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“It’s great. I miss hanging out there.”
“I miss you hanging out there too.”
“We belong together, Nick.”
“Always,” he said.
“I can’t believe I finally got you to come visit me.”
Then at the same time, they both announced: “I have something to tell you…” They stopped, laughed, and said “Jinx,” having said something at the same time. Something they had done since they were kids.
“You first,” Nick insisted. Ivy started talking a mile a minute. She let Nick know her great news. The script she wrote for her senior thesis won a screenwriting award. Former winners of that award had gone on to have long careers working in the film business. Ivy spoke rapidly about what this might lead to. She never would have been talking about herself so much, but this was Nick. Her Nick. Heralways Nick. She could tell him anything.
Ivy’s phone was suddenly buzzing. She looked at the caller ID and was immediately excited. “Oh my God, it’s Charlotte Adams. I have to take this.”
“Who’s Charlotte Adams?” Nick asked.
Charlotte Adams was the hottest agent in town. She had a knack for discovering new writers and harnessing their skills to boffo success. Charlotte was Hollywood royalty, having grown up in the business. Her father was an Academy-nominated producer, and if Charlotte had a new script to sell, every studio would stop to read it and want to meet the hot new writer. Ivy answered her phone and listened excitedly.
“You do!” Ivy exclaimed. “Yes. Yes. I can meet you tomorrow. Thank you!” She gave Nick a thumbs-up. He listened as Ivy joyfully nodded and yes-yes-yes’ed to everything this Charlotte Adams was saying.
Nick waited patiently, always a good guy. Ivy finished the call. “That was Charlotte Adams. The biggest agent in town. She used to be married to my film school professor. He recommended she read my script. She loved it and wants me to get my career going as soon as possible,” she blurted out. “I’m meeting her tomorrow morning.” Ivy quickly posted an Instagram with a selfie of her at the Grove:Just signed with a great agent! #goals #screenwriting #charlotteadams
“That’s great,” Nick said quietly. He was very happy for Ivy. He really was. But still, he didn’t seem that happy. He suddenly seemed different. For a moment Ivy thought,Why is he acting this way? Is he jealous?He seemed fine five minutes ago. She decided to keep it to herself and not ruin their first night together in LA.
“So, what does this all mean? The script? The agent?” Nick wondered.
“It means I have to find a place to live after graduation.”
“So you’re going to stay in LA?”
“I thought maybe we could find a place to live. Together. I have some apartments we could look at tomorrow,” Ivy added. There—it was out—she wanted Nick to move to LA so they could be together.
Nick smiled. Keeping his feelings inside.
“Why are you acting this way?”So much for keeping it to yourself,she thought.
“What way?” he said defensively.
“That you’re not excited for me.”
“I am excited for you. I’m just tired. I landed two hours ago…” And in truth, he had just arrived. Nick was exhausted. But Ivy had insisted on going out and experiencing “fake Christmas.”
Ivy had noticed something earlier at the airport. When she’d arrived to pick Nick up, he wasn’t even looking for her. He was on his phone. They had not seen each other in months, and yet Nick didn’t seem that excited to see her. In fact, he’d seemed subdued.
Ivy dismissed her negative thoughts. She realized Nick might’ve been tired because he had taken two flights, and one had been delayed. She also knew that last week Nick had worked nonstop at the wine tour in the Finger Lakes where the wineries gave out Christmas ornaments. Shepherd Winery would always draw over five hundred people each day for that popular yearly event. It was no wonder that Nick seemed a little off, she rationalized.
“I really am happy for you,” he said. “I’m proud of you. I love you.”
Ivy kissed Nick for the last time, but she didn’t know that. “I love you too,” she told him.
Her phone started vibrating. It was from classmates all calling to congratulate her, and Ivy was eager to fill them in. She held up one finger to Nick, indicating to give her a moment. He wandered off again.
Ivy found Nick on a bench, looking up at the stars, which were not to be seen.
“Let’s go get a picture with Santa,” she suggested. “The last time we did that was senior year of high school.”
The line for Santa was long but moved quickly. As they waited in line, Ivy was getting more and more calls and more and more texts. She could see Nick was getting a little frustrated. She put her phone away.
