Page 109 of Love Deep

Fisher grins at her. “You could have called. I could have given you a city tour.”

I smile. “We’re only in town one more night. We came in yesterday and… I thought you’d be busy.”

He sighs. He looks a little bit like the spark has gone from his eyes.

“Everything okay?” I ask.

He searches my eyes as he pulls in a breath, and it’s like he wants to say something but he can’t. Riley’s dancing around at our feet, and here we are in public, Vivian Cross about to come onstage. It’s not exactly the time to chat.

Except, it feels like he’s telling me he misses me. And I want to tell him that right back. But what’s the point? Maybe we doboth miss each other. Maybe Fisher didn’t come back to New York and forget about me right away, like I’ve assumed he’s done. But where does that leave us? No further forward. His life is here and my life is in Star Falls. It’s an impossible situation.

“Are you coming back to Star Falls soon?” Riley asks.

He pulls his mouth into a smile. “I’m not sure,” he says. “Probably when Vivian records her next album.”

“My mom misses you,” Riley says. “And so do I.”

My stomach lurches, but I don’t correct her. She’s not lying. She’s obviously picked up on my heartache, however much I’ve tried to hide it.

Fisher and I smile sadly at each other. He doesn’t tell us he misses us too. Maybe he does. Maybe he doesn’t. Either way, it doesn’t change anything.

“I spoke to Grace,” I say, in an effort to change the subject.

“You did? While you were in town?”

“Yeah, earlier today. We went to the gallery.”

“I read my book,” Riley says.

There’s an announcement off in the distance, and more people start to fill the seats. People pass by and slap Fisher on the back. He’s dressed in a navy-blue sweater and jeans, but this must be work for him. We’re probably keeping him from it.

“How did it go?” he asks, just as a woman with red hair and glasses approaches us.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but can I grab you for a second, Fisher?” she whispers in his ear, and he nods.

He turns to us. “I’m sorry, I’m going to have to go. There’s something… someone I have to?—”

“It’s fine,” I say. “It was good to see you,” I say.

He looks into my eyes like he wants to say more again,but I look away. We’ve said it all. There’s no need for an epilogue in this story.

“It was really good to see you,” he says. “Maybe we can catch up later. Have you eaten?”

I nod. “We grabbed a slice of pizza on our way over here,” I say. “You go and enjoy your evening.”

The woman with the red hair calls him, and he glances between us. “Pizza. Yeah, good. Well, enjoy.”

“Good to see you, Fisher,” I say, and I manage to get the words out before my voice cracks. He heads over to the seats in front of us to the side. My throat tightens, and it feels like I’m not going to be able to breathe unless I get outside or have a drink or something.

I can’t stay here all evening and focus on anything but Fisher, ten yards away from me. This entire evening is going to be complete torture for me.

“You okay?” Riley asks.

“Sure,” I say on a smile. “I think the show’s going to start any moment now. Let’s get in our seats.” I deliberately don’t look across at Fisher. I can’t. I’m going to do my best to pretend he’s not there. I can still feel his cheek against mine as he kissed me. I can still smell his cologne that smells like expensive, freshly ironed linen.

The lights of the auditorium dim, and I’m hopeful that Fisher will fade into the blackness and I’ll be able to focus on Vivian Cross.

Something tells me there isn’t a show on earth that will be able to pull my attention at the moment.