“I wish I’d never left. I wish I’d never left you.”
He takes my face in his hands. “You can’t change the past, Liz. You work in the present to make the future you want.”
“Is that what we’re doing?”
He chuckles. “No. We’re living in the now. Since it’s all we have.”
All we have.
He doesn’t leave me time to think about it. He slides his lips over mine, and desire chases all my thoughts away.
Chapter Thirty Three
Aidan
I’m fooling myself.
Pretending this will be enough.
That the moment she leaves I won’t be a wreck.
But those are the things I never say. We go to rehearsals, then end up at Liz’s or my place. We make love, eat, watch TV, and we don’t talk about what we both know is coming.
Now, I watch as she finishes her makeup. It’s the first night of previews and she had already transformed into a beautiful suburban housewife from the mid-eighties.
Her eyes meet mine in the mirror. “What are you thinking?”
How much I want you to stay with me.
“How beautiful you look.” I give her a smile. “Are you nervous?”
She looks at me like I’m crazy. “Of course I am.”
“You have no reason to be.”
“I wish I had your confidence.” She comes over and plants a kiss on my lips. My hands linger on her back, reluctant to let her go.
There’s a question in her eyes, all the things we’re avoiding.
“You’ll be great,” I tell her, releasing her. “I’ll see you after.”
“I can’t wait.” Her voice is soft, then she laughs. “I keep thinking I’ll need the consolation.”
“You won’t, Liz.” I blow her a kiss. “Break a leg.”
In the auditorium, there are critics, people from the production company, and investors. It’s more packed than most previews, but that has a lot to do with Liz and how hungry her public is to see her.
I know the night will be perfect.
I know Liz’s performance will be extraordinary, even more so than during rehearsals.
I see Landon and Rachel take their places in the audience. They can’t see me. Look inside your heart, Rachel had said.
In my heart, I can see that I don’t want to be without Liz, but what does that change if she’s just going to leave me again?
Reed waves at me from across the stage. I wave back and he gives me two thumbs up.
The orchestra starts to play. Reed calls places as the actors arrived backstage. The curtain opens and I wait for Liz to take over the stage.