18. Chapter Eighteen
And the entertainment reporter on the morning news says, “Graham Crowley has been seen running on the same beach where just a few weeks ago he was kissing Christina Malloy, but she seems to be MIA.”
* * *
The car pulls up to the studio offices where we’re doing the read-through, and I let out a long breath. It’s been two weeks since I’ve seen Christina, but I’m about to come face to face with her, and we’re supposed to act as if we’re into one another.
I should have reached out to her, but I just didn’t have it in me to do so. She exhausts me.
Even after our little blow up, she texted me that day she was having lunch with her mother asking about Loki. I don’t get her.
I figured if we just stayed clear from one another, then maybe whatever transpired that day would blow over. But Sandra said that something was mentioned on an entertainment news show about us, and the speculation was that we’d already gone our separate ways.
No news isn’t always good news, I guess.
I notice that there is another SUV parked in front of the building. The driver steps out of that SUV and walks toward the back. He opens the door, and the moment I notice the leg that extends from the vehicle, I know that it’s Christina. Then I see Penny skirt the back of the SUV and catch up with Christina.
I hurry and open the door, and step out.
“Hey,” I call out and both women stop and turn around.
Penny smiles. Her curly hair wildly frames her face. She pushes up her glasses, holding her iPad to her chest.
“Hey, Graham,” Penny calls back.
“How are you?”
She exchanges looks with Christina before looking back at me to answer. “Good. Good,” she says. “I’ll meet you both upstairs.”
Christina and I watch as she disappears into the building.
I take in Christina, who is dressed like Holly Golightly. Her hair is pulled back into a sleek bun at the base of her neck. She has on her big sunglasses and a white dress. On her arm is her purse and another bag which I’ve seen her carry from time to time. I know that it has her script, a small makeup bag, and a water bottle.
“How are you?” I ask her. I can’t decide if I can actually feel the indignation resonate off of her.
“I’m good. How are you?”
“I’m good. I’m glad to get back to work.”
She nods. “Should we go in?” She turns, but I take her hand.
“Can we have a moment?”
She pulls her bottom lip through her teeth, and it instantly makes me think about the day I kissed her.
“Sure.”
I tuck my hands into my front pockets and rock back on my heels. “How have you been?”
“Good. You?”
“Good,” I say. “Milo, Loki, and I went camping. It was nice to get out of town.”
She nods. “That sounds nice.”
“It was.” I look down at my feet and then back up at her. Her eyes are still covered with those dark glasses. “I guess we’re back on, right? I mean, we’ve been out of sight for a few weeks.”
“You know, if you don’t want—” she begins, and I shake my head.
“I’m all in. If you are.”
“Did you know about the camera when you kissed me?” she asks, and I wonder if this really was where everything fell apart.
“I swear, I didn’t. I kissed you for purely selfish reasons.”
“And what were those?”
I smile. “Because I wanted to.”
Her lips pucker before she smiles. “Really?”
“Really.”
Christina looks up at the building and then back at me. “I guess they’re waiting for us. Do we walk in hand in hand?”
“Why not?” I reach for her bag, and she hands it to me. “When we’re done, why don’t you come home with me and meet Loki?”
“Go home with you?” she asks, and her voice rises.
“Just to see Loki and for dinner. I’ll have you home before curfew.”
She laughs and holds out her hand. I take it, lacing our fingers together.
We’re about to walk into a room filled with people we work with often. They’ve seen us go at one another yelling obscenities and throwing props because we’re angry. Now, we’re walking in holding hands, and only Penny, Sandra, and Sal know what’s going on.
That comfort we had somewhat created a few weeks ago is back as we ride the elevator together. We’re still holding hands.
“Sandra says that the entertainment news is questioning us already,” I say.
“I guess I can understand that. You’ve been camping and I’ve basically been hiding in my condo.”
I nudge her. “Seriously, what did you do the past two weeks?”
Her eyes go wide. “I mean it. My lunch with my mother was a disaster, and I haven’t had anything else on my agenda.”
Every time I talk to this woman, I feel as if I should kidnap her and show her what she’s missing in life.
There are millions of people who wish they were her. She’s the daughter of Hollywood royalty. There’s no reason she should sit alone in a sterile condo that’s as big as my house, alone.
Maybe I need to be the bigger person here and look past her shortcomings. Christina Malloy needs me—and my dog.
When the elevator doors open, I hold them open with my foot, but I block her exit.
“We’re good here?” I ask.
“We’re good.”
“Then let’s try this again, but I can’t guarantee it won’t end up on the internet.”
Christina shakes her head. “You don’t have to?—”
I press a finger to her lips. “May I?”
Her eyes lock on mine and then scan over my mouth. “Yes,” she whispers.
With my foot still holding open the door to the elevator, I reach for her and pull her to me.
I want to say something witty, but instead, I lower my head until our lips brush.
I keep the kiss light, but it must do its job. She sways into me, and there is a moan that escapes her. Before she pulls away, I touch her neck, and she opens her eyes to look up at me.
“Maybe we can explore that more too,” I say before I take her hand and we walk toward the boardroom where everyone now waits on us. Suddenly I feel protective of her, and kissing her enhances that feeling.