Page 98 of Love is an Open Book
“Why else?”
“I dunno. Duty, I thought. He said you wanted to be near the grandkids.”
“You think I spend time with Pax and Brett because I have to?” His brow wrinkles like he can’t believe what he’s hearing. “I happen to like my grandchildren, son. And Scott. And you,” he adds. “I’ve just done a measly job of showing it.”
“Not always,” I tell him. He’s been a great dad in so many ways, and I don’t want him selling himself short. “I have so many great memories here. With both of you.” I smile at them. “But I’ve made my own home. That’s the real reason why I don’t want to move back and run the business. I love the life I’ve built, and I don’t want to leave it behind.” My throat gets tight. Mia used to be a part of that life. Am I really willing to give her up just because she’ll never love me back?
“Good,” my dad says, catching me off guard. He grins at Mom. “Because we’re counting on the money from the sale of this place to retire.”
“We?” I turn to her. She teaches college classes as well as her role in managing the company. “You’re retiring, too?”
But she shakes her head. “Not from teaching, but I won’t miss having to split my time.”
This is a lot to process, and I realize in avoiding discussing my feelings, I’ve missed out on a lot of their lives, too. A thought strikes me. “Not moving to Denver, are you?”
A pause. “What?” She laughs. “No. But, honey, I know you say you’re happy, and that there’s no future for you and Mia, but I can’t help but think of how she’s been a constant presence in your life. Has that really changed overnight?”
So much did change for us this summer, and while for me it had been a long time coming, it was something Mia had been avoiding for years. “She made up her mind and gave me an ultimatum. Friendship or nothing. I don’t want nothing, but I’ve tried for years to pretend I’m not in love with her, and I’m not sure I can anymore, or that I even want to.”
The coffeepot beeps, and Mom pours some for herself. “Then don’t give up without giving it your all. Take your father’s advice. Tell her you love her. It’s the one thing left unspoken between you two.”
It is, isn’t it? We talk about what makes us happy and gets us mad, about our families and our dreams and what’s disappointed us. But in all of that, I never said three words that could change everything. Will it make a difference? I don’t know. But I have to try.
I can’t let Mia go without telling her I’m in love with her. Try to show her one last time that we’re not losing anything being together. We have everything to gain.
Thirty-Two
Mia
I wander out to breakfast the next morning after spending the night tossing and turning in Joe and Sera’s guest room and open my laptop. Wincing at the flood of emails, I take a bracing sip of coffee, and one catches my eye. Adjusting my glasses, I lean forward, squinting at the screen.
“Oh my gosh.” I grab Sera’s arm as she sits down with a plate of toast covered in peanut butter and honey. “Jayla and Rob want to meet on a video chat.” We’re going to see each other at the season three premiere in just over a week. But apparently this can’t wait. Did they already get notified I’m not writing the book? A whole new terrifying possibility opens up: They’re exiting the show and I’m about to get blamed for it.
Sera takes a bite of toast. “Who?”
“Jayla Lewis and Robert Cho.” I enunciate the actors’ names slowly. “They want to talk to me about the book.”
Understanding lights her eyes, and she drops the toast onto the plate with a clatter. “Mia, this might be the best day of my life.”
“Hearing me get chewed out by A-list actors?”
“They might guilt you, but they’re so nice—” She cuts off when I glare. “Sorry, but this is a big moment for me. Movie stars are about to get a glimpse of my house.” Pushing back from the table, she yells, “Joe, get the vacuum!”
Two hours later, the living room is spotless, and Sera forced me to change out of my leggings and T-shirt into one of her dresses. It’s about four inches too long, but no one will see the bottom anyway. She’s also had me switch seats exactly six times, trying to decide which wall will provide the best backdrop. The last time I talked with the actors on a video chat about the script, I was wearing a hoodie in my office, but one thing about Sera is she’s always going to be extra.
The time comes, and I take a deep breath. The past two hours have been a distraction, but of all the people I’m worried about disappointing, they’re the top two. I expect to see them calling in from two locations, but to my surprise, they’re sitting on a couch together in a sunny room somewhere. Los Angeles, probably.
Out of sight of the camera, Sera is fanning herself and Joe is muttering that she needs to breathe. If I didn’t know better, I’d say they were practicing for labor. I try not to let their nerves rub off on me, but it starts to sink in that this is a really big deal.
Rob waves, cheek creasing in a dimple. “Mia, hi. Tell me my agent has it wrong.”
Jayla gives him a playful shove. “We were going to be understanding, remember?” She smiles at me. Her locs are swept up in an elaborate updo, her eyelids highlighted with shimmery gold eyeshadow. She looks like she just came from a photoshoot, and I take a second to be grateful Sera made me look presentable. “We received word that you’re not writing the book, but we’re hoping lines got crossed, because we are so excited to bring your story to life.”
“Our story,” Rob says, and she gives him another warning look. “What?”
Jayla turns to face me. “Listen, I know you never planned for our characters to get their own book, but it was the best news when we got word you’d write it.”
“It wasn’t that I didn’t want them to.” The earnest way they’re looking at me makes me want to tell them the whole story. And honestly, what do I have to lose? “This isn’t public knowledge, but Victor and Sydney were the main characters in the first book I ever tried to write, back before I got published.”
