Page 102 of Off Script
“Dude, it’s about time,” Jordan says by way of a greeting.
“Sorry, man.” I grab his beer off the coffee table and take a long pull. “I had to make an appearance at a couple of parties.”
“Rough life.”
I tug off my jacket and throw it over the back of a chair. Unbuttoning my top buttons of my dress shirt, I roll the sleeves up to my elbows and then lean back onto the couch, getting comfortable. “I’mso fucking glad everything is finally over. I need a fucking break from Hollywood.”
I catch a shared, secretive look that flows between my friends. “What’s that look for?”
“About that. Jo said that maybe… if you wanted to…”
“For fuck’s sake, spit it out Jordan.” I walk into the kitchen, grab three more beers, and pass them out before taking a seat again.
Trevor takes the lead, pitching forward, with his elbows perched on his knees. “Jo told us that she made travel plans for you to go to Harbour Island over Christmas. We know you were supposed to go with Carlisle, but Jo thought that it might be good for you to keep the travel plans and get away for a bit.”
“And take us with you. Obviously,” Jordan pipes up.
“Obviously,” I respond drolly. It isn’t the dream vacation with my girlfriend that I had planned, but I could do a lot worse than hanging out with my two best friends on the small Bahamian island for a week. So much shit has happened since I asked Jo to make those travel arrangements that I’d forgotten all about it. It feels like a lifetime ago. “Yeah, let’s do it.”
“Yes!” Jordan shouts and throws a fist in the air.
Trevor’s reaction is tamer. He shoots me a quick smile and nods. “Right on, man. Some conch fritters, a Kalik beer, and some fly-fishing sounds amazing.”
We spend the next hour polishing off another six-pack and watching the rest of the basketball game in silence except for the occasional potshot we yell at the TV when we disagree with the ref’s calls.
My alcohol consumption catches up with me as I crawl into bed, the size of which never bothered me before I started dating Carlisle, but now it seems oversized. Too big for only one person.
I miss Carlisle and the alcohol has lowered my carefully erected defenses.
I miss you.
I tap out the text, but my finger hovers over the send button. Will just typing out my feelings suffice, or do I need to send it?
In the weeks since Becky told me that Carlisle broke up with me, I haven’t communicated with Carlisle once. I’ve picked up my phone to call her countless times, but each time, I set my phone down before I could go through with it.
How was Carlisle able to shut off her feelings for me so decisively?
Quitting her cold turkey has been challenging, but any contact with her will set back my recovery. Because I am recovering—albeit incredibly slowly—from her shattering my heart into a million pieces.
But… fuck it. I hit the blue arrow to send the text. Like Pandora’s box, once that door has opened, I find it hard to close. So, even though I know I’ll regret it in the morning, I send her three more texts in quick succession.
I know I fucked up along the way, but I’m not sure if I can ever forgive you for ghosting me and giving up on us.
…but I still love you.
I’m sorry for everything that happened during the promo tour. Please let me explain. Please give us another chance.
I had hoped it would be cathartic to send Carlisle those texts, but afterwards, I just feel worse, the previous numbness giving way to pain as my texts go unanswered.
Closing my eyes, I fall into a drunken slumber where I dream of her aquamarine eyes and dimpled smile.
How the Stars are Celebrating the Holidays
The holidays are here, and Tinsel Town is celebrating in style! As the year is quickly coming to a close, our favorite celebrities are sharing snapshots of their holiday festivities. Whether they’re going casual and donning cozy Christmas pajamas, decking the halls with holiday splendor, or throwing lavish parties, the Hollywood elite are celebrating the holidays big this year.
After a two-year hiatus due to her touring schedule, singer Kimmy Kay resumed hosting her annual Christmas fete at her upstate New York vacation home. The coveted invite list was reportedly smaller than in years past, but from the photographs splashed across Kimmy Kay’s social media accounts, it looks no less extravagant. Her chic ski chalet served as the perfect backdrop for the winter wonderland themed party, which featured ice-skating, a life-sized gingerbread house, and a darling après ski hot toddylounge.
Likewise, Aidan Goldberg hosted his annual star-studded Hannukah party in early December, which was held at The Pendry Hotel in West Hollywood. The bash, celebrating the festival of lights, featured several popular musical acts for entertainment, including the uber-successful country band Outlaw and the up-and-coming beats of Sweden’s popular DJ Niklas Andersson.
