Love Unrehearsed

“What are you going to do, Kyle? Put me up against another wall to try to change my mind?”

He made a throaty sound of disgust and then turned toward me, his face painted with what truly looked like regret. “I hurt you. I know that. I get it. I know what I did was stupid and rash . . . I don’t expect you to believe me but I truly wanted to protect you.” I wanted to slap him. “You’re lucky I didn’t have you arrested.”

“And I appreciate that. Look, I’ve kept my end of the deal. Have I bothered you at all since?”

“No, you haven’t. But the first chance you got you couldn’t help but take another cheap shot at Ryan. And that bothers me.”

“He has what I want.”

I fought rolling my eyes. “You have Lauren.”

His lips twitched as he shook his head.

“Yeah, funny thing. Turns out I’m not her type these days. Doesn’t matter because she’s not mine.”

“Well, that’s too bad.”

Kyle sighed. “Will you ever forgive me?” I’d had enough. “Honestly? No. And while we’re on this junket I suggest you do yourself a favor and stay the hell away from both of us.”

I didn’t know where I was walking to but I headed back to where I knew Ryan and Mike were last. My hands were shaking. Memories of Kyle pressing me into the door frame at the bottom of my apartment steps swept through me, spreading fear and trembles of terror through my bones.

I found Trish sitting in a chair taking a call on her cell. Marie was sitting next to her. My cell chimed with a new text so I dug it out of my purse and just as I was thumbing through the new message, I heard a familiar nasally, shrill voice that will forever be scorched in my memory.

Trish said what I was thinking. “What the hell is she doing here?”

Marla’s head turned slightly, pausing her conversation for a beat when she noticed us.

Acid churned in my stomach. I hadn’t even previewed this film and already Thousand Miles was turning into a thousand miles in hell.

“I think I want to go home,” I muttered quietly.

Trish shifted in her chair. “You and me both. Apparently Ms. Delaney has herself a new publicist. Figures she’d go for Ryan’s old representation.”

Ryan had texted me. I held up my phone to show Marie. “He’s summoning me.” I found him in a room with what looked like a half tent made out of black fabric. The Thousand Miles movie poster was set up behind the chairs. Industrial lights were set up to illuminate the area being filmed and floor fans were whirling to keep the area cool.

Ryan looked like he’d been through the blender. “You hanging in there?” I asked, taking him into my arms.

Just then Kyle walked down the hall, glancing at us briefly on his way. I couldn’t help but scoff.

“Did he say anything to you?” I froze. I wasn’t going to tell him we exchanged words. What good would that do?

“You should know that Lauren hired Marla Sullivan.”

Ryan took a step back. “What?”

“Marla is here. She just showed up.”

“You’re kidding me?”

“I wish. She’s putting on quite the show of enthusiasm.”

I thought Ryan was going to go through the roof. “Wonderful.” He rubbed his forehead, then grabbed my hand to tow me along. He pinned a glare on Mike. “Where’s David?”

A young woman came rushing over to Ry-an. “Mr. Christensen, we’re ready to start the next group.”

He held up a hand. “I need a minute.” Ryan bound right up to David, jerking his chin in Marla’s direction. “You know about this shit?”

He was either caught off guard or an expert feigning ignorance. “What do you mean?”

“I’m talking about the woman who’s suing me for breach of contract and the guy who assaulted my fiancée being on this junket. Now answer the question. Did you know about this?”

“I, well, I found out a couple of days ago that Lauren signed on with Marla’s company, but I thought she’d give the account to an underling. How was I supposed to know she’d be here?”

Ryan groaned in frustration. “This puts me in a compromising situation, David, both physically and financially, and that’s not good.”

“Okay, I should have told you that Lauren hired Marla’s PR company, but I didn’t think it would matter.”

“Well, it does,” Ryan snapped. “You know she’s contesting the revised settlement I paid her, saying I owe her more money. You could have given me a heads-up. It’s getting to be that I can’t trust you anymore.” David looked offended. “Ryan, don’t say that. I’ve always had your best interests at heart.”

“Is that why you took it upon yourself to have Len draft up a prenup?”

“Yes, I did. We have monies coming in that need to be protected.”

“From who?” Ryan yelled. “She won’t even use my money to put fucking gas in her car.

The only one spending my money is you. I know what’s written in my contract, David.

You worried I’d screw you out of wedding photo royalties?”

David held his hands up in surrender. “I’d never do that and it’s a damn shame that you think that way. Hey, you want to risk half your money on a girl that you’ll divorce eventually, that’s on you.”

Ryan was livid. “That’s the difference between you and me, David. After this press tour is over, I think we need to go our separate ways.”

David clutched Ryan’s forearm. “Hang on, buddy. Let’s not take this there again.”

Ryan glared at David’s hand. “You best remove that hand and walk away. I’m not playing anymore.”

I kept my eye on Lauren instead of celebrating David’s dismissal. She seemed overly giddy and bubbly, as if she were enjoying watching us squirm.

Bring it, bitch. You’re next.

I straightened Ryan’s necktie before we arrived at the Manhattan premiere of Thousand Miles. I was glad he wore the black Hugo Boss suit with the purple and black paisley necktie that matched the color of my cocktail dress.

He ran his finger over the gathered material on the bodice of my dress and then over my beautiful diamond wreath necklace. “You look extraordinary.”

Ryan’s appreciation for me never faltered.

I hoped I’d never take how lucky I am for granted. “You are quite the package yourself.”