by Madrid, Liz
“No,” Frank said, walking alongside her towards her door.
“Well, I hate his guts,” Riley declared.
“Whose guts?” Frank asked. “The father in mourning? How could you hate his guts?”
“No, my ex-boyfriend. I hate his guts,” Riley said, fumbling for her keys. “And you know what, Frank?”
He shook his head.
“When he kissed me, there was nothing there. I thought that after three years of thinking about him and wondering why he left me, there’d be something — a spark or something, stars, fireworks, but there was nothing. I got more from the man in mourning with the kid,” Riley said. She sighed as the key finally slipped into the lock and she turned it. “How long is the mourning period in England, do you know?”
“They say that time heals all wounds,” Frank said, setting the vase of flowers on top of her kitchen counter.
“Whatever. Anyway, at least I didn’t say anything embarrassing like ‘Take me back, please, I love you, Pookie-boo.’ I mean, that’s a step forward, right? Not making a fool of myself more than I already did by letting him kiss me.”
Frank shrugged. “Well, you said the kiss didn’t feel right. You can always tell with the kiss.”
“Tell what?”
“That they’re the one.” Frank gave her a sheepish smile. “That’s how I knew I’d met the right woman, when I met my Miss Maisey. When we kissed, I just knew. I think she did, too, but that’s just me, Miss Eames. I’m romantic, I guess.”
“There aren’t that many left of you, Frank,” Riley said. “Just letting you know. The romantics are a dying breed. Either that, or they’re all in England somewhere, back in time, or in the movies, or worse, just made up for gullible women like me.”
“They’re around, Miss Eames,” Frank said. He pulled out a piece of paper from his jacket pocket and handed it to her. “Mr. Hunter also left this for you,” he said.
Riley thanked him, saw him out and locked her door. She took a deep breath and opened the envelope. As she read Ashe’s note, she felt her chest tighten at the sight of his handwriting.
Dearest Riley,
I have to be in LA for a few days and won’t be able to see you today. I had a wonderful time with you last night and hope we can see each other again soon. I never got your number, so I’m going to give you mine. Please call me so I can hear your lovely voice and infectious laugh again.
Yours, Ashe
She couldn’t stop herself from grinning. After the day she’d had, she needed to smile, and Ashe had just made it possible. There was something about him that was so peaceful and down-to-earth, yet so magnetic. She wondered if it had to do with his having grown up on a farm, speaking the way he did in that Yorkshire accent. Maybe it was the way he looked at her and not down at her boobs every time they talked, or maybe the way he kissed her, making her tingle all the way from her head to her toes.
I’m lovesick, she thought. I really am. But I’m also drunk. A lovesick drunk.
Then the memory returned – Gareth kissing her, and the sound of the camera shutter though she’d been too far to hear it. It made her cringe and she groaned. Riley hoped that the reporter hadn’t gotten a recognizable shot of her face. Perhaps all he’d wanted was a good picture of Gareth. Wasn’t that what the tabloids wanted? A clear shot of the face, while the rest ended up in some folder somewhere?
Then she realized something. If any of the pictures showed up online, wouldn’t Ashe see them, too? How long had that man been photographing them? Had he caught the beginning of the kiss, when she’d pulled away? At least it should be obvious that she hadn’t initiated it. But, then, would it really matter? A kiss was a kiss was a kiss.
And Gareth had kissed her twice.
Riley felt sick to her stomach. Paige and Clint’s disappointment she could handle, but Ashe? Well, she’d made her bed again, and this time, like the last time, she would have to sleep in it.
She slipped Ashe’s note back into its envelope and leaned back against the couch, stroking the back of Miss Bailey’s head as the cat snuggled next to her. There was not much Riley could do now except torture herself with worry, so she took a deep breath and tried her best to relax. Maybe it would take Paige another day to realize what had happened between her and Gareth, though in the end, it didn’t matter. Paige would find out, and once she did, Riley was sure she’d never hear the end of it from Paige.
And why not? Paige was only watching out for her baby sister. And sisters, she told Riley, always stuck together.
*
The pictures hit the rumor mill in less than three hours, even before Riley woke up at six that evening with a raging headache. Maybe the pictures had gone up even before then but, as far as Riley was concerned, shit hit the fan much earlier, when her phone wouldn’t stop ringing till she finally picked it up.
“When I told you to lay off Ashe, I didn’t mean for you to run straight into Gareth!” Paige’s voice screamed from her phone as Miss Bailey leapt from her lap and scurried off to find a calmer location.
“Thank God you wore that pink top I gave you last year. At least it made your skin tone look, well, healthier, and those jeans didn’t make you look fat at all.”
“Is that all you’re worried about, my skin tone and whether my butt looked big?” Asked Riley, brushing the cat hair from her thigh and sitting up slowly.
“Clint says it’s not really obvious it’s you, but of course I know you, Ri, so there’s no fooling me,” Paige continued. “Anyway, what the hell happened to, ‘No way would I ever talk to him, even if he went down on his bended knee?’”
“He showed up at the cafe,” Riley replied. “What was I supposed to do, kick him out of there? He milked it. I wouldn’t be surprised if people weren’t filming him even then.”
“They were,” Paige said. Her words slowed as if she was reading something, ever the multitasker. “The clips are all over online, and now everyone wants to know where the Library Cafe is, and something about a Nutella espresso.”
“I told you, he just showed up,” Riley said. “It’s not like I invited him to come over. He’s always known I worked there.”
“Still, it’s the damn kiss that gets me, Ri,” Paige said. “I thought you liked Ashe. What the hell is he going to think of you now?”
Riley sighed. “Is that all you’re worried about, what people will think of me now? How about asking me how I feel?”
“Okay,” Paige said, exhaling. “How are you feeling?”
“Terrible,” Riley said. “I had three vodka sours, but that didn’t help make me feel any better.”
“You know what, I don’t want the boys to see me getting all worked up,” Paige said. “I’m coming over so we can talk about this more and figure out a plan of action.”
“What plan of action? I just told you I’m-”
But Paige had already hung up. Twenty minutes later, she was knocking on the door, carrying a pie in one hand. Even at such short notice, she still looked glamorous in a suede jacket over a dark blouse, jeans and knee-high boots. It wasn’t hard to guess that Paige had once been a fashion model, though she never got to make it as big as Giselle because Clint snapped her up before the industry could. But Riley knew Paige couldn’t care less about her modeling days. She was a brand now, and followers snatched up whatever she recommended through her website and all her social media accounts. She had her own line of clothing in the works, for crying out loud.
“What’s the pie for?” Riley asked, shutting the door behind her.
“I’m stressed,” Paige said. “Aren’t you? It’s the perfect time for pie, so on the way here I stopped by the bakery and picked one up. Pecan, your favorite.”
She set down the pie on the counter and grabbed Riley in her arms, enclosing her in a long hug. It was the third time Riley had been in someone’s arms in the last twenty-four hours, and she hoped this would be the last person in line. From Ashe’s sandalwood and vetiver notes to Gareth’s woody cologne and now P
aige’s usual Chanel No. 5, Riley almost felt sick from the overstimulation of her frontal cortex — or was it somewhere else in her brain that seemed to unlock itself with every new scent her nose encountered? She couldn’t remember, and only knew that going from infatuation and sex to ancient history and then to the scent of family was all too much. Riley extricated herself from Paige’s arms and headed for the kitchen, determined to make a pot of coffee to cleanse her palate.
Then she realized that there were two cups of coffee on the coffee table from the night before, and Paige had just sat herself down in front of them. She rushed towards the living room and snatched the cups away, but it was too late.
“So which one of the two was here?” Paige asked.
Riley hesitated, but Paige held up her hand.
“You might as well tell me the truth, Riley,” Paige said, heaving a sigh. “I’ve decided that you’re a big girl now and while I still worry about you as your big sis, I can’t stop you from doing whatever it is you want to do — well, short of harming yourself. But I can be here for you.”
“You sound like you had to memorize that,” Riley observed, preparing the coffee. Paige got up and stood on the other side of the counter, slicing the pie into equal segments.
“I did,” Paige said. “Clint made me. He said you’re old enough to make your own decisions, and he does have a point. You’re twenty-three years old and, though you’ll always be my baby sister, you can take care of yourself. I mean, look at this place. When we first saw it, the walls were so awful — all that smoke — and it was such a mess that it was a bargain. But look what you’ve done — you bought it and then fixed it up yourself. I’m so proud of you for being able to buy this place on your own.”
“You guys helped me with the downpayment, remember?” Riley said. “But I hope Clint didn’t make you say that either.”
“Of course, not. That part’s all me. Anyway, let’s not change the subject,” Paige said, “so who was it?”
“It was Ashe,” Riley replied. “But he left by the time you called me last night. He just stopped by for coffee.”
“And he sent you flowers again,” Paige said, her left eyebrow arching. “He must really like you.”
Riley pretended not to hear her. She took down two plates for their pie and some whipped cream from the refrigerator for topping. If Paige really wanted to be sinful because she was stressed, she’d help her go all the way.
“What’s the deal with Gareth, then? Why are you suddenly sucking face with the ex, when there’s someone much better on the horizon who’s sending you flowers and subjecting himself to triplets who aren’t even related to him?”
Riley sighed, debating whether or not to tell Paige. She decided she needed to tell somebody, and it might as well be Paige. “Gareth says he still loves me.”
“Oh, please, spare me the details about Gareth and his lies. I hope to God you didn’t buy that line and let your guard down,” Paige said. “Or is that why your kiss is plastered all over the gossip websites and forums?”
“But I didn’t let my guard down,” Riley protested.
“He kissed you! And if that isn’t called letting your guard down, then I don’t what is,” Paige said, exhaling. “You know what? I’m getting really tired of these actors who think they can have anyone they want whenever they want. I’ve got a solution, Ri. It’s time to forget Gareth.”
“That’s possible.”
“And Ashe,” Paige added.
“What? I can’t do that.”
“Yes, you can,” Paige said. “Honestly, Ri, if Ashe sees the pictures of you kissing Gareth – and I don’t even care who kissed who first, he still kissed you while dipping you – I’d rather you weren’t there for the letdown from Ashe. You know what I’m talking about, when he stops sending you flowers or calling you or showing up at the cafe. It’s time to forget them both and move on. And guess what? Clint and I have the perfect solution.”
“And what is that?”
“Jesse, Clint’s assistant, the guy I told you about last night. He seems like a nice man. Smiles a lot,” Paige said. “Anyway, there’s a charity ball next week and you’re invited, and I won’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”
“But I have nothing to wear to some formal gala, Paige.”
“So? I’ve got tons of dresses,” Paige laughed. “And speaking of dresses, don’t take another bite of that pie!”
She grabbed both plates and emptied what was left into the trash before Riley could stop her.
“What did you do that for?” Riley protested. “That was perfectly good pie!”
“I know, but you’ll have to fit into my dress, Ri, which means you’re gonna have to be a size smaller by next week,” Paige said, opening the fridge and rummaging around before taking out a day-old vegetable platter. She pushed it across the counter towards Riley.
“But-”
“Did you know that carrots go well with coffee?” Paige asked, handing her a carrot stick. “You should try it.”
14
Soul Heart
Gareth Roman, it was finally revealed through the entertainment news sites, had been dating Isobel Reign for the past five months. He had even been photographed sharing a cigarette with her on the balcony of Chateau Marmont just weeks earlier, with only a towel around his slim waist, and afterwards, leaving the same hotel after her in what the gossip rags called her ‘walk of shame’. They were also photographed a few times having lunch at the Ivy and Soho House.
Unconfirmed reports stated that the relationship had been kept under wraps so that the studios could capitalize on the rumored rivalry between Gareth and Ashe for Isobel’s attentions. After all, Ashe had been dating Isobel for more than a year before the broke up shortly after filming for Sentience wrapped. Because of the publicity push, the rivalry worked wonders for the movie, especially in the foreign markets. There was nothing like a good old love triangle between movie stars to sell tickets.
The next morning, a blind item appeared on a gossip website about two costars who had almost come to blows during a press junket over a picture of one of them kissing the other’s girl. Promotions for the movie they were starring in would now be done separately, with the lovebirds heading for Brazil and other parts of South America, and the other one walking the red carpets alone with the film’s director in Asia.
It made Riley’s head spin to read all these things, especially the articles about Gareth and his relationship with Isobel Reign. At least he’d made a good choice, she thought, for it would guarantee him an automatic role in most of the movies Isobel’s father produced in the future. It would make him a bigger star than he already was. Nepotism much? She wanted to text him, but at the same time, she figured that it was none of her business.
But why had he said the things he had to her? Why had he kissed her?
Because he could, of course.
According to some reports, she was the same woman seen sharing a cab with Ashe and who had been spotted with him at a noodle restaurant, which meant she was seeing both actors. Because of this, fan forums labeled her a skank, a term that infuriated Riley. She had to stop reading the comments because they only made her mad as hell, not knowing how to begin defending herself. Was it even worth it to defend herself to strangers? She hadn’t even begun explaining herself to Ashe.
So she started by writing Ashe a note, something that she could read out loud when she’d finally get to talk to him. She didn’t know why she was feeling so guilty when she hadn’t done anything wrong, but she did.
Ashe had made her feel things she hadn’t felt before — beautiful even. He’d looked at her in a way that no one had for a long time. It was as if he really saw her there in front of him, and she liked that feeling. She missed it, and she wanted nothing more than to get it back.
But she’d messed things up. She’d kissed Gareth Roman.
So Riley wrote down her feelings on paper, crossed out the words, then added more only to cross those out also. She ende
d up with a full sheet filled with scribbles, some of them tear-stained and smeared with pecan pie. Unlike Paige, she wasn’t about to let the rest of the pie go to waste.
In the end, Riley settled for the first draft she had written the night before, held it in front of her as she dialed his number, praying he wouldn’t answer the phone — but at the same time, also hoping that he would. Her first wish was granted, for her call went straight to his voicemail. Riley’s heart was beating so fast she was afraid it would burst out of her chest, but she held the note in front of her face, closed her eyes, and began speaking. Forget that she didn’t even read her note, but she knew it was now or never.
“Hi, Ashe, it’s me, Riley. If you’ve seen the news, then you know what I’m calling about. I’m so sorry for what happened. I didn’t mean for it to happen, but anything I’ll say now will just be an excuse for something I should have known better to do.” She paused, realizing she hadn’t read a single word from her note. She panicked briefly, searching for more words to fit the silence on the other end of the line. “I really don’t know what else to say, but thank you for your lovely flowers. I wish I deserved every bloom, but I don’t.”
After she hung up, Riley swore never again to drink three vodka sours in a row, nor eat three quarters of a pie in one sitting ever again — and also lose all the weight she had gained to fit into Paige’s dress.
But if Riley was anxious all week that all that pie would go to her hips, she had nothing to worry about. One day before the charity gala, the dress fit her perfectly, not because she had dieted, but because for the last five days she’d been too miserable to eat. Not that anyone should have noticed, for she maintained her usual bubbly persona at work.
But Tessa did.
“I feel like there’s some sort of a void where your heart chakra is,” Tessa said one day, when the afternoon rush was over and Riley was setting up a corner of the cafe for the book club to meet that evening. “Your anahata chakra.”
“My another hotta-what?” Riley asked. She’d been lining up the chairs, making sure everyone would have enough legroom and was not really listening.