I swallowed back the ugly curse that jumped to my lips, born out of frustration. My dad would have smacked me if I cussed around a lady. I’d been about to tell her that Florence and I were just friends. But we weren’t.
“We’re not getting married. I know…I know what she said, and I know you saw her kissing me earlier, but…”
Maya was still staring at me. She hadn’t said anything. Her eyes flicked away from mine when I looked at her.
“I’m not marrying Florence. I don’t love her. That’s not what I want.” Say something, I thought. The longer she was quiet the more stupid I felt, and the more desperate I felt.
“I don’t really know what I want.” I moved closer.
She tipped her head back, eying me narrowly.
“I don’t know, but I think it might be you.”
She licked her lips, averting her head so that her short waves fell down to shield her face.
“Maya?”
“You need to go, Glenn,” she said softly. She looked up at me then, eyes deep and dark. “You don’t get this. I understand that, but you’re supposed to be with Florence. I’m not even going to be here much longer. I have to go back.”
“Go back…” Confused, I started to reach for her, but she backed away. “Go back where? What are you talking about?”
“I can’t…Look, I’m sorry. I can’t explain this. But I’m leaving, and you need to be with Florence. That’s just how it’s supposed to be.”
“How it’s supposed to be?” I demanded.
But she had already slid back into the house and shut the door.
“Maya!”
She was gone. She left me staring at the door in a pool of light.
Then the light was gone and I swore, tilting my head up to look at the sky.
“Dammit.”
Twenty
Maya
I dropped down on the couch and stared at the door.
He was still out there.
I could feel him.
My heart was pounding, beating out a message, saying, Go…go…go to him.
But I couldn’t.
This had all been a mistake. I didn’t know why I had come back here, but maybe I wasn’t supposed to save Florence. Maybe time was just…stuck. Maybe things happened how they were supposed to happen. Maybe Florence was going to die no matter what.
I’m not marrying Florence. I don’t love her.
“Shit.” Stretching out on the couch, I pressed my face against the cushions.
I let my arm fall off the couch, and my fingers brushed against the spine of the book I’d been reading and absently, I picked it up. I wanted to see my mother. I wanted to see her and tell her I was reading the book. But what if I didn’t ever get back?
If only I hadn’t gone down that ladder. If only I hadn’t gone to the party with Caitlyn…
Frowning, I sat up.
What if I could stop myself?
After all, Marty McFly managed to stop Doc Brown from getting shot, right? The thought managed to make me smile. Rubbing my finger across the gold script on the spine, I started to think.
I read the letter through three times.
My main hope was that I’d believe it and not think I was going crazy.
The letter had details that only I would know, so hopefully, I’d believe…well, me. Future me would believe now me.
“This is enough to make me go crazy,” I whispered. Dropping my face into my hands, I closed my eyes.
Right now, I was left hoping this would work.
If it didn’t, I had no idea what was going to happen.
I’d given up on the idea that anything I could do was going to change things with Florence.
As for Glenn, maybe the best thing I could do there was just stay away.
I think maybe it’s you…
The memory of the words he’d spoken made me want to cry, and I knew if he had pushed any harder, I wouldn’t have been able to resist.
So I had to stay away.
Whether or not he tried to fix things with Florence, if she saw me with him, it would only add to whatever hurt she had to be feeling. I couldn’t do that to her. I’d only been here a week, but I liked her. Sure, she was kind of naive. Okay, very naive. I think a part of her knew that she was fooling herself, almost desperate to believe in a happy ever after for her and Glenn. But whether her feelings were real or manufactured as Glenn seemed to think, she believed in them, and no matter what, she was going to end up hurt.
And if I was around him and she saw it, if she realized we were both attracted to each other, it was going to be a sucker punch.
Attracted.
That was such a lame word. Attracted didn’t touch what I felt, and I was starting to realize it wasn’t what he felt either.
Against my skin, the golden locket heated, and I reached up to touch it. Slowly, I took it off and let the chain dangle from my fist as I studied it.
This little bit of gold.
Somehow, it was connected to what brought me here, and I’d believed it would lead me back—or so I thought.
But every time I’d thought I was getting closer to fixing things, I just ended up doing something that would lead things further away.
“Am I even supposed to save her?” I whispered.
The necklace just dangled there.
“This is stupid. I’m talking to a locket.” I put it down on the surface of the table and focused once more on the letter. I added a few more notes at the bottom, mentioned some details about the relationship I had with Caitlyn, hoping maybe I’d be smarter and steer clear of her.
I closed with, Don’t let Maverick get into the car if you do go to the party. Whatever you do…don’t let him get into that car.
Then I sealed it in an envelope.
I was going to take another page from one of the ultimate eighties movies, and follow Doc Brown’s footsteps from Back to the Future II. I was going to visit the nearest Western Union tomorrow and send it to myself. I’d arrange for it to be a few weeks before the party. I warned myself about the drugs, Maverick’s accident—all of it.
If I could prevent myself from going, then maybe I could make it to where I’d never come here.
Maybe I’d never meet Glenn.
I closed my eyes.
Without conscious thought, I reached for the necklace, not thinking about it until I felt it heat my palm.
Slowly, I looked down at it.
It was glowing so bright, it looked unnatural, especially in the dim light cast by the simple, single bulb lamp on the table.
Before I could change my mind, I got up and carried the letter over to my purse and tucked it inside.
“It’s better this way,” I said.
I wanted to believe that, and part of me really did.
But I was already aching. Already hurting.
And even though I hadn’t left yet, I already missed Glenn.
Twenty-One
Glenn
You’re supposed to be with Florence. I’m not even going to be here much longer. I have to go back.
I lay on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. I had a bottle of whiskey lying against my thigh, but I’d only had one or two drinks.
When I’d gotten home, I’d thought that getting good and shit-faced drunk was the way to handle this lousy day, but I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about what Maya had said.
That had been hours ago.
I’d slept fitfully, and now, dawn was a creeping, pale glow along the horizon.
I have to go back.
“Should have made her tell me,” I mumbled. There’d been something in her eyes when she’d said it. Something sad, empty, and lost.
I knew what it was like to feel sad, empty, and lost.
I’d felt like that quite a bit, and I was an ass for walking away after seeing that look in her eyes.
Closing my hand around the neck of the whiskey bottle, I gripped it tight. I was two seconds away from twisting off the top.
But I didn’t.
Instead, I put the bottle down on the nightstand, then climbed out of the bed. I wouldn’t be sleeping anymore, but I had to do something to occupy my mind until I could leave for the studio.
With little else to do, I headed out to the pool. If I exhausted myself enough, maybe my brain would shut down.
I was unsuccessful at shutting my brain down.
The only thing I managed to accomplish was to physically exhaust myself, so by the time I had to leave, my legs felt heavier than lead and my eyes were gritty.
The one good thing—or acceptable thing—was that I was used to operating on next to nothing, so I made the drive on autopilot, sipping coffee that was nowhere near strong enough and hoping I could get through the day without pissing Kurt off.
I doubted he’d replace me, but I didn’t want to deal with Peter if Kurt called him and bitched.
I got to the studio lot early. Not early enough, though.
Florence’s car was already there.
Running my tongue across my teeth, I climbed out, more than a little wary.
That wariness increased when Florence’s driver climbed out and went to open the passenger door.
Florence climbed out, smiled at him before turning her attention to me. I knew right away there were going to be problems. She normally came to the set in casual clothes. When she spent half the day—or more—in costume, the casual clothes were understandable. But today, she wore a dress with a neckline that was cut low across her breasts and a skirt that revealed almost every inch of her curvy legs.
She looked amazing.
But then, Florence frequently looked amazing. She had a knockout body and knew how to accentuate it without going overboard.
As she started toward me, I slid my hands into my pockets and tried to figure out just what in the hell she was up to. She moved slowly, like a lioness on the prowl.
If it had been a few weeks ago, a month ago, I might have been intrigued. But I was tired of games and tired of her wanting me to give her more than I had in me.
She rose onto her toes and kissed me on the cheek.
I didn’t react.
“I don’t like how things ended last night,” she said, her voice low. “Could we talk?”
“Yeah. Sure.” I shrugged restlessly and leaned my hips against the car. “We got time, as early as we are.”
“Not out here.” She gave me a playful smile as a car glided past us. “This is a private kind of conversation.”
She turned on her heel and started across the lot.
I knew exactly where she was going.
And I didn’t want to go.
But shit.
I’d already told her yes.
Florence’s dressing room was a tornado of frilly lace, female fussiness, and fancy, flowery perfumes. Just standing in the doorway made me feel too out of place and crucially aware of just how big I was. The chair she sat on looked barely big enough to support a teenaged girl. If I sat on it, it would probably shatter into toothpicks. The mirror was surrounded by lights, although they were off now. The only light on was a single lamp, shaded by a delicate lavender shade.
Everything was flowery or purple. It couldn’t be any more female if it tried.
And the room suited her to a T.
As I stood awkwardly in the doorway, she sat her purse down and then turned to me.
“Come on inside, Glenn.” A smile bowed her lips upward. “Hard to talk with you hiding away like that.”
“I’m not hiding.” Irritated, I edged inside and shut the door. It stuck a little, and I leaned my shoulder into it. Once it clicked, I turned.
Immediately, I wished I hadn’t shut the damn door.
Florence had closed the distance between us and she now leaned into me like I’d leaned into the door, resting her hands on my chest.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said.” She licked her lips. The weight of her breasts pressed against my chest, while her hips pushed against my cock.
My body remembered hers, and we’d definitely had some good times together, so it was completely understandable when it reacted. I wasn’t dead. A woman like that presses against a man and something’s about to get a little excited.
Florence’s eyes widened, and the smile on her face took on a decidedly pleased look. “You still want me.”
“Florence, don’t do this.” I caught her hands as they slid down my chest.
“But…”
“Don’t.” I took a step forward, which forced her to back up. “Sex is easy—it’s physical, and it’s easy.”
Her face went red, and part of me thought maybe I needed to shut up.
But I couldn’t. She had to understand.
“It’s easy,” I said again, softening my voice. “And it rarely means anything. You need to find somebody who is going to love you the way you deserve. And that guy isn’t me.”
She jerked back, the color draining from her face, replaced by a sudden, sickening pallor. “So you’re doing this for me,” she said in an ugly, awful tone.
“Florence…”
“Maybe I should say thank you,” she continued, mocking. “Thank you so much, Glenn, for leading me on all these months and making me think there was something there. You jerk! You stupid jerk!”
It was over an hour later when I finally emerged from my dressing room.
I hadn’t wanted to leave Florence when she was so upset, but once she’d started throwing things at me…well. Staying wasn’t helping either.
I needed coffee and then I—
“Maya.”
She stopped dead in the middle of the hallway.
Her eyes flitted past me, and then she went to go around me.
“Maya, wait.”
She froze when I touched her. Slowly, I let my hand fall, but I didn’t move out of her way. “Have you…” Swearing under my breath, I looked away. “How’s Florence?”
She looked back at me. “What?”
“Ah…Florence. Is she okay?”
“Funny you would ask.” She pushed her hair back but shrugged. “She sounded fine when she called me this morning. She had to come in early, and I had an errand to run.”
Frowning, I turned those words around in my head. Okay, so she hadn’t talked to her.
Still…
“I talked to her again,” I said, feeling uncomfortable as I forced the words out. I stared down the hall in the direction of Florence’s dressing room. She had to have come out.
“Maya!”
Maya turned, looking for the source, and I heard her swallow back a sigh as she saw the flustered woman hurrying down the corridor. “Hello, Helen. I was just going to get some coffee, then head to Florence’s dressing room. I have her scenes for the day—”
“She won’t answer.” The woman looked at me, then back at Florence. “I’ve been knocking for the past ten minutes, and she won’t answer.” She lowered her voice and leaned in. “I’m afraid to call security after yesterday. The director is already being…” She trailed, then made a face.
“Okay.” Maya nodded before shooing Helen away. She looked at me then, eyes big and dark in her face. Her voice was strained as she said, “You said you talked to Florence. About what?”
“I…she was here when I got here. Said she wanted to talk to me. We were in her dressing room and I just…” Hell. Shoving my hand through my hair, I looked away. “She didn’t take it so well last night. I think she thought she could…persuade me to change my mind. But it’s not happening.”
“Oh, no…”
Maya spun on her heel and took off running.
I didn’t even think to ask. I took off after her.
Twenty-Two
Maya
“No.”
I had no idea if I was saying it out loud or just in my head, but it echoed, over and over, pounding in a rhythm almost as fast as my hammering pulse.
“No. No. No.”
Footsteps pounded up behind me and from the cor
ner of my eye, I saw Glenn, but I couldn’t worry about him.
Why was this happening?
Why was I even here?
I was too late.
I knew it.
Even as I wheeled around the corner that led to her dressing room, I knew I’d be too late.
A few people paced worriedly back and forth in front of her room, and I realized that Helen had been worried, too, but she hadn’t gone to security for fear of getting Florence in trouble.
She should have just gone.
But I couldn’t get angry at her, could I? Not when it was all my fault.
Without slowing down, I dug around in the loose pocket of my skirt for keys and managed to get them out as I ran. Skidding to a stop, I fumbled for the right one and jammed it into the lock. Florence had given me a spare set, laughingly saying I might just save her life, because she was always misplacing hers.
Please, please, please…
I wanted to cry, but didn’t dare let myself.
Flinging the door open, I rushed inside.
But two steps in, I froze.
The little door to her private area was open.
I could see a faint light glowing from the dark area.
Hurrying closer, I peered down inside. But I could only see the immediate area. The panic inside me was making it hard to think, but I shoved it back by sheer force of will as I swung my legs over and descended.
The moment I turned, I saw her.
And I knew I was too late.
Florence lay on her bed, head turned my way. A bottle of pills lay empty on the floor next to her, and on the small nightstand stood a nearly empty bottle of booze—whiskey, I guessed, judging from the color.
Despair settled in.
I’m too late…
As that voice started to wail in misery, though, something else took hold. Stop whining. You’re here for a reason, dammit. Now move.
I didn’t even feel like myself as I rushed forward. If I looked up and saw some puppet master controlling me, I wouldn’t have been surprised.