Now a Major Motion Picture (27 page)

By the time she reached Colin, he already knew. He’d heard about the pictures from his manager, who hadn’t taken the news quite as well as Nina had. She felt a twinge of guilt that she’d sworn him to secrecy. What an awesome idea
that
had been—now that the story had broken, all it had done was make it more scandalous.

But Colin laughed it off.

“It’ll pass,” he said. “Soon it will be yesterday’s news. Trust me.”

Two weeks later, though, it wasn’t yesterday’s news. It wasn’t
at all
. The “shot seen round the world” of their kiss outside Colin’s dressing room had inspired a media feeding frenzy. Every celeb mag lining the rack screamed with appalling headlines like “Caught!” and “Secret Lovers!”

It was nauseating.

Amelia couldn’t believe how much her life had changed in two weeks.
She
now had paparazzi following her around. Her phone was ringing off the hook—where were people getting her number? And considering she hadn’t been anywhere near Colin and their standard response was “no comment,” the tackiest magazines and websites were just making stories up. She was trying to take Colin’s advice and ignore it all, but until she’d boarded the plane yesterday, she’d felt like she was shouldering a half-ton weight.

So for her, this weekend was more than a special time to celebrate with her best friend in the world—it was an escape. In the last twenty-four hours she had yet to see a camera lens that didn’t relate in some way to Reese rather than her.

Colin had joked, or at least she hoped he’d been joking, about coming to the wedding as her date. When Amelia told Reese, she answered, “You know I love you, Mel, but this is
my
day. Colin shows up, nobody’s even looking at me and Dave. It’ll be bad enough having
you
there.” Then she winked.

Even though she was kidding, Amelia knew Reese was right. And the last thing she wanted to do was steal her best friend’s thunder.

She glanced at Reese now, her hourglass figure swathed in fitted, floor-length satin and her blonde hair swept into a shimmering updo. She was breathtaking.

Amelia reached over to adjust her veil and then pulled her into a spontaneous hug, being careful not to wrinkle her dress. Reese hugged her back tightly.

“I’m really happy you’re here.”

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else—you know that.” She pulled back, her eyes pricking as she studied Reese’s serene expression. “Oh, honey. I’m so happy for you. You and David are going to be the happiest married couple that ever existed. You’re perfect for each other.”

Reese lifted one hand to dab at the corners of her eyes. “Look at you, making me cry right in the middle of pictures.”

“Sorry.” Amelia swiped at her own eyes.

“No problem. I’ll just make sure to get you back at your wedding.”

“That’s a long time to wait for revenge.”

Reese raised an eyebrow. “Who knows what might happen?”

“Sure.” Amelia shot her a wry look. “Who knows?”

* * *

The wedding was beautiful, but Amelia flew through the motions of the day in a blur. Before she knew it, the ceremony was over and she was in the Spencers’ sprawling backyard, where a huge, white canvas tent had been erected and threaded with dozens of strands of white lights. The late September night was unseasonably warm, rendering the tall outdoor heaters spaced throughout the tent unnecessary. The thick canopy of trees that enveloped the lawn was just beginning to shed its leaves, making it easier to glimpse the mantle of stars that glimmered through the clear night sky. It was a perfect evening all around.

Amelia plopped onto one of the white rental chairs and slid off her bridesmaid-issue shoes, which were starting to rub blisters on her heels. She glanced around for Reese and spotted her in a far corner of the tent, penned in by a boisterous group of aunts and cousins. Brooke was spinning around the makeshift dance floor with her new boyfriend, where she’d been most of the night. Amelia smiled to herself as her eyes followed them.

It was a relief to get a moment to herself. All day and night, she’d been fielding questions about her books, the movie, Colin. Half the guests were people from her past, old friends from Girard and their families, people she hadn’t spoken to or even seen in nearly a decade. She was watching the room buzz by, in a haze of her own thoughts, when she felt someone approach, then pause beside her. She stifled a sigh and patted the grass floor with her toes for her shoes, bracing herself to be pulled back into bridesmaid duty—to serve the cake or find the bouquet or pose for one more group picture.

She glanced up and tried not to choke on her wine.

Melanie Bradley was standing next to her, smiling and hesitant. Amelia had seen the Bradleys several times throughout the day, but only from a distance. She’d expected them to be there—Reese’s mom and Melanie had been part of the same women’s group at church for ages, and Amelia knew Carla Spencer wouldn’t snub Melanie by not inviting her to her daughter’s wedding, whether Reese put her on the invitation list or not. Amelia hadn’t asked if she did.

She hadn’t seen the Bradleys a single time since the break-up. Breaking up with Noah had meant breaking up with them, too, and in its own way that had been just as painful. She’d loved them like family.

Amelia’s eyes flitted from Melanie to Geoff. His hands rested on his wife’s shoulders, and both of them wore warm smiles.

“Amelia,” Melanie said. “It’s so good to see you. We couldn’t let you get away without saying hello.”

Amelia poked her feet into the shoes and stood, leaning forward awkwardly to meet Melanie’s outstretched arms. “It’s great to see you, too. How are you?”

“We’re fine, we’re fine.”

Geoff stepped around Melanie to claim the next hug. “Hi, Mel.”

She smiled. Geoff’s presence was disarming as always. Apart from a thicker sprinkling of gray at his temples, he hadn’t changed a bit. Neither had Melanie. The entire moment felt suspended in time, like the world had stopped just long enough to let her catch up. Her breath caught in her throat.

“So, I hear you’ve been busy.” Geoff’s eyes twinkled, and Amelia blushed.

“Congratulations, sweetie,” Melanie said. “We’re so proud of you. I always knew you’d do something wonderful with your life.”

“Thank you.” The words came out in barely more than a whisper as her thoughts twisted over each other at a million miles a second. She wanted to ask about Noah, but she couldn’t form her lips around his name. “How is your family?”

“Oh, everybody’s doing well,” Melanie said. “Sam’s married with a little one. Nicki’s out in California, just working and, well, being Nicki. We see her once or twice a year.” She paused only slightly, but Amelia registered the silence, felt the blush prick her cheeks again. “Noah’s doing well. He’s in Texas, building quite a career from what we can tell.”

“That’s good to hear.” She bit her lip and averted her eyes.

Mercifully, two bridesmaids picked that moment to rush over and interrupt.

“Amelia—it’s time for the cake.”

“Oh!” She looked up at Geoff and then back down at Melanie and smiled sheepishly. “Well, it’s so nice to see you. I’m glad you stopped to talk.”

“Yes, sweetie. I’m glad, too.” Melanie reached forward to embrace her again. “You take care of yourself.”

She felt a swell of sadness as Melanie squeezed her tightly and held on for just a moment too long.

“You, too.”

She turned and followed the other girls across the crowded tent.

* * *

Back at her mother’s house that night, Amelia pulled the pins out of her hair, her usually straight locks falling in crimped waves around her shoulders. She changed into flannel pants and a T-shirt before making a beeline down the stairs and onto her favorite corner of the living room sofa. She wasn’t flying out till late the next day, so tonight was all about hanging out and catching up with Brooke.

She dragged the pink and beige afghan Laura had crocheted from the back of the couch and snuggled into it, feeling warmly reminiscent, like she was a little girl again. The feeling intensified as Brooke entered the room with two steaming cups of hot chocolate topped with frothy hand-whipped cream, a long-standing family tradition she figured had ended with Laura’s passing—it had been one of her grandma’s specialties. She took the mug Brooke held out and watched as her mom curled up at the other end of the sofa. Then Brooke turned on her with a long, appraising look, and Amelia’s eyes widened.

“What?”

“Nothing.” Brooke pursed her lips. “It’s just, it’s been a pretty wild year, huh?”

Amelia raised her eyebrows and huffed softly.

“Bit of an understatement, Mom.”

“How are you? You are taking care of yourself, right? Eating? Sleeping?”

She felt a rush of tenderness as she studied Brooke’s face. She’d noticed some subtle changes in her mom since Laura’s death. She seemed a little quieter, a little more subdued. There were physical differences, too—new creases at the corners of her eyes, new streaks of gray in her shoulder-length brown hair, which was swept back now into a low, loose ponytail. The changes suited her, Amelia thought. She wore her age with ease, like she’d finally decided to settle into her own skin.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” She half-smiled at the look of skepticism on Brooke’s face. “Seriously. I mean, I’m busy, yeah. I’m never home, and that sucks sometimes, especially now, with this deadline hanging over me. But it’s fine. I mean, I’ve got plenty of time. I’m not panicking about it…yet.” She laughed, but realized Brooke’s expression hadn’t changed.

Her smile faded.

“Oh. You mean the tabloid thing.”

Brooke stared at her incredulously. “You say that like it’s a small thing.” She shook her head. “I’ve been worried about you. I don’t know how you’re dealing with it. I mean, you know me—I think it’s kind of trippy to see your face on magazine covers. But that’s me. I’m sure…I mean, I
know
you’re hating this. Right?”

Amelia wasn’t sure how to answer her.
Yes, I hate it. I hate every second of it, and if it doesn’t stop soon you might read a story about me punching a pap in the face.
She smiled uneasily.

“No, I’m fine. Stop worrying about me. Just, you know. Don’t believe anything you read. I mean, I always figured ninety percent of that celebrity news stuff was crap, but now I know it is. It’s stupid. It’s ridiculous. It’s…cruel, even.”

Brooke let out a sharp, short laugh. “You don’t have to tell me that. If I thought half the stuff I’ve seen was true I’d have been on a plane to hunt you down by now. Other people though…well, it’s funny how seriously people take this stuff. Like Julie—would you believe she called the other night to tell me you and Colin have a secret love child? She read it in some magazine. Thought, you know, they’d printed it, so it must be true.” Brooke rolled her eyes as Amelia winced. She’d seen that headline.

“Julie would believe that.” Compared to her best friend, Brooke was positively stable. A pillar of the community. But still, if Julie had believed that stupid story, who else had?

She squirmed in her seat and shot Brooke a pointed look. “You see? This is why we weren’t telling anybody we were seeing each other.”

“I get it. I’m not pissed.” She grinned. “Anymore.” She leaned in closer, her brown eyes lit with a new spark. “So tell me, what
is
it like, dating a famous actor?”

Amelia tried to act annoyed, but she couldn’t contain the smile that broke out across her face. “Colin is great.”

Brooke waited several seconds, then stretched one foot across the couch and poked Amelia with a purple-painted toenail. “Hello? You think that’s all you’re gonna give me? Details, honey. I want details.”

Amelia made a face at her. She sat back, thought it over. “He’s sweet. Really, really sweet and thoughtful. He’s not at all self-centered, even though he has every reason to be. He’s totally grounded, totally not a snob—kind of self-deprecating, actually. He completely surprised me. Still surprises me, all the time.” Her mind wandered to that night in his dressing room, the three words that were still hanging out there unreciprocated. He hadn’t repeated them, and she hadn’t brought them up.

She brought her mug to her lips, lost in thought.

“Good in bed?”

She choked on her hot chocolate. “Mother!”

“What?” Brooke feigned innocence. “I have a right to live vicariously.”

Amelia looked at her through narrowed eyes. “If you must know, I haven’t slept with him.”

“Yet?”

“Mom. Seriously?” Her cheeks flamed.

“Yes, seriously. I’m your mother! You can tell me this stuff. What, do you think I’m going to call the tabloids?” Amelia gave her a withering look, and she laughed. “All right, fine. Keep it to yourself. I’m just happy you’ve finally found a guy you like. No, wait—happy doesn’t cover it. I’m thrilled. Ecstatic. Relieved. You don’t know how long I’ve been waiting for this.” She paused. “I guess I didn’t realize you were holding out for a movie star.”

Amelia rolled her eyes, and Brooke giggled.

“Come on, Mel. You know what I mean. It’s been forever. I mean, maybe you’ve had boyfriends you just haven’t been telling me about…” She eyed Amelia sharply, but Amelia kept her expression carefully blank. “It’s just, well, it’s about time you moved on.”

Both of them sat for a few seconds in thoughtful silence, Amelia sure Brooke’s mind was on the same person hers was. She glanced up at her suspiciously. How much did her mom know? If Noah’s role in her books was that obvious to Reese, did she suspect it, too?

Brooke broke the stillness, confirming Amelia’s thoughts.

“I just remembered—I saw you talking to the Bradleys tonight. How’d that go?”

Amelia shrugged.

“Fine, I guess. We made small talk. It was nice to see them.”

“That’s nice.” Brooke paused. She opened her mouth like she was about to say more, but closed it again.

“What?”

“Well, I didn’t tell you this, but I guess there’s no reason to keep it from you. I saw Noah a couple months ago.”

Amelia raised her eyebrows. “Oh.”