Page 81 of To the Moon and Back

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Watching Carly walk out of her office had been one of the mostdifficult moments of Lauren’s entire life. Though she knew it was for the best,she wanted nothing more than to accept Carly’s offer and forgive and forget.She longed for Carly, wanted her, and almost abandoned her wits just to haveher back.

“Am I dumb? I could have just gone with her, Trip. Maybe I shouldhave.” She sat on a stool in Trip’s impeccably decorated kitchen. She shouldhave hired him to do her place.

He deposited a freshly assembled cheese board between them. “Ithink you have to trust your instincts more, and they told you it wouldn’t havebeen a good idea. At least not right now.”

“You’re right. Maybe there’s a time for us. But it’s not thisone.” Lauren nodded and took a sip of her second glass of wine. She’d been backin Minneapolis for a week now and had spent each and every evening at Trip’splace, catching up and talking through all she had in her head. “I’m sorry ifI’m talking your ear off—I think I’m just shaken up. I didn’t expect her towalk through the door looking and sounding and smelling so wonderfullylike…her. God.”

Trip slid the bottle closer to Lauren, but she held her hand up todecline. “I’m sorry you were blindsided. Anything good come from theconversation?”

She lifted her shoulders and let them drop. “We agreed to takesome time. I think Carly wasn’t in a place where she could give of herself, andwhile it’s nice that she said all the right things today, I just don’t know.”She shook her head. “Something in me couldn’t seem to tell her what I actuallybelieve.”

Trip came around the island and put his arm around Lauren. “And whatis that?”

“That I’m desperately in love with a woman who I can never trulyhave.”

Chapter Nineteen

The upbeat game show music played, and Carly applauded, all thewhile smiling at herPyramidpartner—Jennifer from Dayton, Ohio, who taught second grade. Jennifer hadalready won the first round with Carly and the second with Aspen Wakefield fromthe TV showThicker ThanWater, who—let’s be honest—was not as quick on the draw. Carly wasnot about to drop Jennifer’s chance to take it all in the Winner’s Circle. Noway. Jennifer from Dayton was going home with all the money if Carly hadanything to say about it.

She cleared her mind of everything as Jennifer with the shiny redhair and jean jacket received their category, We’re Grilled to Have You Here,and prepared to give clues. The clock started.

“Meat.”

“Hamburger,” Carly answered.

Jennifer tried again. “Expensive. Filet. Ribeye.”

“Steak.”

The bell chimed, signaling Carly had been correct. Everythingwithin her celebrated, but she held it together. They moved on to the next fiveclues, all pertaining to a backyard barbecue. She and Jennifer sailed throughthem like pros. Finally, they moved to the last clue with only eight seconds onthe clock.

“To flip something over.”

“Toss.”

“You turn a burger, a flapjack with a…”

“Spatula.”

“Yes!” Jennifer shouted and leapt from her chair, now anotherhundred thousand dollars richer. Carly threw her arms around her victoriouspartner, and they did a little dance that pulled a laugh from the audience andhost.

When the game show wrapped filming, Carly found herself on anadrenaline high. She’d shot two back-to-back episodes that day, and it washonestly the most fun she’d had in a long time. She’d made a point of goinginto the situation with a light heart and a plan to have fun. Both haddefinitely helped her release some of the expectations she had for herself.

“Ms. Daniel?” She turned and smiled at the man in a suit movingtoward her. “You were fantastic today. Any chance you’d be interested in takinga turn as one of our celebrity competitors onToTell the Truth? You have such sparkle that I think you’d bewonderful. More opportunity to show off your personality.”

“I’d love to. Give my agent a call, but I’m in.”

“Will do. Thanks again for appearing.”

“I had the best time.” She didn’t even have to bolster herenthusiasm. It was real. When she gathered her belongings and returned to hercar, she had a message waiting from her Realtor.

“We have a full-ask offer on the house. Call me.” She blinked atthe horizon as fear crept in. Yes, she needed to let go of the home that wasway too big for one person, and also a burden to her bank account. Without thathuge mortgage and upkeep costs looming over her each month, she’d breathe somuch easier, decreasing the pressure on her to make the kind of money she usedto. Still, the unknown was a little scary. She and Fallon had a date to gohouse hunting in a less expensive part of Hollywood. She’d always been a fan ofthe shops and restaurants in Franklin Village and planned to check out whatthey had on the market.

She called her real estate agent and listened to the details ofthe all-cash offer. “They want a fast close. Two weeks. What do you think?”

She closed her eyes, saying good-bye to her infinity pool, knowingthere were many things, and more specifically people, that made her happier.“Take the deal.”

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