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“She had some choice words to say about you, too.”
Shit, shit, shit.Harrison owed her a truck full of flowers. And chocolates. And maybe a lifetime of groveling.
Lee continued, “I explained that you were trying to protect her, even sent her the script so she could see you hadn’t cut her out. I have to say, man, I’m impressed. You two make a good team.”
“Did she say anything about leaving?”
“Ah, shit. Yeah, she was packing when I called. I’m really sorry.”
So that was that.
What could he do? He’d wasted his chance to ask her to stay, tell her how he felt, and now she’d left him the way he’d left her six months ago. Which he deserved.
Festival posters taunted him on the walk back. He had half a mind to run over and see if she’d gone back to Charlie’s display, but there was only so much humiliation he could take. She’d left, and there was nothing he could do.
The worst part — the bit that really stung — was that he thought he had more time. He didn’t even have her phone number. Emilia was going to have a field day when she found out. What kind of man would fall in love with someone he couldn’t contact?
The same pop song played as he rode the elevator to his room, defeated. Now that the script had been delivered, he probably should check out and make his way home, but he didn’t have the energy. A day of wallowing, and then he would scrape what was left of himself together and accept his fate.
He’d found someone worth holding on to, and he’d ruined it with his pessimism and stubbornness, too convinced he’d mess it up to even give it a shot. He could kick himself.
All he wanted was one more chance. The opportunity to tell her how he felt, to ask if she could ever feel the same.
When he exited to find Hayley in the hallway, suitcase in hand, he stopped short. “You’re still here.”
Her expression was unreadable. Not angry, which was hopefully a good sign. “I’d gone out for tea when Lee called, and then I needed some time to think.”
He nodded, his mouth dry. Everything he wanted to say lodged in his throat.
“Lee sent me the script,” she said softy.
“I’m sorry,” he blurted out. “I should have told you, but I was so angry at the studio, and you’d fallen asleep. It’s not a good excuse, and I was going to tell you this morning, but I couldn’t find you, and I thought…”
Hayley closed her eyes, shaking her head. “You really are impossible.”
“Are you angry about the script?”
Hayley blinked, speaking slowly. “No, Harry, I’m not.”
She started to move, but Harrison couldn’t take it. Before she could take a single step, he’d reached out and pulled the suitcase out of her grip.
“Harry, what are you doing?”
“You’re not going to run off before I tell you this, because I’ve seen the chase happen in too many movies, and I don’t think I could take living through it.”
Hayley opened her mouth, but he didn’t wait.
He’d avoided this his whole life. Never thought he’d find it, never wanted it to find him. But he’d be damned if he let it slip through his fingers now.
“Don’t leave. I know you’re angry with me about the script, and the studio, and probably a million other reasons, which I completely deserve, but I’m asking you, begging actually, to stay.”
“Harry, what are you talking about?”
“Your suitcase.”
“I was moving back to my room.”
“Oh.”
