“I love him so much,” I cry. “I really do, but he’s changing, and I don’t know if I like the person he’s becoming.”
“He’s still the same Reeve underneath it all. You’re not the only one struggling to adjust. I don’t think he’s doing this deliberately to hurt you, but he has been cowardly and secretive, and that shit’s definitely not cool.”
“I can’t bear the thought of the entire world believing they are in this epic romance. I think the media coverage will break my heart, but if I let him go, then what’s to stop him from starting something real with her?” This is the crux of my dilemma. “If I walk away, I’m handing Reeve to her on a silver platter, and I might lose him forever.”
“I’d love to refute that, but I can’t,” she says, reclaiming her seat. “I saw her watching him all weekend. She’s a good actress, I’ll give her that, but a woman knows.”
“I know she wants him. I’m just not sure if it’s because she would get a kick out of stealing him from me, whether she genuinely has feelings for him, or she just sees him as a means of elevating her star power higher.”
“I doubt she feels anything for him. It’s about what he can do for her career, and I’ve no doubt she would love to stick the knife in your back. You two traded barbed insults all weekend, and you’ve definitely laid down the gauntlet now.” Audrey tucks her lustrous red hair behind one ear. “If there is anything positive to come from the weekend, it’s that Reeve did see what you’ve been saying. He was not one bit happy with her when she left for the airport with Rudy.”
“Maybe her plane will crash, and problem solved,” I deadpan.
Audrey laughs. “Maybe you shouldn’t say stuff like that. You don’t want the bad karma.”
“Fuck karma. If it existed, that manipulative bitch would’ve already gotten what’s coming to her.”
Reeve doesn’t call or make an appearance, and that only adds to my foul mood. I’m being unfair, because I told him I need space and he’s not a mind reader.
Or maybe he is.
“Knock, knock,” he says in my ear, as I’m hunched over my sewing machine later that night.
“Oh my freaking God!” I shriek, slamming a hand over my chest, willing my pounding heart to slow down. “Don’t creep up on me like that. You nearly gave me a coronary.”
“I did knock, but you clearly couldn’t hear me.” He tugs on my earbuds.
I turn around, and his doleful expression mirrors my own. His Adam’s apple bobs in his throat as we stare at one another. “I know you probably still hate me, but I’m flying out tomorrow for two weeks, and I can’t leave without trying to make things right.”
“I don’t hate you,” I say, in a quiet voice. “Sometimes, I wish I could. It might make things easier.”
“I couldn’t bear it if you hated me, Viv. I hate that you’re hurting and it’s my fault. I’m hurting too,” he adds, taking my hand and pulling me to my feet. “I don’t want any of this, and it’s killing me inside.”
Sighing, I wrap my arms around him, closing my eyes as I rest my head on his chest. The steady thrumming of his heart is comforting. “I just don’t see how we can make this work, Reeve.”
“Walk with me?” he asks, and I find myself nodding.
We don’t talk as he leads me out of the house and down to the rose garden. It’s clearly much later than I thought, as it’s pitch-dark out, and we only have the garden lamps to light our path.
I suck in a gasp as we near our tree, spotting the large tent that wasn’t there this morning. A myriad of twinkling lights is hanging from the inside of the tent, which has been erected over a temporary wooden floor. The roof of the tent is clear, offering a perfect view of the nighttime sky. Scented candles mix with the perfume of roses wafting in the air as we step inside. A comfortable bed has been set up, adorned with tons of soft cushions, behind a small table and two chairs. A bottle of champagne is chilling on ice, and my tummy rumbles appreciatively as the aroma of hot pizza hits my nostrils. “What’s all this?”
“I thought we could sleep under the stars, in one of our favorite places, and remember everything we mean to each other.” His eyes fill up with tears. “I can’t lose you, Viv. If that’s where your mind is at, I’ll pull out of the production. They can sue me for breach of contract. I don’t care anymore. None of it will matter anyway if I lose you.”