Which was to let him make the decision. “Dad, do you want to keep taking the meds?”
“I do. I would take a few months or even days of being here with you, all of me, over years of my body existing. I would very much like to go and see some old friends. You could come with me. I’d like to spend more time with your Brynn. Share this time with me, Major, and know that I won’t regret a second of it. Not even the end because I’ll get to see your momma again.”
“Okay.” Emotion welled inside him, and he didn’t fight it this time. He didn’t try to stop the tears that fell. He sat with his father, allowing the moment to imprint on his memory. This was one of those times he would always remember, this moment when he accepted that time was not infinite, but his love could be. “So how do I get Brynn back?”
His dad squeezed his hand, a grin coming over his face. “Is the raccoon only a thief or do you think you can talk him into kidnapping?”
He laughed. “I think we’ll have to find another way.”
But he would. He would find a way to win her back. Even if it meant starting all over again.
chapter seventeen
“You cannot hire that golf cart man as your official driver,” her mother said, her hands on her hips. “That is what production assistants are for. Now that you have the job, I’ll make sure they assign one to you. You can do it all properly now that you’re part of the cast.”
The last three days had been a whirlwind of activity, and Brynn was grateful for the distractions. She’d helped her sister prep for her audition. She’d been able to audition for the director and been hired on the spot. Then there was all the press coverage of her mom and Gavin’s announcement. She’d agreed to sit for a few spots to talk about how happy she was for her mom.
And she was. But her happiness was tempered by the sorrow she felt at losing Major. She should be excited about taking this time for herself. She should be looking at the world of possibilities and feeling light.
She didn’t. She missed him and wondered how long she could really stay here. She hadn’t run into him yet. How would that feel? How would it feel when he went back to his serial dating life and she was still pining over him? She knew she’d been right when she’d sent him away, but it didn’t make her heart ache less.
“Nope. I want Greg, and I’m paying him myself. He’s letting me bedazzle the cart and he bought this little fridge so he can keep my iced lattes on hand. I like it better than a limo.” Ally was fresh faced and practically glowing as she poured herself a mug of coffee. “I find normal cars confining now. And a normal, boring limo driver doesn’t point out all the fun places. Like we were coming back from the bar last night and Greg showed me where the rougarous meet. That’s a Cajun werewolf. I’m pretty sure it was just a bunch of really hairy teens, but it makes a person think.”
They’d started this morning ritual the day her mom and Gavin announced their engagement. Every morning she would walk the short distance between her cabin and the main house and join her family for breakfast, where they talked about the industry incessantly and she tried to forget that Major was out there and he and his dad were facing down something terrible.
It hurt that he didn’t want her by his side.
“Well, you won’t when it’s raining or when wind ruins your hair,” her mom pointed out.
“That’s what hair and makeup are for.” Ally had the script in front of her. She’d been working day and night, rehearsing scenes with Gavin. “Don’t worry about me, Mom. You don’t have to take my Guber. I assure you Gavin’s got his own driver, and he’ll be happy to share with you.”
“You know I will.” Gavin strode in from the bedroom, his hair still damp from the shower. He moved in behind her mom and dropped a kiss on her neck. “Imagine the things we can do in that limo.”
Brynn and Ally managed to gag at the same time. Some things were still weird and probably always would be.
Gavin ignored them completely. “I’ll share everything with you.”
“Except my opinion on the wardrobe choices for Ally,” her mom shot back.
Gavin stepped away and grimaced. “Yes, that is all your own, my love.”
Ally’s eyes rolled. “I don’t need to change my character’s style. It’s fine. She’s a small-town deputy. She wouldn’t wear designer clothes, and I’m not opening the top two buttons of my deputy uniform.”