Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
But she was wrong on one thing. Leaving her was going to hurt. More than I expected.
I swallowed the thick feeling in my throat.
“Would my friend ship me some pies on occasion?” I asked lightly.
She smiled, even as her eyes became glassy. “I think we can arrange that.”
“Maybe some of this chicken,” I added. “Dry ice would keep it fresh. I’ll pay overnight shipping.”
She shook her head. “Spoiled actor.”
I grinned and winked at her. “Perks of the job.”
She smiled and went to refill her water glass. I reached inward and found the actor in me, determined to be what she needed for the next while.
Olly, her friend.
If I managed to pull it off, it would be the performance of a lifetime.
23
OLIVER
Ithrew my case in the back of the rental car, shutting the trunk and releasing a long breath of air. It felt as if I were in a dream. A nightmare, more like it.
I had barely seen Kassie in the past week. She was constantly gone. I told myself she was busy. Living her life. Exactly what I wanted her to do.
I ignored the part of me that felt hurt and wondered if she was avoiding me.
And now, I was leaving.
Her car was in the driveway, so I knew she was home. My feet felt heavy as I headed to her door, knocking and waiting for her to answer. It no longer felt right to simply walk in.
She came to the door, her hair brushed away from her face, no makeup. She was the most beautiful woman in the world, and my breath caught as I drank in the sight of her. She looked tired, but I knew I did as well. Hers was the schedule she was keeping, whereas mine was because I couldn’t sleep without her. I had spent one night with her since that shift began, and nothing had happened. I’d held her close and pretended to sleep. I suspected she’d done the same. After that, I didn’t ask again. I knew it was over, and I would never again know her in that way.
And the knowledge that tomorrow I would wake in LA, thousands of miles apart, was tearing me up inside. But I couldn’t let her know that.
“Hey,” she greeted. “All set?”
“Yep.” I handed her the keys. “Thanks for everything.”
“No time for a coffee?” she asked.
I couldn’t. I couldn’t sit across from her knowing I had to say goodbye. Knowing after I left, she’d clean upstairs and rent the place to someone else. Stay busy and keep on going with her life. That the time we had spent together would be a fond memory for her.
For me, it would be so much more.
I shook my head. “I need to return the rental. And you never know the traffic on the 401.”
“Makes sense,” she murmured.
“Kassie,” I began.
“Yes?”
I ran my fingers down her cheek. “Thank you,” I repeated. “For your forgiveness. For being there for me. For what we shared while I was here.”
A glimmer of tears appeared in her eyes. “Olly,” she whispered.
“You helped me move past so much. Knowing how happy you are makes my life better. You’re surrounded by friends. People who love you.” I paused. “I will always love you too.”
A tear slid down her cheek. “I will always love you too, Olly. The boy, the man. All of you.”
She took my hand, holding it to her chest. “Be happy. You deserve that.”
“It’s all good,” I lied. “I’m looking forward to getting back to LA. Starting another movie.”
She sniffled and wiped away her tears. “Good. Back to your life.”
“Yep.”
Silence fell, our eyes meeting. Suddenly, she was in my arms, my mouth on hers. I kissed her, telling her without words what I couldn’t say. She gripped me tight, and I tasted her tears. Then I stepped back.
“Bye, lovely.”
She smiled. “See you later, Olly.”
And I walked away.
The highway cooperated, and I was at the car rental place sooner than I expected. After, I headed to the terminal, pausing before I went up to the counter. I knew, once I did, they would take over. Escort me to the special security reserved for VIPs. Take me to the first-class lounge. Annie would have arranged all that.
I stared at the counter and the people waiting, knowing it was time. Yet my feet wouldn’t move. Instead, I spun on my heel and went over to a quiet spot by the window. I stared outside, the bustle of the airport fading from behind me as I studied my reflection. One question played on repeat in my head.
What was I doing? What the fuck was I doing?
I lifted my phone to my ear after pressing one icon. The one with the heart.
Kassie answered after two rings. Her voice sounded thick, as if she’d been crying.
“Oliver?”
I didn’t greet her back. “What are we doing?”