She lets her head fall back against the seat and sighs. “I am. Not as okay as I could be, but okay enough to get through, one day at a time.”
“If you’re just getting through each day, that’s no way to live,” I say quietly.
She’s staring off into the distance at something, her thoughts obviously a million miles away.
“Six months,” she whispers. “I just have to survive six more months.”
“What happens in six months?”
She doesn’t respond, continuing to stare straight ahead.
“Can I help?” I ask finally, when I realize she’s not going to tell me whatever it is she’s dealing with.
The edges of her mouth turn up, just a little, and she glances at me. “No one can help, but thank you for offering. And for being a friend even though I’m not much of one.”
“Why are you with him if you’re so unhappy?” I blurt. I should know better than to push, but I can’t seem to help myself when it comes to Taryn.
“It’s a long story,” she says. “And the ride to the airport isn’t nearly long enough to tell it all.”
“Okay.” What else can I say?
“Do you remember the day we met?” she asks suddenly.
That brings a grin to my face. “Do I remember? Like it was yesterday. You walked outside onto the street where we were about to shoot, and I almost fell off the motorcycle I was on.”
This time her smile is genuine. “And I almost tripped over my own two feet when I saw you.”
“It was a nice few days,” I say. “When we were young and innocent.”
She chuckles. “Young, yes. Innocent, not so much.”
“I knew you were going to be successful,” I tell her. “But you were way out of my league.”
She frowns, cocking her head slightly. “You thought I was out of your league?’
“Still do. Although, to be fair, you’rewayout of Callum’s league.”
Her face changes slightly, a mask falling into place, and I want to kick myself for ruining the moment we were having.
“Sometimes you have to do what’s right instead of what’s easy,” is all she says.
“Is it hard being with Callum?”
“You have no idea.”
She’s already said she doesn’t want to talk about it today, so I’m not going to make a big deal out of it. No matter how much I want to.
“Well, I’m always around if you need someone to talk to.”
“Callum wouldn’t like that,” she murmurs.
“We have about ninety minutes every time they have a show. Come find me and we can talk or have a drink or whatever.”
“Why are you being so nice?”
“Because I’ve thought about the time we spent together a lot over the years,” I admit. “And I regret not trying harder to stay in touch.”
Surprise registers on her face as she stares at me.