Page 112 of Places I've Never Been

“You have no idea how lucky you are, man. I mean, stars have aligned and shit like that.”

“You got a number?”

“I got better than that.” LT sounded extremely satisfied with himself. “Piper’s working on that animated gig today. She’s thirty minutes away, and in session until three. If you leave now, you’ll be there when she gets out.”

Adam started the car. “Thanks, man. Text me the address?”

“Sure thing. Uh, according to my girl, Piper’s not in a good mood today. She might just blow your head off. You got a strategy?”

“I’ll come up with something.” Adam shifted into gear and sped out of the parking lot.

He pulled up to Day Dreams Productions with fifteen minutes to spare. He parked in the visitor lot, then checked the directions LT sent. He needed Building 2. He raced across the lush central garden, past the fountain, and down a path he hoped led to the building he wanted.

He caught sight of Piper exiting the next building over and changed direction.

“Piper!” he shouted. “Wait!”

Piper saw him and kept walking. “Fuck off, asshole.”

He was getting that a lot today, and he was starting to feel like he deserved it. What Lucas said had stuck with him. He’d never questioned how Lucas had managed their careers. All he’d cared about was that Lucas was as driven as Adam was to make it work. He’d never asked about the photos of Cooper that had leaked to the tabloids or about the headlines that had popped up about his own escapades. He’d never cared. Not until Mattie.

He was a little out of breath when he reached her. “Please, just hear me out.”

Piper stopped and rounded on him. “Why should I? I can’t believe I stood up for you. She didn’t want to go out with you. Did you know that? I’m the one who talked her into it. Me.”

Piper started walking again. “It’s a real slick move. Offer up pretty vacations and the chance to work on a meaningful project. You really had all her buttons pushed, didn’t you? She’s always felt like the backup to Della and me. She’s always felt overlooked, then you come along and make her feel wanted, and valuable. Except it wasn’t real, right? It was a ploy to trick her into a little sack time on camera just to push your own career.”

Adam chased after her, feeling like the last lifeline he had was slipping through his fingers. “I didn’t hire that photographer. My manager did. I didn’t know.”

Piper gave him a one-finger salute. “Get lost, dickwipe.”

“Dammit, listen to me. I love her!”

Piper stopped walking. She turned slowly around and gave him an appraising look.

He rushed to finish before she walked out of his life forever.

“Mattie’s not a backup anything. She’s…dammit she’severything.”

Piper raised an eyebrow.

“I can’t stand that she thinks I was only with her for a PR stunt. I just wanted to get to know her. That’s all. Even if she never speaks to me again, she needs to know that.”

He couldn’t quite read the expression in her eyes. He hoped it was understanding, or at least not hatred. “Please, can you tell her that I fired Lucas. The guys are making sure there won’t be any more photos. She doesn’t have to worry about anything else dropping.”

Piper looked surprised. “You fired your manager?”

“He crossed the line a long time ago, I just didn’t know. Or maybe I didn’t want to know.” His jaw ached from holding his emotions in check. “There’s no excuse. I should have known. I should have paid more attention. I should have done a lot of things.”

He paced around. He had too much keyed-up energy and nowhere to put it. Piper watched him like he was an animal that couldn’t be trusted.

She was probably right about that.

“Look, I know you hate me. I’m the last one you’d do a favor for.”

“You got that right.” She crossed her arms.

“Could you please just tell her not to give up? I might have screwed up any chance I ever had to be with her, but that doesn’t mean she shouldn’t try again. Some thingsdolast forever. Her songs will. Maybe the next guy will too. She deserves that. She deserves to be happy.” He took in a tortured breath. “Can you tell her that?”

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