Part 25 (2/2)
For the first time in over a month, the gym was fairly empty. She knew most of the movie crew was heading home today.
She glanced around furtively and sighed, satisfied Michael wasn't there this morning. She hadn't really expected him to be-he probably had a million things to do with the filming wrapped up-but she'd wanted to be sure. She didn't think she could handle another confrontation with him. She was still chafed from last night.
Olivia headed automatically for the elliptical machines. She climbed onto the track, pushed the b.u.t.tons to the correct settings, and pumped her legs.
Usually doing her cardio was a meditation. This morning, she couldn't get her mind to still enough to get any peace. Scenes from the night before played and replayed, one after another, inside her head.
She closed her eyes. G.o.d, it was a disaster. It wasn't the way she'd envisioned ending things with Michael. This time, they were supposed to make a clean break. Civilly shake hands and wish each other well in their life.
Even in the darkness behind her closed lids, she could still see the stricken expression in his eyes when he heard about their baby.
She waited for the pang that followed any thoughts of the little girl she'd lost. It came, but for the first time ever it wasn't so sharp it pierced straight through.
Olivia opened her eyes.
She would have spared Michael the pain of finding out, especially like that. Even if he deserved it. She remembered the way he'd let Sophie cling to him.
The b.a.s.t.a.r.d.
The hour dragged by. She almost sobbed in relief when the machine beeped that she was done. She'd never felt this tired in her life. Except for maybe eleven years before.
Forty-five minutes later she was dressed, make-upped, and ready to go to the shop. She took special care to look good, which meant she had to use half a tube of cover-up to mask the dark circles under her eyes.
As per her morning ritual, she stopped at Grounds for Thought for a Nutella latte. ”Hey, girlfriend,” she called out to Eve, pasting on a smile so big it hurt.
Eve looked up from what she was doing, a frown marring her smooth forehead. Olivia almost expected her to pull out a magnifying gla.s.s, Eve was studying her so hard.
”How's it going?” To anyone who didn't know Eve, the question would have sounded casual.
Olivia knew better. ”I've been better.”
Eve wordlessly began making Olivia's latte. Once done, she took the mug, nodded to her barista, and came around the other side of the counter. ”Let's sit so you can tell me what happened last night.”
”What didn't happen?” Olivia said as they walked to an empty table in the back. ”I found out my father engineered this whole situation because of some misguided attempt to get back into my good graces. Gran was in on it of course.”
”That's sweet,” Eve said, sitting down across from her. ”Strange, but sweet. My father would never have gone to the trouble.”
Olivia gripped the latte. ”I reserve judgment on the sweet part, but it definitely wasn't the most strange thing. It turns out Parker hired Rick to investigate Lainie. He told Rick Lainie was the cause of valuable information leaking to the press. Rick thought the next info she was going to sell was about my love child with Michael. I believed it for a split second before I dismissed it as bogus. I feel bad that I even believed it for that long.”
”Rick knows about the baby?”
”Everyone knows about the baby now.”
”Are you okay?”
”Yes.” She was surprised that she meant it. ”Yes, I think I am.”
”What did Michael say?”
”The b.a.s.t.a.r.d asked if it was his.”
Eve's mouth dropped incredulously. ”No!”
”He thinks I aborted it. I didn't bother to clarify. It doesn't matter anyway.”
”What do you mean?”
”Eve, Sophie Martineau was draped all over him last night. You saw it. Do you really think I'm interested in sharing? She can have him.”
”Are you sure?”
”d.a.m.n right I'm sure.” She leaned across the table and patted Eve's hand. ”I mean it. If Michael doesn't want me, he doesn't deserve to have me, does he? And if he thinks I could abort my baby, he never knew me at all. I think that hurt the most, because he was my best friend and your best friend is supposed to know you inside and out, right?”
Eve studied her. ”You're taking this very calmly.”
”Actually, I wasn't, but I finally realized that what I wanted didn't exist where I thought it did.” And it didn't mean she didn't really wish it still did. She'd probably miss Michael all her life.
Another person entered the cafe. Both Olivia and Eve looked up.
A grim looking Lainie strode toward them. ”Good morning,” she said, though her tone said that it clearly wasn't.
Olivia patted the seat next to her. ”Sit.”
”I don't have long. My flight leaves in a couple hours, and there's the drive to the airport.” But she sat down nonetheless. ”I just couldn't leave without thanking you both for everything you've done.”
A whirlwind with purple-streaked hair rushed through the cafe and plopped down in the only remaining seat at the table. ”Having a quorum? What did I miss? And how was the party?” asked Gwen brightly.
”You missed the event of the decade,” Olivia deadpanned.
Eve chortled and Lainie just looked grimmer, if that was possible.
Gwen, of course, was oblivious to the subtle sarcasm. ”Tell me.”
”Well, Michael and his leading lady put on quite a show for everyone. Then there was the news that Rick has been investigating Lainie. To be outdone by my father, who's single-handedly orchestrated everything.”
Gwen blinked owlishly. ”Huh?”
”Exactly.”
Lainie cut in at that moment. ”I was just telling Olivia and Eve that I appreciate everything you've all done for me. I'd like to stay friends, if that's possible.” The question included them all but it was Olivia she stared at.
Olivia shook her head. ”You don't need to ask. We expect you to keep in touch.”
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