“I do have a couple sorority sisters who live out there. They always want me to come visit.”
“Call them.”
I take my phone out of my bag and see numerous texts from Collin. It's nearly seven, and I'm over two hours late for drinks.
“Shit. I was supposed to meet my husband and his clients for drinks at five. Not that I even wanted to go.”
“Go home and pack your bags while he's gone.”
“I don't have anywhere to stay.”
“You can crash at my place.”
“Are you still trying to get me into bed?”
“I know you think I'm young, but I'm smart enough to know true love when I see it. You chose the wrong path back then, you need to fix it or your world will never be in balance.”
“How'd you get so smart?”
He grins at me. “I’m taking Philosophy of Life this semester. Getting an A.”
His youth and enthusiasm feed my soul. I know he's right. I shake my head, loving the way my long hair feels as it slides across my shoulders. “Why are you helping me?”
He laughs. “I'm still kinda hoping to get laid.”
“It's not gonna happen.”
“Fine, tell you what. When you reconnect with Riley, maybe you can help me get a summer internship at Captive Films. That would be killer.”
I shake his hand. “You have a deal.”
He takes my phone and puts his number in, naming himself Coffee Kyle.
He walks me to my car and gives me a kiss on the cheek. “Good luck,” he says. “Go do it now, before you chicken out. And, if you start to chicken out, call me.”
I nod, thank him again, and drive home.
I pull into the driveway of our beautiful home. The house I thought would make us feel like a family. Instead, it seems cold and full of empty promises.
I pack a suitcase and an overnight bag. Then I go to the back of my closet and pull out an old shoebox. The shoebox filled with memories of a boy I could never forget but didn't have the guts to fight for.
I see a text from Collin flash on my phone saying he's heading home.
I scrawl a quick note for him, leave it on the kitchen island, and head for the airport.
Once I’m on the plane and the people around me are asleep, I pull the box out of my tote bag. I cry as the memories flood back. Memories I’ve tried so hard to keep buried.
Pressed flowers, prom tickets, photos, sweet love notes.
As I pull out a stack of photos, something falls into my lap.
I move the box, dig between my legs, and find it.
The jeweled Hello Kitty ring he put on my finger when he asked me to be his girlfriend.
I take off my jewelry from Collin and toss it into my handbag, replacing the emerald on my right hand with the ring that tells me I can do this.
That I have to do this.
Monday, September 29th
Captive Films - Santa Monica
RILEY
I come out of my office after an early morning overseas call to find Keatyn sitting at the conference table, papers spread out in front of her, and my assistant, Tyler, looking over her shoulder.
“Casting sent these,” she says to me. “If we’re moving into television production, we have to do it just right. I need just the right actress for it.”
“I think we should bring them all in for screen tests,” Tyler suggests. That’s always his suggestion. Spend more money.
“We’ll bring two in for screen tests.”
“Then help me decide, Riley,” Keatyn says. “This role is so different. She’s got to be able to play both the preacher’s virgin daughter and the wild hellcat equally well.”
I walk behind her and look at the faces staring back at me.
“No, no, and no.” I immediately pull three casting sheets off the table and hand them to Tyler. Then I study a fourth. I can’t remember her name, but I do remember that she had her nipples pierced. “And, no.”
“Jeez, Riley, don’t tell me you’ve slept with four out of our six choices. At this rate, we’ll run out of actresses to choose from in the next year.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying stop fucking twenty year olds. Most of our films are about young people. Move up a decade or something. And, speaking of that, stop taking Knox out and getting him drunk. He was still hung over on set yesterday at three in the afternoon!”
“Why the hell were you filming on a Sunday?” I shrug. “Besides, it’s not my fault he can’t handle his liquor.”
“He can’t handle any of it. He’s not dealing with it very well.”
“She was cheating on him with the personal trainer he bought for her!”
“I know. I’m not saying it was right, I’m just saying he probably can’t keep up with you. Go a little easy on him. Take him bowling or golfing. Not to a club every night.”
“Fine, I’ll try to.”
“Did you see this mockup from the marketing department?” She slides a board out from underneath a bunch of papers. “It’s brilliant, very sexy.”