Almost hourly she entertained happy thoughts about packing up her Bug and driving to Island Park. The image of Johnson opening the gate to her and then Tucker waiting for her on the porch always got her heart thumping. Then she talked herself into reality. Her life was in L.A. She looked around her little apartment and wondered about that life. It certainly seemed empty lately. Alyssa and Beck were due back from Honduras tomorrow. That would help, but they were so in love it was sometimes hard to be around them, be a spectator to their fulfilling life. Maryn was simply a fun friend to go to lunch with on occasion. She’d gone roller-blading and to movies with her church friends and been texting a couple of her girl’s camp friends, Haley and MacKenzie more, trying to convince one of them to come visit, but they both had busy lives of their own.
James was acting really weird and he was driving her crazy. He begged her to come into the office more, he asked her to lunch and dinner every day, and he couldn’t stop pledging his love to her, even though she tried time and again to explain she didn’t feel the same. It was over the top. She recognized she’d changed too, but it was like her former friend was trying too hard, pretending to be something he wasn’t.
James had been a good friend to her, but her feelings for him were nothing compared to Tucker. James’ career and them achieving notoriety together used to be their goals. Now it seemed like making money had become James’ sole motivation. If she was honest, she used to care about her career with that same intensity. Now she wasn’t sure what she wanted out of life… except a chance to be with Tucker more.
Two weeks after the accident, the article was done and set to print the next day. James had finally talked her into going out to dinner. She was lonely and the article was a reason to celebrate. She hoped Tuck would love it.
While she waited for James to arrive, she picked up her phone and saw she had a text from Tucker.
Hey, I noticed one of my favorite shirts has disappeared.
Oh? I wonder what happened to it.
I’m just hoping the girl who stole it will send me a picture with her in it.
Maryn bit at her lip and grinned. It was much easier to text brave words so she plunged ahead,Maybe you should come see it for yourself. It looks better in person.
There was a pause, too long of a pause for her to feel comfortable. A knock came at the door. She stood reluctantly, wanting to see Tuck’s answer. As she walked to the door, her phone chimed.
Maybe I will.
Maryn held the phone to her chest, smiling.
James drove them to Otium, a contemporary restaurant near the cultural corridor of Grand Avenue. She’d dressed in a long, sleeveless black dress that was comfortable and classy with a red wrap around her shoulders and red and black striped heels.
James gunned into the parking lot, squealing the brakes. He grinned over at Maryn and rubbed his hand across the dash. “Do you like it?”
“What happened to your Altima?”
James scoffed. “Upgraded. It’s a Maserati, Mar!” He looked like a little boy with his first homemade go-kart, but Maryn knew enough about cars to know there was nothing homemade about a Maserati.
The valet opened Maryn’s door and she stepped out, biting her tongue when she wanted to ask James why he would go into debt for a flashy car. Had he gotten a raise she hadn’t heard about?
“Can we eat outside?” Maryn asked as James took her elbow and escorted her into the restaurant.
“Of course. Anything you want. You are so beautiful tonight. Did I tell you that?”
Maryn didn’t reciprocate. James was handsome in his suit, but she knew he highlighted his hair, and his nails were definitely manicured. Tucker would never highlight and the thought of him sitting through a manicure was hilarious. She smiled to herself. James grinned in return, assuming she was smiling at him.
The maître d’ led them to a table out on the patio and Maryn was happy to enjoy the warm night air. That was one benefit of southern California over Island Park. It was warm outside most of the year. She held in a sigh. Island Park had better perks than weather. It had Tucker Shaffer.
Maryn declined the wine list. James ordered them a Cabernet from Italy. She sipped her water as he tilted his head to the side. “Why don’t you ever drink with me?”
She smiled. “I need to keep my wits about me when I’m with you.”
“Because I’m so irresistible?”
“Keep telling yourself that.” They used to have such fun banter and Maryn missed their lighthearted friendship.
He winked. “You should be very proud, Maryn. Everyone is clamoring for that article tomorrow. It will be the highest distribution we’ve ever had.”
Maryn shrugged. “You did a good job of promoting it.” She tried to keep the venom out of her voice, but James had splayed her picture and the story of the bear attack all over the place. He’d made Tucker look like a hero, which she appreciated, but she knew it was to sell magazines and get more advertising dollars because he definitely didn’t like Tucker.
James’ phone beeped. He pulled it out, read the text, and frowned. “I apologize, Mar. Can you excuse me for a minute?”
“If I must.”
He chuckled and patted her hand.