“For his fifteen percent.”
“Yeah, but that’s how it works.” He tilted his head, leaning against the sink. “Why do you ask?”
“Curious, I guess. I like that I got a glimpse into your real life when I was in California. That way I can picture it when you go back. And the people in your life too.” Thoughts of Frankie wormed their way into her mind. Should she worry that there was more to their friendship than he admitted to? Or was the chemistry between them only on the set? And did it matter at all anyway? He was leaving. Going back to her and his world. One that had no room for her.
Tears sprouted behind her eyes, and suddenly she was fighting against a painful lump in her throat.
He rushed to her, taking her hands. “I know. I know this is hard. I don’t want to leave you either. I hope that helps.”
“I think it makes it worse. Regardless, you’re going back to your exciting life instead of here playing house with me.” She couldn’t keep the edge out of her voice. It crept in there like an insidious infection festering in the pit of her stomach.
“Come with me.”
Mauve stared at him. “What?”
“You heard me. Come with me. Let’s get married.”
“Have you lost your mind?”
“No. I haven’t. I’ve never felt more sane. Every minute I spend with you, it’s clearer—I don’t want to let you go.”
She shook her head, frustrated with him and the entire situation. “I can’t go with you. What about my work? My house here? My best friend?” Her best friend who was going to have a baby and have even less time for Mauve than she did now.
“They’ll still be here. You can visit them anytime you want.”
“I can’t leave my students without any notice. That’s not right.” She withdrew her hands, stepping away, hiding behind a kitchen chair, as if that would keep her from reaching for him.
“Is it selfish of me to say, I don’t care?” Jason said. “There are other speech therapists. And lots of jobs in L.A.”
“But I’m all they have in Sugarville Grove.”
“They’ll find someone. Come to Prague with me. It’s supposed to be stunning. While I’m on set, you could explore. Shop. Go to museums. Then at night we could be together.”
“Jason, no. I can’t leave my whole life behind. Not again.”
“Is that what you’re worried about? That you’ll follow me, and then I’ll cheat on you? This isn’t like your first husband. I’m not him.”
“You say that now, but things change. He was in love with me at first. Until he just suddenly wasn’t. Until he was suddenly in someone else’s bed. You’re around beautiful actresses all day. Models throw themselves at you. You could have anyone you want. I cannot risk being tossed aside again, facing a life on my own without a thing to show for it.”
“That’s not going to happen. I’m in love with you. I have been since last Christmas. I’ve been in denial, but seriously, look at our text thread. It’s likeMoby Dicklong. I’ve never felt like this before. What we have is special. I know it in my bones.”
Doubt about his logic crept up the back of her spine. Was he right? This was the real thing? A thing worth risking it all for? “How would this work? You’re going to be gone all the time. I want to have a family. Set down roots. I can’t do that following you around the world.”
He sighed, hanging his head. “Are you saying you can’t be with me because of my job?”
“I’m trying to be realistic. It all sounds glamorous, but it sounds lonely. And what about the baby I want? With you, I’d be a single mother.”
“That’s not true.” His eyes flashed. She’d hurt him. Which hurt her.
“I work in L.A. most of the time,” Jason said.
“Which means I have to live there. Not here. Isn’t that true?”
“I guess it is.”
“We have to face the truth. We love each other, but we’re completely ill-suited.”
“You love me?”
