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Oh boy, oh boy. What is going on? Swallowing past the unease in my throat, I call Alex, but it goes to voice mail. I try Preston next. He picks up right away.
“Summer, thank God. I tried to reach you. Okay, so here’s the new development. Amy and Alex are preparing for a press conference tonight here at the hotel to make the announcement.”
“The announcement?”
“Yeah, that they’re supposedly back together. I’m so glad you two finally worked that out. It’s for the best. These weeks will pass by quickly, you’ll see. I’m arranging right now for Alex’s things to be moved to Amy’s home. It will be tricky to get you two to meet, but we’ll manage to sneak you in somehow.”
I’m too numb to react for a few seconds. My thoughts freeze, my body feels foreign. Like someone else is standing here, hearing those words. He decided this... just like that? Without even bothering to tell me, let alone consider my feelings?
“Be careful when you come back to the hotel. All entrances are swarmed with paps. Text me when you’re five minutes away, and I will send our security guys to sneak you in.”
The hotel? I don’t want to go back to the hotel. To see Alex and Amy pose for cameras, kiss, hug. To fear that they might fall back in love.
How exactly does Alex think he can explain this to me?
Summer, my career is in a rocky spot. This was the easiest way out. Sorry for sweeping your feelings under a rug like the assholes before me. Oh, but yes, you’re very important to me. Sorry you’ll have to endure a few weeks of me kissing Amy and sharing a house with her, but afterward, everything will be peachy.
“Preston, I won’t be returning to the hotel. I’ll text you an address. Can you send my bag? It’s all packed in my room.” I need to be surrounded by family right now, by people who care about me unconditionally.
“Sure. That’s a great idea, actually. Safer for you and everyone involved.”
After the call disconnects, I lean against the wall, working on breathing past the lump in my throat, the tightness in my chest. I don’t know how long I stay here, but it must be long enough because Val comes to check on me.
“What’s wrong? Bad news?”
“Can I stay here tonight?”
She smiles sympathetically. “Sure. But what happened? The pleasure part of work and pleasure didn’t work out?”
“Something like that.”
“Oh, honey, I’ve got you covered. I’ll treat you to Val’s Kit for Emotional Messes as soon as the gang leaves.”
“Val, you’re my hero.”
I’m on autopilot for the next hour or so, until everyone filters out. The second Val and I are alone, I curl up on her couch like a kitten.
“Do you have ice cream?” I ask.
“Nope. Cardinal sin, I know, but if I know it’s in the freezer, I just eat it. But I have hot chocolate, whipped cream, and a bottle of Pinot Noir.”
“We drank Chardonnay at dinner. Why don’t we stick to it?”
Val motions no with her finger. “Chardonnay’s for celebrating. Pinot Noir is for commiserating.”
“Because Pinot’s bitter and sour?”
“You’ve got it.”
I throw my head back, laughing. God, I could hug Val for making me laugh. “Pinot it is. I can’t believe you have a system for that.”
After setting us both up with a glass, she joins me on the couch.
“Want to tell me what happened, or you just need commiserating?”
“Just commiserating.”
“I’m your girl.”
