He opens his mouth to say something — maybe to keep fighting, maybe to apologize.
I don’t know.
I don’t care.
I don’t hesitate.
I turn on wings of self-determination and fly away, leaving my selfish stardust boy behind on the ground.
I will not keep waiting for him to grow wings of his own. Not for another instant.
* * *
Istep outsideinto the crisp December day. It’s overcast and unnaturally cold, by LA standards. I’m not paying attention as I dig through my purse in search of my cellphone; in truth, my thoughts are back with Grayson, in the conference room, which is probably why I don’t see the figure stepping into my path before it’s too late.
“Hey.”
“Jesus Christ!” My hand flies up to cover my heart. “Trey, you scared me half to death.”
“Sorry.” The PA doesn’t look sorry at all as he shifts from foot to foot impatiently. “Sloan asked me to track you down after the Eileen interview, but you ran out so fast I didn’t have a chance.”
“Has there been a change in the tour schedule?”
He shakes his head and pulls a gilded silver envelope from his ever-present clipboard. “I’m afraid Sloan has gotten it into his head to host a New Year’s Eve party. Your attendance is requested.”
I take the envelope from him and run a fingertip over my name, hand printed in fancy calligraphy across the front.
“Of course, I’ve told him a million times, it’s dreadfully late to send out invitationsnow, with barely a week’s notice, but does he listen? No.” Trey throws up his hands, as if his boss is a lost cause. “Not only does this mean I have to give up my own plans, the sad fact is that everyone with even an iota of social capital already has an invitation somewhere. At best, we’ll end up with a group of losers who don’t have better things to do.Pop the champagne!I can hardly wait.”
It’s the most words I’ve ever heard Trey string together all at once. I’m so stunned I can’t think of a thing to do except blink at him, baffled, and say, “Actually… I don’t have any plans.”
“Oh! Well. That doesn’t mean you’re a loser.” His nose wrinkles, as if he doesn’t quite believe his own assurances. “Anyway, I’m off — I have caterers to yell at, decor to coordinate, and guests to harangue into attending.Ciao!”
He pivots on a glossy Prada dress shoe and vanishes.
Shaking myself, I watch him disappear down the sidewalk. I’m about to start digging for my phone again when Masters’ SUV pulls to a stop by the curb. A darkly-tinted window rolls down, revealing Harper’s worried face.
“Did you kill him?”
“Tempting as it was, I really don’t feel like serving a thirty-year sentence just for the pleasure of permanently removing Grayson Dunn from my life.” I climb into the backseat and sigh heavily as I relax against the leather. “God, I need someone to take me out.”
“On a dinner date?” Harper asks.
“Or with a sniper rifle. Either one.”
Masters laughs.
I’m stunned; I didn’t think he knew how to do that. When he realizes we’re both staring at him open-mouthed, the laugh morphs into a cough and his lips press into a stern line.
“Don’t look so shocked. I know how to laugh.”
Harper snorts. “Babe. We’ve been together a month. I’ve never heard so much as a chuckle from your general direction.”
“Just because I don’t cackle like a hyena at every little thing, as the two of you are prone to…”
“Hyenas?” I wrinkle my nose.
“Definitely not hyenas,” Harper concurs.