“Yeah, you’d think I’d grow up by now.”
“Well, you did make one good point that night.”
“What was it?”
“That really was the best bowl of chocolate ice cream ever.”
Nicki laughed. “No hard feelings?”
Julia shook her head. “Not as long as you don’t make a habit of it.”
Nicki gazed around the room. “I may not remember everything I did or said that night, but I do remember admitting that I hadn’t appreciated you enough when we were dating. That’s what I’d come to tell you. You’re so talented. By the way, my cousins are raving about the food.” Nicki glanced away for an instant. “I’ll understand if you want the sculpture back that you gave me for my birthday.”
“No, it was a present, and I made it for you.”
“Wow, and I didn’t think I could feel worse about myself. At my party, I opened the box and set it aside. What the fuck! Right?”
“You’ll get no argument from me there, Nicki. But it turned out okay.”
“In what way?”
“I met someone the night you broke up with me.”
“What? Who?”
“I’d rather not say yet. The truth is we’re going through a rough patch.”
Nicki smiled. “So…I still have a chance?”
“I prefer to leave things the way they are.”
An hour later, Julia left the party after Jimmy told her he would manage the cleanup.
As exhausted as she was, Julia found herself in the casita sculpting once she arrived home. She stared down at her phone several times, rechecked her missed calls and texts. Nothing from Rina! She dismissed the thought of driving to LA, knowing in her gut that something was wrong—something was going on and it was obvious to her that Rina wasn’t including her in it.
I can’t keep calling her, especially when Gigi told me to wait to hear from her. This is ridiculous!
She spent another virtually sleepless night wondering if the reason for the communication blackout was simply Rina trying to find a way to break up with her. In the days since Rina’s fall, more pictures of her and Britney had surfaced online along with articles about the shakeup on the set of The Big Picture. Maybe she’ll call today.
Julia brushed her hair, gathered up her belongings, and drove to the diner, thankful that it was Cass’s morning to open.
“Still haven’t heard from her?” Cass whispered as she passed Julia in the restaurant.
Julia frowned when she shook her head.
Later that afternoon, Julia answered the phone at the diner. “Starlight.”
“Julia?”
Julia felt her lifeblood pump through her heart. She turned away from the customers and cupped her hand over the phone. “Rina?”
“We need to talk!”
“What? Why are you calling me at the diner?”
“Because you won’t pick up your damn cell phone. I’ve been calling you for two days!”
“I haven’t gotten any calls. I’ve called you!”
“Oh, that’s rich! Any other lies you want to sell me?”
“Gigi told me to wait to hear from you. Why are you yelling at me?”
“I’ll be at the Y2 within the hour. Be there!” The line went dead.
Immediately, Julia went to Cass. “I just heard from her. Something is very wrong and I’m freaking out. Rina is on her way to the ranch. Can you handle things until closing?”
“Sure, Jules. Go!”
Julia floored the car and sped down the driveway of the ranch. She took a quick shower, freshened her makeup, and then waited on the porch counting the seconds—tapping one foot, then the other—clutching the railing tightly. She’d never heard Rina so angry, nor had she ever been the object of her rage. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t catch her breath, her heart raced, and she kept her eyes fixed on the entrance to the ranch. It took forever before the Jag turned onto the driveway.
She stepped off the porch and raced up to Rina as she exited the car. When Julia reached for her, Rina sidestepped her and without a word walked into the house.
“Not even a hello?” said Julia. She followed Rina into the kitchen. The actress sat on a bar stool at the island, took an envelope out of her purse, and smacked it down on the counter.
“Rina! Talk to me. What the hell is going on?”
Rina glared at her with Anger Number Six and stared her down. On fire, those electrifying eyes could have burned through a thousand movie screens. She picked up the envelope and dumped its contents onto the island, a rubber band holding the photos intact.
“Not that they need it—but explain these! Now, Julia!”
“Why are you attacking me?”
“Is this why I haven’t heard from you?” Rina spat.
“I told you that Gigi said I should wait to hear from you!”
“Then why have you been ignoring my calls?”
“What calls?” Julia glanced down at the top photo and shivered. “This is here, outside the casita! When did you take photos at the Y2?” She picked up the stack, removed the rubber band, and thumbed to the next photo. “Who took these?”
“A private investigator,” Rina said coolly. “You couldn’t wait for me? Couldn’t tell me the truth? Why would you do this?”
Julia lifted her eyes from the photos when Rina’s words sunk in. “You—had me—investigated? Had someone sneak onto my property and spy on me?” She stared down Rina’s scathing expression. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“I didn’t know anything about it, but I’m glad now that Gigi did it!”
“Pfft! Gigi. Why am I not surprised!” Julia slapped the stack of photos on the counter and shook her head. “You let Gigi get away with this?”
“What’s wrong? Can’t bear to look at the rest of them? I don’t blame you. The two of you weren’t particularly discreet at the diner. You couldn’t keep your hands off each other!”
“I don’t need to see the rest of them because I know the truth. You, however, are fucking clueless!”
Rina scoffed. “Obviously! Who’s the guy you’re all over?”
“You really want to know?”
“You’re damn right I do!”
Julia’s eyes flared. “I’ll be right back. Don’t you dare move.”
“Excuse me? Dare? How dare you speak to me in that tone!”
“You’re damn lucky I’m talking to you at all.”
Julia returned from the living room scrolling through the photos on her phone. She found one of her and Vitty and held out the phone. “Here. Take it.”
Rina accepted the phone, shifting her eyes down to the display. Her slackened jaw signaled the moment when she realized what she was looking at. She closed her eyes and groaned before looking back at Julia in disbelief. “Oh, no. Y-your sister…is a twin? It’s your sister?”
Julia nodded. “Yep. That’s us. The two in the Y2. The Dearling twins.” She stood there, her adrenaline surging to the point where she felt like she was vibrating. “So much for trust, huh, Rina!”
Rina scraped back her hair and released a breath that to Julia seemed never ending. “Vitty, huh?”
“’Fraid so.” She picked the top photo off the stack and waved it at Rina. “And this is Vitty and her fiancé David.”
Seeing the shock still roiling Rina’s face, Julia made a determined effort to bring her wrath under control. “What’s going on here, Rina? I’ve never seen you so angry.”
“How do you think seeing photos like these would make me feel?” Rina snapped.
Julia felt her face grow hot. “I don’t know, Katarina. Ashamed maybe? Upset that your lover’s privacy had been invaded? Or maybe you could’ve drawn any other conclusion than the one you jumped to?”
She threw her hands in the air. “The better question is, how do you think I feel knowing my lover had me investigated? Huh? You couldn’t just ask me? You couldn’t trust in my avowed love for you? Trust in every single action I’ve ever taken with
regard to you? I guess not.” She flung a spoon from the counter into the sink so hard that it bounced out onto the floor. “You know what? I can’t talk to you right now!” Julia stormed out of the kitchen and slammed the screen door.
She put a bridle on Lightning and led him out of the barn. As she mounted him bareback, Rina emerged from the house.
“I’m sorry. Julia, wait! Where are you going?”
Julia looked down at her. “Wherever you’re not.”
Rina winced. “Oh no, you don’t!”
Julia turned Lightning toward the mountain. She heard Rina mumbling and looked over her shoulder to see her stomping toward the barn. “Come on, Lightning.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
“It took you long enough,” said Julia when she heard Thunder’s hooves come to a stop behind her.
“Well, pardon me, but I’m riding with a concussion after a long emotional day and having saddled a horse for the first time!” Rina answered.
Julia stood from the boulder she was sitting on and spun around. “Concussion? Jesus, Rina, you shouldn’t be… slide up in your saddle.” Julia held Lightning’s reins and climbed onto Thunder, seating herself behind Rina with her arms around the woman.
“Very sneaky way to get your arms around me.”
“Enjoy it while you can. I’m still mad. Come on, Thunder.” Julia walked the horses back toward the ranch at an unjarring pace. “You had no business getting on this horse—or driving all the way here. Why didn’t you get a driver?”
“Because when I saw those pictures again after not being able to reach you, I watched red meet the green-eyed monster. I grabbed my purse and phone and left the house. That’s all I have with me.”
“You have plenty of stuff here. You know, I’ve been thinking about it. Did Gigi at least tell you I’ve called?”
“I got one message. That was the first time I called you from home. No, wait. Bear with me, my thoughts were even foggier after the fall. Okay, okay—I tried reaching you several times after the accident and I couldn’t get you then, either.”
“If you called me, why didn’t you leave me a message?”
“All it does is ring when I call.” Rina leaned back into Julia. “I hope you don’t mind—I’m not feeling well right now.”
Julia rested her hand on the outside of Rina’s leg. “We’re almost home.”
When they arrived, Julia let Rina off at the porch. “I’ll be in after I get these guys settled.” She rode to the barn and dismounted. She removed Thunder’s saddle and laughed at how Rina had put it on. “She’s lucky she didn’t fall off of you too, Thunder.”
Julia returned to find Rina lying on the couch with her eyes closed. She sat beside her and gently stroked back a wave from Rina’s cheek. “You look pale, babe.”
“I’m not feeling so hot.”
“Come on, let’s get you into bed. Are you hungry?”
“Yes, but I can’t eat yet. The concussion makes me nauseated.”
Julia reached around her and sat her upright. “I’ll bring you a cup of chamomile tea to calm your stomach. Up we go.”
They climbed the steps slowly with Julia’s arm tight around Rina’s waist—Rina’s head on her lover’s shoulder.
“I’ve missed you terribly,” Rina said.
“I hated being so far away from you. When do you go back?”
“I’ll fill you in as soon as I feel up to it.”
They entered the bedroom, and Julia opened Rina’s dresser drawer. “Which pajamas do you want?”
“The blue silk.”
“Here. You change and I’ll be back with some tea.”
Rina reached out and touched Julia’s arm. “I know you’re still angry, but thank you for being so good to me right now.”
Julia smiled and kissed her forehead. “Get comfy—I’ll be back in a flash.”
Holding a cup, Julia stopped in the doorjamb and admired the cozy-looking woman in her bed. “Are you awake?” she asked softly.
“Yes,” Rina said, barely above a whisper.
Julia placed the teacup on the night table and dimmed the lights more. She brought a few pillows from the closet and propped herself up against the headboard while Rina took a few sips of tea. “Here. Come lay your head on my chest.”
Julia massaged her head.
“That feels so good. If I fall asleep, don’t be offended.”
“Honey, I’m worried about you. I don’t like how you look or how you feel. Do we need to call a doctor?”
“No, I saw mine this morning. It’s just going to take some time for the concussion to heal.”
“What on earth possessed you to drive all this way?”
Rina sighed hard. “Those photos broke me apart. I don’t think you realize…”
“Relax now. Don’t think.” Julia stroked her hair. “Just rest. Where’s your phone?”
“Still in the car. Why?”
“I want to call my phone from it and make sure it’s working.”
“Oh-kay,” Rina’s voice trailed off. “The password is 0-7-1-4.”
“My birthday?”
“Uh-huh.” Rina drifted off.
Once she was sure Rina was asleep, Julia retrieved her phone from the car. She sat in the kitchen with her own phone next to it and called herself. Why isn’t my phone ringing?
She scrolled through Rina’s outgoing calls and saw page after page of calls that the woman had made to her. Julia then opened her own phone and tapped Rina’s contact information.
“Sonofabitch! How the hell did that happen?” At the bottom of the list of caller preferences, in black-and-white, the display read: “Caller Blocked.”
Julia waited a couple of hours before bringing a tray with food upstairs. She rested it on the dresser, turned on the nightlight, and sat on the bed stroking Rina’s hair.
“Umm, where am I?” Rina’s gaze landed in Julia’s smile. “For a second I didn’t know if I was at home or in Vancouver or…”
“I’m right here.”
Rina looked up at her and stroked her cheek. “Yes, you are, thankfully.”
“You had a good deep sleep. I’ve been checking on you and you barely moved an inch.”
“What smells so good?”
“A delicious soup I made yesterday. Do you feel well enough to have some?”
“I definitely feel better than before. I’m hungry.”
“Good. Let’s sit you up so I can get some pillows behind you.” Julia fixed the pillows the way Rina liked them and placed the tray over her legs. She reached for the dimmer switch.
“Not too bright, please.” She swallowed a spoonful of soup. “This is so good. What a treat to be eating your cooking again. I think being with you heals me. I really do.”
“I’m glad you’re here, no matter how weird this has been. I don’t think things between us have ever been as strange as they were today.” She sat on the edge of the bed. “While you were sleeping I figured out why you couldn’t reach me.”
“Why?”
“Somehow your number was blocked on my phone.”
“What do you mean ‘somehow’?”
“Just that. I have no idea how that would even…oh, wait—a—minute.”
Rina stopped eating and looked at her. “What is it?”
“Nicki!”
Rina put down her spoon. “What do you mean ‘Nicki’?”
“The night before your accident, I was dead on my feet—got home from work really late and Nicki was in her car, passed out drunk at the gate. I couldn’t let her drive, and I wasn’t about to drive her all the way home, so I let her crash here.”
“You spent the night with your ex?”
“Don’t look at me that way. I’ve had enough Katarina Verralta-wants-to-kill-you looks today to last me a lifetime, thank you. No, I didn’t spend the night with her. She crashed on the couch downstairs. I didn’t even give her a bedroom.”
“Then she was here when I called you?”
“Well…yeah.
”
“And you didn’t tell me?”
“We didn’t have much of a talk, Rina. You as much as admitted that during the conversation when you dismissed me after a minute or two. Cut me a break, will you?”
“Look into my eyes, Julia. You’re honestly telling me that nothing happened between you.”
“Yes.” She smiled. “Do you believe me? ’Cause if not, I have some pictures downstairs on the counter I can sell you to bolster your fears—make you really crazy.”
“I’m never going to live that down, am I?”
“Not anytime soon, but you will—eventually. I’m going to kill Nicki, I swear.”
“But how did she know to block me?”
“I don’t know.” Julia retraced her motions. “I had left my phone on the kitchen counter right after we talked. I remember that because when I went to bed, I reached for it to plug it in and realized I didn’t have it. I was so tired I couldn’t go downstairs. I even fell asleep in my clothes.”
“Did you at least get my texts after we spoke? When I wrote how much I loved and missed you?”
“No, there were no texts the next morning. Damn, Nicki must have seen them come in, deleted them, and then blocked you.”
“Why would she do that?”
Julia smirked. “She was making a play to get me back.”
“Were you going to tell me about that?”
“Not really.”
“Why?”
“Because you were making a movie and you needed to focus on important things. Not stupid crap like my ex showing up here, too drunk to drive and passed out at my gate.”
“You really mean that.”
“What the hell do you think I mean?”
“Slow down. It’s me—my problem. I’ve been cheated on and lied to enough times that raw honesty is still an alien concept. So is loyalty. Two of your greatest strengths are my go-to insecurities. I still don’t know how to handle the honesty.”
“Why? Because it’s good?”
Rina nodded. “Yes. And since you’re showing me that honesty actually works in a relationship, I’m going out on a limb here. Be kind. Britney came onto me that night after dinner. I turned her down of course, but the next morning before we filmed she took another shot at it—which only pissed me off more. It was right after that that we shot the horse scene where I got hurt.”
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