Page 65 of Please, Stay

He wanted to see Carrie on Christmas morning. Hell, part of him wanted to see Hugh and Ms. Iris, too. Most of all, there wasn’t anything in the world that would take him away from being there with Juliana when she finally realized her dream of a family Christmas.

His phone barely rang before he answered. “Tell me the good news.”

“Then, I better hang up now.” Trevor’s voice wavered. “That director is one mean asshole.”

“I know. What’d he say?”

“No. To everything. He says that he’ll book the flight himself to make sure you comply with your contract.”

“Do you have the contract there with you?”

“Yeah, hold on.” Trevor shuffled something in the background. “Here, I looked it over before I called you. If you’re in breach of your contract, you either remedy it at the director’s discretion, or you pay a five million dollar fine and risk being released from the project. Damn, Grayson, that’s half your earnings from the last film.”

“Call him back. Tell him he can expect me on Tuesday. My original travel plans are staying. Flying to L.A. Sunday and then to Australia.”

“But—”

“That’s it, Trevor. You’ll get the full percentage for the original contract.”

“Just shut the hell up and let me talk.” His friend’s annoyed tone pulled out a small smile from Grayson. This was why Trevor was the best person to represent him. “I don’t give two damns about my percentage. I want to make sure you’re staying there for two extra days for the right reason.A five-million-dollar reason. I’m not going to let you give me an answer now. I pulled up flight information. If you’re on the flight that leaves at eight tomorrow night from Atlanta, then I think I can smooth it over with the director.”

Grayson wanted to tell the director to go to hell, but he’d rather do it in person. They couldn’t fire him from a sequel when he was the main character. If he never worked with that director again, it’d be fine with him.

“You’re going to have to tell her goodbye Sunday. Maybe Saturday night if you go ahead and drive to Atlanta. Friday might be a little easier.”

“It won’t be easy either day. Thanks for doing the agent-thing. I’ll let you know.” Grayson hung up. He didn’t need Trevor to run down a list of reasons why he should go ahead and leave. He knew those already. He’d created the list the moment he decided to fly to Georgia.

He could always quit. Not this movie and not the show, but afterward. Buy his first house in Statem. But what would he do?

Nothing.

That didn’t seem feasible. Every day, he’d hang around town waiting on Juliana to get off work while he lived off his savings and royalties.

He enjoyed making money. Never having to worry about where his next meal came from or where he’d sleep at night. He could always get a regular job.

But he loved to act. Then there was Trevor. His livelihood depended on him.

It was a huge step to ask Juliana to give up everything to be with him. She’d have to walk away from her family for him. He wasn’t worth it. Wanting her right beside him included dragging along the guilt that came from ripping her from the only life she’d known and throwing her in front of the tabloids. For her own good, he needed to go ahead and leave before they got any deeper. He was damn deep already.

His phone chimed with a text.

All clear ifyou want to come now.

He grabbedhis jacket and keys and jogged out the door. He would tell her. Just not tonight.

20

Juliana stared at Grayson’s text he’d sent late last night.

I can’t.Sorry.

Why?It didn’t make any more sense this morning. She leaned her head against the wall, farthest away from the morning sunshine filtering in through the windows. Christmas Eve was the only morning of the year that Ms. Iris opened the diner early and made breakfast.

Juliana hadn’t slept. Couldn’t eat. She wouldn’t regret the time they spent together in his room yesterday, but he’d gone from looking at her like he was in love to canceling their plans and not responding to any other texts. After the third text that she’d sent last night, she’d stopped. It’d become a desperate situation.

The empty spot where Grayson usually parked his motorcycle next to the bed and breakfast confirmed he’d left. She sipped her coffee, the cup still full but now lukewarm. The clock over the counter showed that she’d been there over an hour, waiting to hear the roar of his motorcycle as he came back into town. If he came back.

So far, nothing.

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