had Jackie’s blessing to confess, it’s not as if he’d want me after finding out I was a big fake.
She released her breath in a whoosh. “Thank God.”
“Is that why you’re back, to avert a Dallas disaster?”
“No.” She tilted her head thoughtfully. “I realized that hiding isn’t going to get me what I want.”
“True, but you don’t need to rush it,” I said. “Maybe I shouldn’t go just yet, in case you need anything.
“Stay, if you like. I always love having you around. But don’t do it for me. I’m okay now,” Jackie insisted.
“After just a couple days?” I shook my head. “I don’t know, Jackie. You were pretty upset when you left.”
“I’m not saying coming back is easy. You’re right, I was really upset. And poor Mom and Dad spent a lot of time listening to me whine. But once I got through that, I was more objective.”
“What did you figure out?” I asked.
“Hiding from my problems isn’t making them go away. In fact, the longer I stay away, the more screwed I am. I need to get back in the game if I want that part in Winter’s Edge .”
“Are you sure you’re up for that?” I took her hand in mine.
“It was good to get away and regroup. I feel stronger. Pete was a jerk who doesn’t deserve me, but wherever I go, I can’t change what happened.” She lifted her chin. “I will own that role. I’m going to have to fight for it though and I can’t do that from our parents’ house.”
Yep, Jackie Bloom was back.
* * * *
Jackie didn’t keep much food in her kitchen, but we managed to scrounge up a decent breakfast. After she repeatedly assured me that she was going to be fine, I gathered what few belongings I’d brought and we said our goodbyes.
“Hey, don’t forget this.” She thrust a car key into my palm. The Tesla key.
“You brought my Beetle back. I don’t need this.”
“I promised it to you. A deal’s a deal.”
I screwed up my face. “But you love that car. I can’t take it.”
She smiled and backed away when I tried to return the key. “But you love it more . And you deserve it after walking the red carpet. You really rocked it, sis. I looked amazing.”
I rolled my eyes. “What am I going to do with a car like that in Hemet?” Hemet… I’d be there soon. And further away from Dallas and any chance of being with him. But whether I lived in Hollywood or Hemet, we had zero future. Still, the thought of getting in a car and leaving made my chest ache.
“Not my problem.” She grinned. “Park it in the garage, if you want, and visit it every day. I don’t care. It’s yours now.”
The car was a small consolation for losing Dallas. “Fine. I’ll hold it for you. When you’re ready to have it back, let me know.”
“I’ll just go buy something else.” She closed the distance, flung her arms around me and squeezed.
In a matter of minutes, I’d be driving away from Dallas. My eyes watered and I sniffed.
She drew back and studied my face. “Are you okay? Second thoughts about leaving?”
Staying was a bad idea. Besides, if Jackie and I couldn’t be seen together, I’d be stuck in her condo all day. I already knew what kind of trouble that would lead to. But no way would I burden Jackie with my Dallas crush. I didn’t want her to feel guilty — she had enough to deal with.
I forced a laugh. “Oh, please. You know how I hate this city.”
“Okay. Drive safely,” Jackie ordered. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
During the elevator ride down to the underground parking, I sent Stella a goodbye text. Then I started up the Tesla and mentally said goodbye to Hollywood and Dallas.
* * * *
My chest ached and my vision blurred as I drove back to Hemet.
Dallas was just a guy and there was no shortage of them around. Millions of guys all over the world, right?
But none of them were Dallas.
Stupid Dallas. Why couldn’t he be more like Luke Holtz? I wouldn’t have had a problem leaving Hollywood then. But no.
She released her breath in a whoosh. “Thank God.”
“Is that why you’re back, to avert a Dallas disaster?”
“No.” She tilted her head thoughtfully. “I realized that hiding isn’t going to get me what I want.”
“True, but you don’t need to rush it,” I said. “Maybe I shouldn’t go just yet, in case you need anything.
“Stay, if you like. I always love having you around. But don’t do it for me. I’m okay now,” Jackie insisted.
“After just a couple days?” I shook my head. “I don’t know, Jackie. You were pretty upset when you left.”
“I’m not saying coming back is easy. You’re right, I was really upset. And poor Mom and Dad spent a lot of time listening to me whine. But once I got through that, I was more objective.”
“What did you figure out?” I asked.
“Hiding from my problems isn’t making them go away. In fact, the longer I stay away, the more screwed I am. I need to get back in the game if I want that part in Winter’s Edge .”
“Are you sure you’re up for that?” I took her hand in mine.
“It was good to get away and regroup. I feel stronger. Pete was a jerk who doesn’t deserve me, but wherever I go, I can’t change what happened.” She lifted her chin. “I will own that role. I’m going to have to fight for it though and I can’t do that from our parents’ house.”
Yep, Jackie Bloom was back.
* * * *
Jackie didn’t keep much food in her kitchen, but we managed to scrounge up a decent breakfast. After she repeatedly assured me that she was going to be fine, I gathered what few belongings I’d brought and we said our goodbyes.
“Hey, don’t forget this.” She thrust a car key into my palm. The Tesla key.
“You brought my Beetle back. I don’t need this.”
“I promised it to you. A deal’s a deal.”
I screwed up my face. “But you love that car. I can’t take it.”
She smiled and backed away when I tried to return the key. “But you love it more . And you deserve it after walking the red carpet. You really rocked it, sis. I looked amazing.”
I rolled my eyes. “What am I going to do with a car like that in Hemet?” Hemet… I’d be there soon. And further away from Dallas and any chance of being with him. But whether I lived in Hollywood or Hemet, we had zero future. Still, the thought of getting in a car and leaving made my chest ache.
“Not my problem.” She grinned. “Park it in the garage, if you want, and visit it every day. I don’t care. It’s yours now.”
The car was a small consolation for losing Dallas. “Fine. I’ll hold it for you. When you’re ready to have it back, let me know.”
“I’ll just go buy something else.” She closed the distance, flung her arms around me and squeezed.
In a matter of minutes, I’d be driving away from Dallas. My eyes watered and I sniffed.
She drew back and studied my face. “Are you okay? Second thoughts about leaving?”
Staying was a bad idea. Besides, if Jackie and I couldn’t be seen together, I’d be stuck in her condo all day. I already knew what kind of trouble that would lead to. But no way would I burden Jackie with my Dallas crush. I didn’t want her to feel guilty — she had enough to deal with.
I forced a laugh. “Oh, please. You know how I hate this city.”
“Okay. Drive safely,” Jackie ordered. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
During the elevator ride down to the underground parking, I sent Stella a goodbye text. Then I started up the Tesla and mentally said goodbye to Hollywood and Dallas.
* * * *
My chest ached and my vision blurred as I drove back to Hemet.
Dallas was just a guy and there was no shortage of them around. Millions of guys all over the world, right?
But none of them were Dallas.
Stupid Dallas. Why couldn’t he be more like Luke Holtz? I wouldn’t have had a problem leaving Hollywood then. But no.
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