Acting Up (41 page)

“Maybe it's relaxation,” Addison said, trying to laugh off the assessment.

“Somehow I don't think being in charge of twenty teenagers — not to mention the one in your house — can possibly be relaxing,” Sydney said. “No, there's a different aura about you.”

Unable to look into her friend's eyes, Addison stared into her teacup. “I'm guessing you have a theory.”

“The simple answer is you're happy.”

Addison let out a huff of laughter. “Well, of course I'm happy.”

“There's no of course about it,” Sydney said. “When was the last time you remember being happy? I don't mean content or fine, but truly happy.”

A shrug was all Addison could come up with, mostly because she didn't know, which caused her panic to rise even more. Addison always imagined she had been happy. She'd led a perfect life, with everything the world said one needed to be fulfilled. Now, she had to wonder if her so-called happiness had been as much of an illusion as Corrine Barrett.

“Would you like to hear my second theory?” Sydney asked.

“What?”

She opened her mouth but then hesitated. “No, theory number two would only freak you out at this point. You're going to have to figure that part out on your own, grasshopper.”

“You think you're so cute,” Addison said, pointing an accusing finger at her.

Sydney grinned. “I don't think. I
know
.”

A blue ruffled pillow flew through the air, but Sydney ducked just in time.

“I know you're thinking about Ethan, and it's not true,” Addison said. “It can't be true.”

“Why not?”

“Because that would ruin everything.”

“Why?”

“Stop it,” Addison said with a ferocious glare.

“I'll stop when you can answer the question, Addison,” she said, leaning forward as if to make her point more clear. “Why would it ruin everything to let a wonderful man into your heart?”

“You know why.”

“Can't say I do. And don't say your career or distance. If you care enough, you can make things work. If you can let go of fear.”

“It's not so easy,” Addison whispered.

“No, especially after everything you've been through,” Sydney said, taking Addison's hand. “But here's the thing. Men like Ethan are rare. Chances like this are even more so, and I only hope you can figure out what you want before it's too late.”

“There are three hundred calories and fifteen grams of fat in this one scoop of rocky road ice cream,” Addison said, staring into the cup as if it were a sworn enemy.

Why couldn't women simply enjoy dessert without worrying about their weight, Ethan wondered. Didn't seem to matter whether she was famous or not, a woman always processed everything through a food calculator. Jenny had been no different.

“Do you want me to throw yours out?” Ethan asked, reaching across the table.

Addison whipped the little cup out of his reach. “Try it and you
will
die.”

“What's a calorie?” Jason asked.

“Something girls avoid like last season's jeans,” Aaron said.

Addison tossed a napkin, and it bounced off the teenager's cheek. “Calories make people gain weight,” she told Jason. “I have to make sure I don't.”

“But you're so pretty,” Carson said.

Jason spooned up a mouthful of cherry vanilla. “I'd rather eat ice cream than worry about dumb calories.”

Out of the mouths of babes. Addison glanced at Ethan, obviously seeking backup. Oh no, there was no way he was getting pulled into an argument over a woman's size. Any man who ventured into
that
minefield came back missing a few limbs.

Ethan chose the only route guaranteed to get him to safety. “I agree.”

“With what?”

“I think you're pretty,” he said, leaning closer and sliding a dollop of ice cream in her mouth.

Addison's eyes went round, and color climbed up her cheeks. It was all Ethan could do not to vault over the table and haul her out of the ice cream shop caveman-style.

“Hey, kids present,” Aaron said. “If I'd known you two were gonna make out, I'd have stayed home and spared my eyes.”

A second napkin caught him in the ear.

“Keep them shut then,” Addison said, without looking away from Ethan.

Pretty? She might be the most insanely beautiful woman on the planet. Even more than the first day he'd seen her. Then she'd been polished and perfect. Now there was a softness in her that made him hungry, like a bear waking up from hibernation.

He needed to cool off before he humiliated himself in front of the entire ice cream parlor. So he nabbed a spoonful of Addison's ice cream and leaned back in his chair.

Her outraged gasp was cut off when he shoved a
Covington Falls Gazette
under her nose.

The headline read
From High Drama to High School Musical
.

Addison snatched the paper up. “
Addison Covington proved the show must always go on, stepping in to direct a high school musical in tiny Covington Falls. This ultimate act of charity resulted in the uncovering of a hidden jewel of talent by the name of Michelle Cerillo
.” A smile lit up her face.

“Michelle got a mention. Can you believe it? This is great.”

“There's a bit about you, too,” Ethan said.

“I know,” she said, scanning the rest of the article. “Did you see what they said about her? A hidden jewel of talent.”

In an instant, Ethan knew he was a goner. “Aaron, look the other way,” he said.

“Why?”

“Because I'm going to kiss your stepmother.”

And then I'm going to beg her to stay.

Addison's head swiveled around, her mouth forming an
oh
of surprise. “That was incredibly hot.”

“So is listening to you get excited over Michelle's good press,” Ethan said.

“Of course I'm happy for her. She deserves great reviews.”

“So do you.”

A strangled laugh bubbled up, and she crooked a finger at him. “Come here, Sir Galahad.”

Ethan didn't feel like a heroic knight. No, desperation left him feeling more like one of those villains from classic melodramas. If he could, Ethan would hold Addison captive until she agreed to stay in Covington Falls.

He'd been fighting the urge ever since the first night of the musical. Watching
her
watch the students pull off a great show had been amazing. She'd been so happy and relaxed. In her element. So different from the defeated woman who'd first come to town.

A woman he could love for the rest of his life.

Then Addison's friend from L.A. had shown up, reminding Ethan he was on borrowed time.

The play was over, and Ruth Carlson seemed to be on the mend. Soon, Addison would have no reason to remain in Covington Falls… Unless he could give her one.

Rocky road, rambunctious twins, and a moody teenager might not sound romantic, but showing Addison what being part of a real family could be like had become Ethan's secret weapon.

Addison's cell rang, and she pulled away. A frown creased her brow when she glanced at the screen.

“Something wrong?” Ethan asked.

“It's my agent. I should take this,” she said, springing from the table and heading for the door.

As she left, the merry peal of the bell might as well have been a gong signaling a death.

The picture window afforded Ethan a clear view of Addison as she paced outside on the sidewalk. A hand flew to her mouth, and a radiant smile touched her lips. Then she turned her back, and Ethan couldn't see her face anymore. Not that he needed to.

The call ended, and she lifted her head, looking right in at him.

Ethan knew he'd lost. Lost before he could even start to fight.

Shirley's call changed everything in an instant. At long last, Addison had a job offer. A role she would've been crazy to pass up, with one of the hottest young television producers in Hollywood.

Addison had her career back. Except the opportunity of a lifetime meant leaving behind the new life she'd made in Covington Falls.

Telling everyone the news turned into a special kind of torture. Aaron seemed to shrink inside himself when he heard. The teenager tried to act happy, but Addison knew he was thinking about his own future. With her gone, there would be no reason for him to stay, either. No doubt, Aaron was already picturing himself in some blue-blood boarding school. He'd have to be separated from Lori, too.

Her biggest worry was Ethan's sons, but as it turned out, they handled the news with surprising calm.

“Daddy said you could only be our friend for a little while,” Carson explained in a solemn tone.

Men. Sometimes they were complete idiots.

She sent him a death-ray glare.

Ethan held up his hand in a one-hand-on-the-Bible swear. “I didn't say that.”

The boys were huddled on the bottom bunk in their bedroom. Glancing over at the framed photograph of their mother, Addison couldn't help but feel Jenny Thomas was disappointed, too.

“Guys, your daddy is mixed up,” Addison said, trying to find the words to explain. “I will
always
be your friend. No matter where I live. I'll call you all the time and I can visit on hiatus.”

Carson's nose wrinkled. “What's that?”

“When the show stops filming. I'll have a couple months off then. Or maybe you can come out to L.A. in the summer and see where I live? We could go to Disneyland.”

They brightened. At least Jason did.

“You won't forget us?” Carson asked, still frowning.

“Never,” she said.

“Promise?” Jason asked.

“Of course I do.”

At least the sound of the doorbell saved her the embarrassment of bursting into tears.

Ethan stood up. “That'll be Lori. I asked her to come over and stay with you guys while I take Addison out to dinner.”

“But, Dad, we wanna hang out with her,” Carson complained.

“Tonight, I get to hang out with Addison.”

Within minutes, Addison and Ethan were walking out to his car. He opened her door and then walked around to the driver's side.

The car purred to life, and she leaned back against the headrest. “Well, that was awful.”

“You knew it would be rough, no matter what you said.”

“Thanks for making the task easier.”

His hands tightened on the steering wheel. “I never said you wouldn't be their friend anymore. I was trying to prepare them for when you left.”

“I know. Maybe you were right. I shouldn't have encouraged them to get attached. I'm a horrible, selfish person.”

“No, you're following a dream. Right?”

“Yes. My dream.”

Except why did following her dream have to be so hard? This should be something to celebrate. She'd gotten everything she wanted. Silly tears stung Addison's eyes, and she stared out the window to hide them.

“The twins will be all right.”

Yes, but would she?

They drove in silence the rest of the way. When Ethan turned into the parking lot of
Bon Appetite
, Covington Falls' fanciest restaurant, Addison couldn't help but smile.

The engine cut off, but neither of them moved.

A hand settled on Addison's shoulder. “Is this okay?” Ethan asked.

“It's fine.”

He was calm, too. How could he be so nonchalant? For some reason his steadiness was getting on her nerves.

“Are
you
going to be all right?” Addison asked, shifting in the seat so she could look him directly in the eyes. “Do you even care that I'm going?”

“Of course I do.”

“Oh? Because I can hardly tell.”

His eyes widened. “You're angry.”

“No. Yes. Maybe I am.”

“Which is it?”

Addison's hands fisted until her fingernails cut into her palms. “I don't know. Some emotion would be nice. I'd almost think you didn't mind that I'm leaving in two days.”

“Do you want to spend our last few hours together fighting?” he asked, leaning closer, his eyes narrowed and flinty. “Or maybe I could yell and beg you to stay? Make you feel even worse about going.”

A choked sob wrenched from her throat. “No.”

“You sure? We don't have to stay here.”

“This is fine. Great. Let's go in and get this over with.”

Addison reached for the door handle.

“Don't,” Ethan said in a sharp command.

“What?”

“I'll come around and open your door.”

“I can get my own—” Any protest died as she took in his dark expression.

“At least let me make this feel like a real date.” The words came out in a quick staccato. “Open doors. Push in your chair. And I'm paying.”

“You don't have to—”

“Yes, I do. I asked you out. I chose the restaurant. I'm paying.”