Unforgettable: Book Three (A Hollywood Love Story #3)(31)
“Fuck you. Never call—”
A soft, sultry voice cuts me off. “Just watch the DVD. I hope you understand.”
Brandon! How the hell did he get my new number? The phone shakes in my trembling hand. My heart is thumping and tears are welling up in my eyes. Why does he still affect me? Why can’t I get over him? Why can’t he leave me alone and stop taunting me?
Before I can hang up on him, he whispers one more word. The magic one: “Please.” The line goes dead.
Every nerve ending in my body is a sparking fuse. I take another big gulp of the white wine and stare hard at the DVD. The burning urge to destroy it slowly dissipates and is replaced by an irrational desire to watch it. Setting both the wine glass and DVD down, I retrieve my laptop from my desk. I haven’t gotten around to buying a TV or DVD player yet so this is the only way I can view it. I plop back down on the couch with the computer in my lap and, with an unsteady hand, insert the DVD.
The opening credit montage immediately plays. While I’ve seen it countless times, my heart hammers. Brandon in all his sexy action poses takes my breath away, eliciting a Pavlovian response that makes my ovaries fall apart. After he stares into the camera pointing his big gun and says, “Get it. Got it? Good!” he fires it—Bang!—and the final credits appear. Written by Brandon Taylor. I almost forgot he wrote the finale. My breath hitches once more. It’s entitled “Unforgettable.”
My eyes are already watering and the episode hasn’t even begun. As much as he’s a sadistic bastard, I must be an even bigger masochist. A glutton for pain and punishment. I have no idea what to expect. Brandon never told me a thing about it except it was going to have a mind-blowing twist and a cliffhanger ending. Said he was sworn to secrecy.
My eyes never leave my computer screen. The episode is intense, action-packed, and suspenseful. His faithful assistant, Melanie, has been by his side for most of the show. They’ve found some more clues to the whereabouts of The Locust, Kurt’s late wife’s assassin. Weary, emotionally drained Kurt needs a break. He tells Mel he’s going to go out for a coffee; she insists on fetching it for him, but he declines her offer. He just needs to get out. Clear his head. As he departs his office, Mel looks at him with a combination of lust and love in her eyes. She loves him so much! It’s been so obvious over the course of the series. If only he would wake up!
I grow emotional and then my heart jolts. An ear-deafening explosion! Mel’s eyes grow wide and she screams, “No!!!!!” She sprints out the door.
My heart almost stops. Kurt’s on the street, lying in a dark pool of blood. He’s been shot!
“Oh my God!” I hear myself gasp with Mel. A mixture of shock and sadness whips through me. This can’t be happening!
Sobbing, Mel falls to her knees beside Kurt. She hastily removes her sweater and presses it against his gushing chest wound while cradling his head in her other arm. He’s still conscious, but barely. His hooded eyes burn into hers.
“Mel, did anyone ever tell you you’re smart…you’re funny…and you’re cute?”
My heart’s racing; tears spilling. Oh my God. These are the very same words he told me that night in his car when he called me on my charade with Jeffrey.
Tears cascading, Melanie shakes her head and rasps, “No.”
The faintest of smiles splays on Kurt’s lips. “Well, I’m telling you.”
“Save your strength,” Mel begs.
Kurt’s blood seeps through her sweater, his breathing labors, and his eyelids grow heavier. Mel panics.
“Kurt…Kurt…can you hear me? Please! Stay with me!”
Kurt’s breathing grows harsh. He’s fading fast. Mel leans into him.
“Don’t you dare die on me, you self-centered, egotistical *,” I hear myself sob out together with Kurt’s hysterical assistant. These are my words. The exact ones I said to Brandon when I found him lying unconscious after his hit and run. Oh my God! Were they in his subconscious? Did he have a memory breakthrough?
“Don’t give up. Please! I love you so much!” The words tumble off my quivering lips in unison with Mel’s as her tears fall onto Kurt’s face. I know what’s coming next. She traces her hand along his strong jaw and then, her lips lower onto his. Still cradling his head in her other arm, she kisses him. Sobs clog her throat. Just like they did mine on that fateful day. I replay that moment. And relive the all-consuming, passionate kiss that I hoped would magically wake Brandon up. Like in a fairy tale.
Mel pulls away and holds Kurt in her loving, teary-eyed gaze, brushing her hand through his hair and losing all hope. Sobbing so loudly, I almost don’t hear Kurt’s last line:
“I love you too, baby.” His eyes close and the screen fades to black. To Be Continued. And then the closing credits come on, rolling to a too familiar song—“Unforgettable” sung by Brandon, his voice unmistakable. My throat constricts so tightly I can barely breathe.
A tsunami of big, ugly, snotty tears pours down my face. My keyboard is covered with them. When I swipe at them, they only multiply. Sobs wrack my body. My emotions are in turmoil. An excruciating combo of passion, sorrow, and confusion floods my veins. What cruel mind game is Brandon playing with me now? What is he trying to say? My phone starts to ring.
I slam my laptop shut, and still sobbing, I hug a pillow tightly, my tears soaking the fabric. My phone keeps ringing and ringing and ringing until it dies a silent death.