by Emma Collins
“I love this time of year,” Amanda said as she eased her gray horse to a halt, and they both took in the scenic view.
“Me too...”
“As much as I’d love to stay an admire the view, we have to get back. We’ve still got two miles to go and the sun won’t wait for us.”
“Let’s go,” Laura said, taking one last look at the mountains before gently using her feet to tell her horse they were ready to go again.
They made it back with a few minutes to spare, the sun almost completely gone by the time they entered Amanda’s house. They shrugged off their coats and Laura followed Amanda into the kitchen.
“Wine? Beer?” Amanda asked.
“Water, please. I think I’ve become a bit too fond of drinking. It seems like almost every day I’m having a drink or two lately.”
“Suit yourself,” Amanda said as she handed her a bottle of water from the fridge and took out a bottle of white wine, pouring herself a glass as she sat down beside Laura at the breakfast bar. “So, what happened in New York? I wanted to ask you earlier, but it’s not easy having a conversation out on the trail.”
“New York was... Interesting.”
“You finally met Julie McCoy,” Amanda said with a sly smile. “That interview is up on YouTube if you want to see it.”
“No thanks. I was a nervous wreck.”
“So, Riley didn’t really deny whatever you two are doing.”
“No,” Laura said with a sigh. “She didn’t.”
“Laura, come on. I need more than that. I saw her reach for your hand.”
“I’m falling for her,” she said with a lopsided smile. “Really falling for her. This isn’t a celebrity crush or some sort of infatuation. It’s real.”
“And she feels the same way about you?”
Laura nodded, biting her lip. Saying it out loud sent a warmth through her body. It was real. What were the chances of her ever really caring about someone else again? She never imagined it could happen, but here she was.
“Wow,” Amanda said, taking a sip of wine. “That’s amazing... I’m really happy for you, Laura.”
“Thanks.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes, neither of them feeling the need to make conversation.
“I never told you what happened in L.A.,” Amanda said, tracing her finger along the rim of her glass.
“What do you mean?”
“When you were on the roof... You were gone for ages. Anyway, I kind of hit it off with Adam.”
“What? Riley’s Adam? The director?”
“Yeah,” Amanda said, taking another drink.
“Why didn’t you say something sooner?”
Amanda shrugged. “I didn’t know if anything was going to come of it. We kind of had a moment at the party... So, we exchanged numbers, and we’ve been texting and talking ever since.”
“So, you’re interested in Adam?”
“Yeah. I mean, I know he’s a few years younger than me, but he’s mature...”
“Do you like him more than you like your horses?” Laura asked, knowing that this had happened before. Amanda had met a guy from Florida once, and she’d fallen hard... Fast. The only problem was that he lived in Tampa Bay, and Amanda’s life was here. That was more than ten years ago, and Laura would hate to see her go through that again.
“Maybe.”
“What?” That was not the answer she was expecting.
“I don’t know,” Amanda said with a sigh. “What if it’s time for a change?”
“You’d move to California for him?”
“I might... I’m not ruling it out. I know it’s early days, but I’m not going to let the distance get in the way.”
“I have to say... I’m shocked,” Laura said as she unscrewed her bottle of water, almost wishing she had a glass of wine now.
“Wouldn’t you consider moving for Riley?”
“Yeah, but... I just need a laptop. You’ve spent years working on this house, building a new barn...”
“You weren’t the only one who was affected by Grace’s death,” Amanda said as she topped up her glass. “Life is short. I know it’s a cliché, but it’s true.”
Laura rested her arms on the tiled counter. It had been a long time since Amanda was serious about someone. She’d put herself out there before, but what she’d built here had always been her first love and priority. Maybe that was about to change.
“I know you probably think I’m nuts,” Amanda said after a moment.
“Not at all.”
“Things with you and Riley happened fast too, but you had time to cool off, to really think about it... To realize that it was worth it. I know I’m nowhere near that. I’m just thinking about my future, and I’m trying to keep an open mind. Just because we live three thousand miles apart doesn’t mean it can’t happen.”
Laura nodded. “I know... And I don’t think you’re crazy. I’m happy for you too, Amanda. I don’t know him that well, but Riley adores him.”
“That’s mutual,” Amanda said with a laugh. “He went on and on about her. If I didn’t know about you two, I would have been jealous.”
“So... Riley doesn’t know that you’re interested in her best friend, or she hasn’t told me if she does... Does Adam know about Riley and me?”
“No. Not that I know of anyway. He never mentioned it,” Amanda said with a shrug. “He had to have seen that photo though.”
“Yeah. I guess there wasn’t much to tell really... Until New York I mean. We were both so unsure of what we did or didn’t have.”
“But now you know?”
“Yes,” Laura said, knowing that it was true. They were going to figure it out. She was prepared to move if that’s what it took. They’d spent too long apart already.
Chapter 42
Riley fiddled with the tiny pendant hanging from her necklace as Laura parked behind the Explorer that must belong to Amanda. She’d just been on a whirlwind press tour for Chasing Time, fielding hundreds of questions, but it was stuff like this that made her nervous. Even though she met Amanda before, they’d yet to have a real conversation. Riley had been in the middle of kissing Laura the last time she’d seen Amanda.
Riley wanted to make a good impression. This was Laura’s best friend. Riley wanted Amanda to like her, to respect her.
“I can’t believe this is where your friend lives,” Riley said as she got out of the car. A brick red barn was just a few yards away from the white ranch style house, and Riley couldn’t stop herself from walking over to the white fence where a mocha colored horse was grazing.
“Amanda has been here for fifteen years now, I think,” Laura said as she closed her door and retrieved the bottle of wine from the backseat. “She really expanded about five years ago, building a new barn and buying more land.”
Riley called the horse over and ran her hand along it’s glossy brown coat. That was the one thing she missed about her life now. She’d grown up riding horses on her parents’ farm almost every day. She had found places to ride near her home in Bakersfield, but she’d been recognized each time, and it turned into more of a hassle than the relaxing day she’d planned for herself.
“Do you ride?” Laura asked as she joined her beside the fence.
“I used to. My parents had horses.”
Riley turned, her stomach dropping when she saw the sad smile on Laura’s face. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing... I just can’t wait to get to know... Really know you. That’s something I probably should have known by now, you know, considering how crazy I am about you,” Laura said, leaning in to lightly brush her lips across Riley’s. “Come on. Let’s go inside. Amanda could talk for hours about these horses. If you’re stuck for something to say, that’s a guaranteed way to make conversation.”
“Could you tell I was nervous?” Riley asked as she walked alongside Laura, climbing the steps to the porch.
Laura knocked on the cream door. “Yeah. You always play with your neckl
ace.”
“See. You do know me,” Riley said with a smile, although she knew what Laura had said was true. They still had so much to learn about one another.
The door opened, and there was Amanda looking very different than the last time Riley had seen her when she’d been dolled up at the premier. Today she was wearing jeans and a plaid button-down shirt, her copper colored hair falling just above her shoulders.
“Hey. Come on in,” Amanda said, holding the door open for them. “Riley, it’s good to see you again.”
“You too. You have a beautiful home. The location is... Amazing.”
“Here you go,” Laura said as she handed Amanda the bottle of wine.
“Thanks. I’ll pour each of you a glass?”
“That’d be great,” Riley said. A few drinks would help settle her nerves, although knowing that, at the very least, they shared a love of horses put her mind at ease.
Riley took off her coat, and Laura did the same, hanging them up while Riley admired Amanda’s home, following her into the living room. She knew Laura had done a lot of writing here, and she could see why. Amanda’s home was cozy, the views across the fields and the peacefulness out here would have made it the perfect location to write.
She sat down next to Laura, the heat from the fire warming her up already. Riley thought she heard another voice coming from the kitchen, but Laura hadn’t mentioned anyone joining them. Before Riley had a chance to ask her, Amanda appeared with two glasses of wine, and Riley’s jaw nearly dropped when Adam casually sat down across from them on the loveseat.
“Hey, Riley,” Adam said, flashing his signature smile. “Laura.”
“Adam?” Riley asked, her eyes widening. “Thanks,” she said to Amanda as she took the wine glass from her. “What...? You two know each other?”
Adam took a sip from his own glass. “We met at the premier...”
Amanda sat down next to him, leaving no space between them, and Riley’s lips slid into a smile. “Ah...”
“It’s still really new,” Amanda added. “And we do live thousands of miles away... But-”
“You fell for my charm,” Adam said with a soft laugh.
“Is this the first time you’ve met in person since?” Laura asked.
“Yeah. I came here after we got back from Europe. So... Six days ago.”
Riley took a drink. Of course, she wanted nothing but the best for Adam, but she couldn’t hide her shock. Amanda was lovely. She was just so used to Adam being on his own.
“I think this calls for a toast,” Laura said, lifting her glass. “To serendipity,” she said with a smile as Riley turned to meet her gaze.
Serendipity.
That was the only word to describe this, from Riley’s spontaneous decision to use Laura’s story to Amanda joining Laura on the red carpet and meeting Adam. It may have taken a while, but things were falling in to place. For all of them.
“To serendipity,” they said, leaning forward to clink their glasses together.
Chapter 43
Warm hands encircled Laura’s waist from behind.
“That was delicious,” Riley said, kissing her neck. “If I wasn’t so stuffed, I’d take you upstairs right now.”
“Oh really?” Laura asked, turning in her arms, leaning back against the counter top.
“I mean, I knew you could cook... But that was easily the best Thanksgiving dinner I’ve had in years.”
“Well, I had a very competent and sexy sous chef,” Laura said, tossing the towel she was holding onto the counter.
Riley had practically moved in after she came back from her promo tour two weeks ago, and even though it was working and Laura loved having her here, she had another idea.
“So,” Laura started, her arms draped across Riley’s shoulders. “I haven’t said anything to Amanda yet... But I was wondering how you would feel about her staying at your house when you’re not there. Unless, you were planning on going back. Not that I want you to. She’s just missing Adam, and I want her to be happy...”
“Now who’s rambling,” Riley said, quirking her eyebrow. “I wasn’t planning on going back, but who would look after the horses?”
“What about you?” Laura suggested. She kept going when all she got was another quizzical look. “I’m not kicking you out. Please don’t take it that way... I just thought that since it was so close, and you love horses, maybe... Maybe you might like to-”
“I’d love to.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. It would be a ton of work though...”
“Amanda already has three people who work with her. She’d probably consider hiring another person if it meant she could get away for a few weeks. I don’t know. I just thought... Your place is empty.”
“It’s not exactly close to Adam, but it’s better than being all the way out here,” Riley said, giving her a quick kiss before she slid out of her arms, reaching for her glass of wine.
“It’s completely up to you... I won’t mention it if you’re not sure.”
“No. It’s a good idea. I still can’t believe Amanda and Adam.”
“I know.”
“He’s always been so... Independent. Driven. He’s never really been with anyone seriously... Not that he’s a player or anything. It’s just always been about work. He is a great guy though.”
“Amanda said he wouldn’t shut up about you when they first met, so it seems like the love is mutual.”
“He’s like a brother to me,” Riley said, giving her a lopsided smile.
“Hey...,” Laura started. “Did you hear from your parents?”
“Today, you mean? No.”
“What about before? When you came out...”
“No,” Riley said matter-of-factly, without emotion. “I haven’t spoken to them since last Christmas.”
“When you went home?”
“No. I haven’t visited them in years. They just called to make sure I was still alive.”
“So, you were on your own last year?” Laura asked, an uncomfortable lump forming in her throat.
“Yes. For Thanksgiving and Christmas... Don’t look so concerned. It’s been a long time since I cared about my family.”
“What happened?”
“They’re just blinded by religion. Homophobic slurs were normal. My brother is a priest,” Riley said with a shrug. “I moved out when I was eighteen and contact has been minimal ever since.”
“Did they know you were gay?”
“No.”
“But they haven’t been in touch since you came out?”
“No. What would they say? Come home? We’ll ship you off to one of those conversion camps? They’ve probably died of embarrassment, and that’s the only consolation.”
Laura stared at Riley.
“Laura, I don’t need your pity,” Riley said, her arms folded against her chest. “I don’t care about my family. They’re a lost cause.”
Laura didn’t think Riley meant for those words to come out with so much bite, but it was like she’d been slapped. Maybe Riley wasn’t as indifferent as she was pretending to be. Maybe she was just putting on a brave face. Either way, Laura was just concerned, but apparently, she didn’t need to be.
“I’m going to have a shower,” Laura said, finishing the wine in her glass and heading up the stairs. That could hardly be called a fight, but everything had been so smooth since they’d admitted their feelings. It felt like a big deal, but hopefully everything would be fine when Laura came back downstairs.
Chapter 44
Riley poured herself another glass of wine. She rarely talked about her family, but it never failed to put her in a shitty mood. She was an expert at dodging questions from interviewers, but it was different with Laura. It wasn’t about breaking a story or finding a new piece of gossip. Laura just wanted to know more about her, how she grew up, and Riley had to say something.
She’d told her the truth. That they didn’t matter, but Riley couldn’t miss the pity in Laura
’s eyes. Riley had snapped, but before she could apologize, Laura was climbing the stairs.
Riley took a drink. Things had been going so well between them. They were bound to fight at some point, although that was hardly a fight. She knew what they looked like. She’d gotten into more heated arguments with Maria over the years than she could count, but she didn’t want things to be like that with Laura.
What Riley had with Maria was passionate but destructive. They were a couple one day and a fling the next, and Maria was always jealous. Laura was nothing like Maria, and Riley needed to remember that. She didn’t need to be so defensive. Laura genuinely cared about her, and her suggestion to move in to Amanda’s wasn’t to try and get rid of her.
Riley padded into the living room and threw another log onto the fire. Amanda’s home was beautiful, and it did make sense. If Adam and her were serious, or even to find out if they were, they couldn’t really be living so far apart.
She’d call Adam tomorrow. She wasn’t going to disturb him today, when he was with his family. She needed to know what he thought of the idea first. She still hadn’t talked to him about Amanda, not really. He was being uncharacteristically private, but then again, when was the last time Adam had been serious about anyone. He’d been happy to divulge the few one-night stands he’d had but maybe this was different.
Riley never would have guessed when she’d flown out here for the first time more than two years ago how drastically her life would change. She was out, she had a screenplay to her name, and she’d found someone she could see herself sharing her life with.
If I wasn’t such an ass...
The house was quiet again without the sounds of running water upstairs. She needed to apologize as soon as Laura came downstairs. She couldn’t let this fester.