Page 118 of Last Fall

He closed his eyes and squeezed my hand. “I want youthere.”

“And I want to be there. So I’m going to be there. Except, you know, for that first game in San Francisco.” I would still beinLA.

Erik grimaced. “I still can’t believe they’re who we’replaying.”

I smoothed his hair back. “And you’ll beat them the same way you beatPhoenix.”

“Nope. We’ll beat them fasterthanthat.”

“There’smyman.”

He bounced his eyebrows. “You’re still mine for another twenty-fourhours.”

Then we would both be on planes to different parts of California. “Well then, we better notwastethem.”

* * *

Isankinto my first class seat and sighed. Tampa to Los Angeles with legroom, alcohol, and acushyseat.

Life.Was.Good.

“Can I start you off with a beverage?” The angel in charge of our sectionasked.

“Champagne?”

She nodded. “Of course. Are wecelebrating?”

“We are. We’re celebrating dreamscomingtrue.”

Her grin widened. “Well my name is Mariah. If you need anything today, I’m your girl. I’ll be right back with yourchampagne.”

I flipped open Lindsay’s new paperback and snuggled even deeper into my seat. I hadn’t had a chance to read this one while she was writing because I was right in the middle of all my own writing madness. So I was getting a rare first read in paperback form and I was going to enjoy slipping into her snarky world of mystery andintrigue.

The morning had started off bumpy when Wes called to let us know someone had decided to connect Erik Cassidy’s “girlfriend” to my real name, and then my real name to mypenname.

There were a few headlines on the gossip websites but nothing huge unless you were a gossip junkie, which I was not. I was pretty happy with the decision I’d made to be in the pubic eye with Erik, so it was inevitable this would happen. Maybe sooner was better thanlater.

Besides, who would really care that much about a writer and aballplayer?

I was vaguely aware of the constant string of passengers filing by me with their carry-on luggage. Every so often I noticed the jostle of the seat beside me as someone banged into it. I ignored all of it until my champagneappeared.

“Looks like you might luck out,” Mariah said, nodding at the empty seatbesideme.

“If only I could be solucky.”

“Any hints on what we’recelebrating?”

Since she seemed so nice and genuinely interested I decided to take Erik’s advice and brag about myself for a change. “My book is being made into a movie staring Lily Lawrence and Scott Kaine. I’m on my way to LA to finalize details.” The hair on my arm rippled as I said it and a chill ran down myspine.

That person I just described.Thatwasme!

“Wow. Congratulations!” She shook her head in amazement. “I’ll be sure to keep the champagne flowing and the chocolate cake for dessert becauseyou,Miss...”

“ZoeHyde.”

Her eyes twinkled. “You, Miss Zoe Hyde, are the lady of theflight.”

I held up my glass (because in first class you don’t get plastic.) “Cheers.”