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But as soon as I was out on the Savannah streets, I slumped against a door and felt myself deflate. I hadn’t wanted to get into that fight with Maddox. And now, things were a fucking mess between us. I didn’t even know if I could fix this after that.
I dialed Marley’s number, but it went straight to voicemail. She must already be asleep. I should find Craig, but instead, I headed out onto the streets and walked off the gnawing feeling that Maddox and I had made a huge mistake.
Eight months later, Craig and I were married on the beach in Santa Monica. Lila and Marley were bridesmaids. It was a beautiful summer wedding.
But that gnawing feeling never left. And we were divorced the following February due to irreconcilable differences.
In the back of my mind, I wondered if I had been swept up in his extravagant lifestyle, his easy, excessive ways, his money.
If Maddox was right all along.
27
SAVANNAH
PRESENT
“And that’s a wrap!” Jimmy announced to the cast and crew.
We all applauded as the last six weeks of filming came to a close. It was hard to believe that it had all gone so fast. And that I had nothing else lined up after it.
“Congrats, darling,” Martin said dramatically. He pulled me into a hug. “You were as brilliant as ever.”
“Thanks, Marty.”
I went around the room, hugging everyone. Iris had tears in her eyes as she hugged me tight. It was surreal to think that this was the actual finale for this show that we’d dedicated a decade. She pressed a kiss to my cheek and released me with a smile.
Then, my eyes found the person I was looking for, and I skipped over to Maddox, throwing my arms around him. “Wrap day!”
He laughed and pressed a firm kiss to my lips. The last couple weeks had been the best of our long-storied time together. In those intervening years when we had avoided each other and yearned and pined and fought, I never would have thought that we could end up here. That after the words we’d spoken to each other in hate, we’d be able to live so harmoniously in love. It was as if this was how it was always supposed to be, and we’d taken the circuitous route to get here.
“So proud of you,” he said.
“Aww, thanks. I can’t believe it’s over.”
“I still have a few weeks of post-production.”
“Well, done for me at least.”
“The easy part is over,” he joked.
“Hey!” I swatted at him, but he ducked and drew me in for another kiss.
“Now, we can have a long night in.”
I smirked at him. “As lovely as that sounds, you’re forgetting one thing.”
His face was blank.
“Wrap party.”
He groaned. “Must we?”
“We must. Amelia designed me a new dress for the occasion. She and Ash will be there.”
“Together?” He arched an eyebrow.
“Who knows with them? They’re like sharks circling.”
“Fine. I’ll go for you.”
I winked at him. “Much obliged.”
When Maddox picked me up a few hours later, his jaw nearly dropped to the ground at the sight of me. The dress Amelia had made for me was a revelation. Seafoam-green silk that hugged all my features with a slit to mid-thigh, a slouchy front that showed off ample cleavage, and an open, lace-up back. I twirled for him in my strappy heeled sandals.
“Jesus Christ.” His hand slid down the silk from my waist to my hip. “You look stunning. Are you sure we have to go to the party?”
“And not show off my dress?”
He leaned in close. “It’ll look better on my floor.”
“I like this side of you,” I teased, grabbing his shirt and tugging him against me.
Our lips met, and a voice cleared behind us.
I pulled away to find my mom standing in the living room. “Don’t you look lovely?”
“Thanks,” I said.
“Where are you off to?” she asked.
“Wrap party.”
“You finished the movie today?”
Was it just me, or did she look disappointed? I hadn’t seen much of her in the last couple of weeks. Despite asking me to stay, she had made herself scarce. Always off with her new beau. It didn’t help that we’d had long days on set and I spent the weekends with Maddox. Maybe I’d been as scarce as she had.
“We did.”
“When are you going back to LA?” she asked softly.
“Oh. I haven’t decided yet. I’m in no hurry. I’m still waiting to hear about an audition. It would film in Atlanta though, I think.”
“Okay. Well, maybe we can have dinner before you go. Just the two of us.”
I swallowed and nodded. “I’d like that.”
“It sounds like a great idea,” Maddox agreed.
“Are you spending the evening with Roger?”
I realized that I hadn’t seen him around the house in at least a week. Had it been longer? Maybe he was away on business. He didn’t live in town as far as I knew.
