Page 97 of Between the Lines

She never set foot in that courthouse. Not after everything came pouring out at once after Dad was arrested. The affairs, the lying, the fraud, the clear disregard for all of us.

“Hey,” I tell her. “I’ve been thinking. I know it’s months away, but how about you, me, and Mom rent a place in Aspen this winter? Get away for a week. Like one of our old ski holidays.”

She seems shocked. “Really?”

“Yeah. Why not?”

“I just… Yeah, I’d love that. You haven’t had time for that lately.”

I run a hand through my hair. “Yeah. Maybe not recently, but I think we should get back to that tradition. Even if things are different now.”

“Okay. Sure. I can start looking at places,” she says with a grin.

“Thanks, Mandy.”

She drifts away from me shortly after, toward a few producers she knows well, too. Growing up in this town, you realize just how insular it can be. Enormous, yet also very small.

When I finally reach Charlotte, Logan has just left. She’s standing by the edge of the infinity pool with a wide smile on her face.

It dims a little when she sees me. “Hey.”

“Hi. Having fun?”

“Yeah. I can’t believe I just spoke to him. Had a real conversation.”

I frown. “Mm-hmm. He’s nice.”

“He’s really funny, and I keep getting the weirdest sense of déjà vu looking at him, you know? I’m so used to seeing his face on screen and not in front of me in living color.”

“Right. Well, he’s dating someone, I think.”

She rolls her eyes at me. “I’m notinterestedin him. He’s way too famous for me.”

I really hope so. “Where have you been today?”

“I drove around to find the trailheads in this area,” she says cheerfully. “I want to start running again.”

“I can show you.”

She smiles again. “No worries, I found them. You know, it’s an incredible thing, coming back here to find the house decorated for an elaborate brunch and full of world-class celebrities.”

“Did Elena text you?”

“Yeah, she did, but it’s just hard to believe this is your life.” She looks from me to the people milling about.

“It’s not my real life. It’s my job,” I say. “My real life is who I am in that park in Utah. Or up on Mulholland Drive at midnight.”

Her breath catches, and I watch as her smile falters, just a little. “But it’s also this. You’re both, at the same time.”

I take a step closer. “You disappeared the other night. While I changed the battery.”

Her eyes shutter, and she looks down at her goodie bag. “Yeah. I had to leave you wanting more.”

“It’s not in my nature to leave a woman unsatisfied,” I say.

“Who says I was?”

I raise an eyebrow. “I didn’t reciprocate.”

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