55. Chapter Fifty-Five
And the entertainment reporter says, “Olivia Chase was released from the Italian hospital weeks after suffering a cardiac arrest on the set of the action film Malibu Money. Production continues to be shut down.”
* * *
Dolly has taken up lying by the door. We haven’t been to the park in two weeks. I’m afraid that Graham will show up again, and I’m not strong enough for that. But I know this is her subtle way of telling me that she misses her friend.
I finish packing up our bag for the next day. The crew has been awesome about having Dolly on set. She’s super spoiled, and I think Penny spoils her the most. We have two days of filming, and then there is a break for Thanksgiving. After that, we will head to Michigan to get those outdoor shots in the snow.
Dolly lifts her head to watch me, then whines as she walks to her bed, circles it, and then lays down.
“You’ll be fine,” I say. “You’ll see him again,” I promise her, but I don’t know that for sure.
When my phone rings with my father’s ringtone, I stare at it as it lays on my counter. I haven’t spoken to my father since he gave me the ultimatum to sign the contract and break it off with Graham. Well, let’s be honest, my father hasn’t spoken to me since then either. It takes two people to make any kind of relationship, right?
With an unsteady hand, I pick up my phone and swipe my finger across the screen to answer the call.
“Hello?”
“I need you in my office first thing in the morning,” he barks out the order.
“Daddy, I’m filming in the morning. My call time is eight.”
“Then I suggest you be in my office by six-thirty,” he says.
“Can’t you just tell me what this is about now?”
“Six-thirty, Christina. I’ll see you then.” And he disconnects the call.
I stand at my counter, my phone in my hand, and I shake my head. Dolly stands and walks to me, brushing her body up against my legs as if I need her grounding. And maybe I do.
My phone chimes again, in my hand, and when I look down, it’s Graham’s name that comes up.
I hold my breath. Why would he be texting me? He hasn’t talked to me since he left the dog park.
Hi, his text says.
I wait a moment for more, but nothing else is said. So, I type in, Hi, and send the text.
A picture comes back of Loki laying on the couch next to Milo, whose head is back, and he too is asleep.
In return, I snap a picture of Dolly looking up at me and send it.
I think they miss each other, he says, and it squeezes at my heart.
I know they miss each other, and I miss him.
Have you talked to your dad?
I stare down at the message. What does he know that I don’t?
No, I say. I’m not going to mention my meeting with him tomorrow. Maybe Graham will tell me what he knows.
Can I call you?
My palms go damp. I’m a glutton for punishment, so I type, Yes, and send it.
It isn’t but a moment later that my phone rings, and I stare down at it as if I’m surprised to see that he’s calling. Dolly lifts her head and looks back at me as she walks toward her bed.
Finally, I slide my finger over the screen and lift the phone to my ear.
“Hello,” I say softly.
“Hey,” he says, and my insides instantly turn to mush.
I lean against the counter and let myself sink into hearing his voice.
“I hope I’m not bothering you,” he says, and I realize that my knees are soft, and if I don’t sit down, there’s a huge chance I’ll fall.
He’s said six words to me, and I can’t even function. How did I hate this man for so long?
Sliding down the cabinets to the floor, I sit with the phone still pressed to my ear. Dolly must know I need her, because she prances around the island and comes to a stop next to me before she lays down against my leg.
“You’re not bothering me.” I choke out the words. “I was just packing up for tomorrow.”
“You’re on set tomorrow?”
“Call is at eight,” I say, as if it matters.
“Can I come over?”
The question has me holding my breath. Why would he want to come over? I was curt and hurtful the last time I saw him. I’ve been nothing but a bitch to him since everything fell apart—hell, I’m not sure why he fell in love with me to begin with. I didn’t make any of it easy on him.
“Christina?” he says, and I realize I’m only conversing with myself in my head.
“Graham, I don’t know if it’s a good?—”
“It’s a good idea,” he finishes my thought. “Not only does Loki want to see his girlfriend,” he says, and I grin down at my dog, “but I have something I need to talk to you about.”
Dolly lifts her head and looks at me, as if she knows that Loki just might show up at her door.
“I suppose it would be okay.”
“Great. I’ll see you in twenty,” he says. “Bye,” he adds before the line goes dead.
I lower my phone and look at it. He’s coming over.
“What is he up to?” I ask Dolly, who stands and walks back to her bed.
I push up off the floor and walk toward my bedroom. I have no idea what I look like at this point, and even though there is nothing between Graham and me, it would make me feel better if I knew I looked presentable.
As I study myself in the mirror, I pull my hair back into a ponytail and then add a bit of mascara and some gloss to my lips. I don’t want to appear desperate, but a part of me is.
I’m still fussing with my hair and makeup when Graham texts me. I’m here.
Why he didn’t use the code to get through the gate, I don’t know—except that he’s a stand-up kind of guy that wouldn’t use a code that leads to a house he can’t just walk into anymore.
Again, it makes my stomach do a little flip.
Dolly has to sense Loki is nearby. She hurries into my room, makes a circle, barks, and then runs for the front door.
It’ll be worth having Graham here just so Dolly gets a few moments with her boyfriend.
Who am I kidding? It’ll be nice to have Graham here so I can have a few moments with the man that still consumes me.