Page 30 of For My Finale
Blossom groaned, grateful for the distraction, but also exasperated beyond belief. “Daze, you’re relentless.”
“I think Bloss might be off the dating market for the next little while,” Ives said, glancing over at Lilah. Fortunately, Daisy didn’t notice the look.
“Eugh, really? But this really is the perfect match. They’re tall, dark, and handsome or beautiful, I don’t know which they prefer. And they’re successful and even own their own home,” Daisy said.
“They?” said Ives. “Huh. That could be the answer to everything. Tell me more.”
Blossom watched as Ives let Daisy drag her into yet another blind date, then turned her attention back to Lilah.
Lilah, who was now a lot closer than she’d been before. In fact, she was leaning on the counter right by Blossom’s side, making Blossom jump.
“So?” Lilah said, preening. “How am I doing?”
???
Lilah leaned on her elbows, face closer than she’d really intended to Blossom’s. It was only up this close that she realized that what she’d thought were tan marks was actually a smattering of freckles. And that Blossom’s eyes weren’t brown, they were hazel with tiny flecks of gold and brown in them.
“I have to admit,” Blossom said. “You’re good at this. People like you.”
Lilah smirked, pulling back a little. “Tell me something I don’t know. I was America’s sweetheart for a while there, remember?”
“No, I mean it,” said Blossom. “After that whole museum thing, I thought a public-facing job wasn’t really for you. But this is different, you’re great at this.”
Lilah felt a weight on her shoulders. She shook her head. “No.”
“No?” Blossom gave her a questioning look.
“I mean, yes, obviously, I’m good at this. But this isn’t it. It’s not the thing, not the meaning."
“What do you mean?” Blossom asked.
Lilah shrugged. “Well, it’s just another performance, isn’t it? A role. Just like always. Smile, say the right things, make people like me. There’s no meaning in it.”
“Meaning? People need drinks, Lilah. They come in here thirsty, you save them. You’re practically a hero.”
Lilah rolled her eyes, but despite herself a laugh bubbled up. “Oh, sure. Let’s make a statue in my honor. Saint Lilah, Savior of the Thirsty.”
Blossom grinned. “See? There’s meaning. You just have to look hard enough.”
Lilah laughed again and Blossom laughed with her and for a second there, there was… something. A connection, an understanding, a quiet warmth, a comfort that Lilah couldn’t quite put a name on. It made her feel lighter. And she realized that Blossom had never treated her as anything other than a normal person. It was odd. Lilah couldn’t remember anyone treating her that way for a very long time.
“Okay,” Blossom said, leaning up against the bar. “If this isn’t for you, then what’s next?”
Lilah perked up. “The animal thing. You asked me if I liked animals, remember?”
“I did,” Blossom said slowly.
“And I do. Of course I do,” said Lilah. She was thinking about her pet Chihuahua. Pierre, she’d named him. He’d been her shadow, her protector, the receptacle of all her love. She’d adored him and he had adored her. It had been, quite literally, the worst day of her life when she’d had to let him go. “Animals love me too,” she said. “I’ve got a magic touch.”
“Mmm-kay,” Blossom said. She looked like she wasn’t convinced. “Well, I’ve been making some calls and—”
Lilah’s phone rang, cutting Blossom off mid-sentence. With a sigh, she pulled it from her pocket and stared at the screen. Margot. The problem with Margot was that if she didn’t pick up the call, she’d get a hundred more until she did pick up. She might as well get this over with.
“Yes,” she said wearily as she answered.
“Darling.” Margot’s voice oozed through the line like honey. “You are missing out on the opportunity of a lifetime. Opportunity. Of. A. Life. Time. Big studio, huge budget, A-listcast, a script that’s actual readable, and, wait for it, franchise potential.”
Lilah’s grip tightened around her phone. For a split second, just a flicker of a moment, she felt it. The old pull, the old rush. Then, just as quickly, she remembered all the rest of it, everything that would come with saying yes, and she shut it down.
