

     She inhaled, her breath shaking too. “I’m on my way
to L.A.”

     “You’re…what? Why?”

     “I’m on my way to L.A,” she repeated.

     “Why? What are you doing?”

     “I have to. Campbell called. If I don’t go, he’s
gonna get lawyers involved because I’ve breached the contract.” Her lower lip
trembled so hard she had to bite into it to keep it still, feeling the blood
hit her tongue as her teeth punctured the soft flesh. Her entire body felt
cold.

     “You’re leaving me?” His voice was quiet,
distant. “Again?”

     April began to cry.

     “What’s the real reason, April? Why are you
going?”

     “I just told you. Campbell’s making me.”

     “Bullshit. April, that’s bullshit! I know it’s
for him! I know you love him; I’m not an idiot. But…I could have…changed your
mind. You can’t leave like this! We need to talk! I need you…”

     “I already at the Greyhound station, Kip. I’m not
going back.” Her voice was thick with sudden exhaustion and pain.

     “You ... you didn’t even give me the chance to
say goodbye?” Kip’s voice was angry.

     “Kip. I’m so sorry. Please, believe me; I’m not
doing this because of Lex. But I have to go now. I wish I didn’t.”

     “Don’t do this, April! Don’t do this to me…”

     “…I’m so sorry…” April choked out, her throat
closing around each word, struggling to force each syllable past the sobs.

     “Well…When are you coming back?”

     “I don’t know, Kip.”

     “What does that mean, April? What does that mean
for us? I…I thought…”

     “I know…Kip, you’re…my best friend! I don’t know
what I’m going to do without you.” Body ice cold, lips still trembling, she
clenched her fists. She breathed in deeply. “But…” she said.

     “But what, April?” Kip shouted down the phone.

     “I have to go. Please understand. I’m not doing
this to hurt you! I don’t want to leave.”

     Kips voice was cracking, broken. “Then stay. We’ll
figure it out. You love me…I know you do.”

     April felt fresh tears run down her face. She
closed her eyes, squeezing them shut, hoping to trap the tears inside.

     “So you are leaving me again?” Kip asked.

     The pain in his voice broke April’s heart again,
the pieces feeling like they were being stepped on and crushed, over and over
again.

     “I don’t have a choice, Kip,” she whispered, her
own voice holding all her agony. “I have to. I’m so sorry.”

     The line went dead.

     Another sob erupted from her throat and she
covered her face with her hands, the weight of what she had just done crashing
down on top of her.

     LAX was just as April remembered it; too many
people, all rushing because they were late. She felt a wave of unease wash over
her as the car wove through the narrow, one-way lanes on the way out of the
airport.

     Her heart ached for Kip and the way she had left
things, but she had acted on her gut feeling, which is all he ever told her to
do anyway. In all honesty, she had only followed his advice. She would miss him
and she was afraid he would never forgive her for leaving the way she had. But
she had no choice.

     April had no idea what her future would hold,
especially if Kip never forgave her. Maybe she had made a mistake; maybe it
would be harder this way, seeing Lex, loving him, but having to pretend their
chemistry was non-existent. Her excuse to Kip hadn’t been untrue; she
did
love
Lex, and there was a part of her that missed him more than she’d let herself
admit. Even if it was going to be hard, she knew she couldn’t have lived, day
after day, not knowing what her future in L.A. would have looked like.

     She just hoped knowing she was doing the right
thing would be enough to stop the aching in her heart. 

The 4
^th
Installment in the

Sunshine & Shadow Series

Love and Lies

Now available on Amazon