Chapter 25
Victoria typed as fast as she could, doing her best not to think about what she doing. If she didn’t dwell on the moment,
then maybe she wouldn’t have to feel it. But even as she told herself that, she heard Ella’s voice in her head reminding her
that if she didn’t feel it then no one else would feel it either. And that the point of storytelling was to evoke emotion.
Camera tracks a robot mop as it moves through the baggage claim. Passengers from around the world chatter and hug as they’re
reunited. A businessman on his cell phone steps out of the way, annoyed, revealing Margarite and Jake. Margarite looks rumpled
after 15 hours on the plane. Jake looks casually polished, like the superstar he is, always mindful of the paparazzi.
MARGARITE
Did you want to get takeout on the way to . . .
Margarite stares at Jake, realizing they’ve never talked about what happens next. Life on a movie set was all about the now.
He looks at her with a cold expression.
JAKE
No. I don’t want to get takeout. It was great, but we’re done. See ya, babe.
Jake walks away. Margarite stares after him, looking like she’s been shot.
Victoria stopped typing and held in a groan. In her first version, her heroine had yelled after him that he was an asshole,
collected her luggage and gotten on with her life. In versions two, three and four, she’d had a mini breakdown right there
by the luggage carousel, then had gotten on with her life. But according to people whose opinions she trusted, that wasn’t good enough. She was supposed
to bleed on the page.
Dammit.
The buzzer goes off, then the luggage carousel starts to move. Margarite ignores the offloading bags and runs after Jake.
She catches up with him on the curb.
MARGARITE
Wait! Jake, did you just dump me?
He glares at her, then sighs heavily.
JAKE
Figures you’d make a scene. Yes, we’re done. How can I make that more clear?
Margarite is disbelieving.
MARGARITE
So it was all a lie. You played me to get easy sex.
JAKE
You got easy sex, too.
MARGARITE
But I fell in love with you. I thought you felt the same way.
JAKE
You were wrong. It was a location shoot. That’s not life. Grow up and learn the rules. You won’t get hurt next time.
A black limo pulls up. Jake gets inside without looking back. Margarite sits on the curb, looking stricken.
MARGARITE
But I was in love with you.
She starts to cry. An older woman stops by her.
OLDER WOMAN
Are you all right?
MARGARITE
No. He dumped me at baggage claim. I thought he was the one.
Margarite looks at the other woman.
MARGARITE (CONT’D)
I was going to tell him I’m pregnant.
Victoria stared at her computer screen. “Holy crap. What’s that? You’re not pregnant. No one’s pregnant. No, no, no. I’m very
antipregnant. Have you read my screenplay? We’re near the end. You’re going back to your life, sadder but wiser. You’re going
to self-actualize and realize you don’t need anyone to love you because you’re a very sexy and beautiful island. Do you know
what a pregnancy is going to do to my storyline?”
She got up and waved her hand toward the computer. “Make it go away. This is a hard no. You’re not pregnant. Take it back.”
Someone knocked on her door. She hurried toward it, grateful for the interruption, then was surprised to find Javiar on her
doorstep.
“Hi,” he said, smiling at her.
She stared at him blankly, not able to slide back into real life. What was he doing here? Yes, they were having dinner but
it was only . . .
“What time is it?” she asked.
“Six. It’s when you said to stop by.” He seemed to take in her cutoffs and ratty T-shirt. “You’re not ready.”
“I’ve been working, and I lost track of time. Sorry.” She stepped back to let him in. “I’m in crisis with my screenplay. Margarite
just said she was pregnant, and that’s totally not allowed. It messes up everything, and I can’t deal.”
He followed her into the living room. “Do you want to reschedule? We can do this another night.”
“What? No. I can get ready.” She looked at her computer, then back at him. “Do you know what it means if she’s pregnant?”
His expression turned confused. “That she’ll have a baby?”
“Yes, of course, but that’s not the significant part of it. Ignoring how this totally fucks up my plotting—which, by the way,
I spent months on—now she’s going to be a single mom. She’s going to be alone in the world with a baby because God knows Jake
isn’t going to want to be involved. He’s a self-centered, egotistical asshole that I gave my heart to because I was too young
and stupid to see him for what he was.”
She waved her arms. “It was all witty banter and long walks on the beach until I didn’t have a choice and fell for him because
in high school I’d been too busy being athletic and pissing off my mother to, you know, have a relationship and figure out
the stupid parts when they wouldn’t hurt so much.”
“Are we talking about your character or you?”
“We’re talking about her. I’m not a part of this.”
“You keep saying I.”
Why was he talking crazy? “No, I don’t. You’re wrong.”
“You said that you’d been too busy being an athlete and pissing off your mom to have a relationship.”
“No, I didn’t.”
His expression turned concerned. “You okay?”
“I’m fine. I’m not the one who’s pregnant. Didn’t she use birth control? If you’re going to have sex, you have to take care
of that. What a moron. And now there’s a baby and I have to rewrite the whole damn thing.”
“Can’t you just delete the line of dialogue?”
“It doesn’t work like that, and no, I can’t. She’s a living entity. I created her, and then I set her loose into the world.
She has free will.” She poked him in the chest. “This is not on me. This is totally on her, and I’m not going to deal with
her problem. Forget it. I’m cutting her off.”
She turned away, then spun back to him. “Is this supposed to be a date?”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t agree to date you.”
“You did agree to dinner.”
“And then what? What’s the next step? Because if this is about me falling in love with you, you can forget it. That’s never
happening. It’s my heart, and you don’t get a piece of it. Not now and not ever.”
Because if she did let herself care, then who knew what was next. Hurt, for sure, because that always followed love. She would
love him, and he would dump her, and she didn’t think she could go through that again. And even if she had the strength, she
sure as hell didn’t have the will.
“That’s clear,” Javiar said, his expression unreadable. “My bad.”
Before she could figure out what he was talking about, he leaned in and kissed her on her cheek.
“I won’t bother you again.”
Then he turned and walked out of her condo, quietly closing the door behind him. Leaving her very much alone, which was everything
she wanted, she told herself. Even if she was pretty sure she was lying.
“You okay?” Shannon asked, as she poured coffee from the carafe into her mug. While Javiar was sitting at the kitchen table,
he wasn’t dressed for work or the gym. Usually he was up long before her, going on a five-mile run or lifting weights before
dressing for success. This morning he had on shorts and a T-shirt, but more the kind he slept in than wore out.
“You look tired.”
“I didn’t sleep.”
She sat across from him, studying him. “What’s wrong? Are you sick?”
He offered her a faint smile. “No. It’s not that.” He raised and lowered one shoulder. “Victoria dumped me.”
“What?” The word came out as a shriek. “Are you serious? She dumped you? When? That bitch. Where does she get off doing that?” She frowned. “But she likes you. I know she does. Did you guys have a fight?”
“Nothing that dramatic. And saying she dumped me is probably too strong. That would imply we had a relationship, which we didn’t.”
“I don’t understand. I thought you guys were hanging out and stuff.”
“We were. I think she’s great, and I know she’s wary about getting involved, but I thought I could take it slow and win her
over.” He shook his head. “I was wrong. She’s not interested in me at all. She made that really clear.”
Shannon’s heart sank. “I’m sorry you’re dealing with this, but I don’t get it. We’ve talked about you, and she seemed enthused.”
“Less than you’d think.”
“How can I help?”
“You can’t. I’m giving myself the day to feel like crap, and tomorrow I’ll be fine.”
Shannon studied him. “You really liked her.”
“I did.”
She circled the table and hugged him. “Want me to bring home pizza tonight?”
“Thanks, but I’m going to hang out with some friends, playing video games and drinking beer.”
“You’re such a guy.” She squeezed him before straightening. “I’m around if you need me.”
“I know. Thanks, but I’ll figure it out.”
She topped up her travel mug, then headed to her car. Halfway to the office, she changed directions and drove to Victoria’s
condo. It was only a little after eight in the morning, so she texted from the parking lot.
Are you up? Can we talk for a sec?
Seconds later three dots appeared followed by Sure.
Shannon told herself she was going to be calm and simply get information, only the second Victoria opened the door, she felt
a surge of fury that seemed to come out of nowhere.
“What’s wrong with you?” she demanded as she walked inside. “Why do you have to treat people like garbage? Do you think you’re
better than him? Because you’re not. Javiar is sweet and funny and caring. He’s got a great personality, and he’s sexy as
hell. So what’s the problem? You dumped him? You don’t get to dump him. He should have dumped you because you don’t deserve
him.”
Victoria stared at her. “I don’t think you know me well enough to be yelling at me like this.”
“He’s my family, and you hurt him.”
“That’s between him and me.”
“Not anymore. What happened? Did you have one of your I-don’t-need-anyone-in-my-life moments? Because the whole lone-wolf
thing isn’t a good look on anyone. And when it comes to you, it’s all just bullshit.”