Page 87 of When I Picture You
Instead of a reply, she got a FaceTime call.
“If you’re going to beg me to take you back—honestly, I’d consider it,” he said through a broken smile. He was in his trailer, wearing a denim shirt and bolo tie. Outside the window, a dusky mountain range was visible. When he saw she was crying, his face fell. “I guess they told you.”
“Oh, Nash, I’m so sorry.”
“Hey, I’m okay. It’s taken care of. You don’t have to cry.”
“I do have to cry, because I love you, even though you’re an idiot.”
“Everyone agrees with you there,” he said. “Me included.”
Lola wiped a tear from her cheek. “Fuck whoever did this.”
“Is that Miss Lola Gray using the f-word?”
“I save it for times I need it to count,” she sniffed. “Tell me what happened?”
Nash told her the whole story: a moment of weakness for someone who wasn’t even special, then the demand to pay to stop the photos from leaking, and the humiliation of confessing his transgression to his manager.
“You know, when he threatened to leak those photos, I almost told him to do it. Make it look like an accident.”
“Nash—”
“I’m kidding! Forget I said that. I’m tired, is all. The days are so long on this shoot.”
“No, I know what you mean. Lately I’ve been thinking of coming out.”
“Really?”
She told him everything that had happened in Michigan, and the idea for the film.
“What do you think?” she asked.
He sighed. “Part of me wishes I could do something like that. And part of me already has the anxiety shits from hearing you talk about it. But I’m proud of you. It’s cute that you’re in love with her enough to come out.”
“I didn’t say I’m in love with her!”
Nash rolled his eyes.
There was a knock at the door. Renee’s voice: “Lo, are you okay? The crew’s gone.”
“Go,” Nash said. “I’m good, baby. Honest.”
“Okay. Call me anytime.”
“You’re my favorite ex-girlfriend.” Nash winked, then ended the call.
When Lola opened the bathroom door, Renee had an arm braced against the jamb. Her face was wrought with concern.
“What happened with Gloriana? You ran up here so fast. Don’t tell me she said no, because I will—”
“I didn’t get to bring it up. Something important came up, and I can’t tell you what it was. I’m sorry.”
“That’s okay.” Renee took in her tear-streaked face. “Come here.”
Lola buried her face in Renee’s warm shoulder. Renee’s arms were steady and strong around her. A final tear spilled from Lola’s eyes as the panic she felt about Nash drained away. She was okay. She was safe. She was in control.
“I’ll tell Gloriana soon, I promise,” she said into Renee’s chest.
