Matilda handed them each a sheet of paper that spelled out the terms of the multimillion-dollar deal that put Gigi’s salary on the same level as Jordan’s for the first time.
Jordan glanced at Gigi, seeming to gauge her reaction.
“You’re the boss,” Gigi said to her friend.
“I just don’t know,” Jordan said, seeming torn. “I love making the show with you both, but my life is here now. I’m not going back to LA. I’ve spoken to a Realtor there about putting my house on the market.”
That news had Gigi struggling to swallow the huge lump that suddenly appeared in her throat. This was really happening. Jordan was staying on Gansett.
Stop being an emotional fool, Gigi told herself. You knew that already. Yeah, but I hadn’t heard her say it out loud.
“I get what you’re saying,” Matilda said, “and I understand your desire to make a life here with Mason, but surely there has to be some sort of happy medium. Gansett’s high season is the summer, so we can film in LA in the winter.”
“Mason is the year-round fire chief on Gansett, Matilda. He can’t come and go as he pleases.”
Matilda sat back in her chair, seeming stunned. “You’ve both worked so hard to get to this point, Jordan. You’re a big star in your own right, completely separate from Zane.”
“Don’t mention his name in our presence,” Gigi said harshly.
“I’m sorry to bring him up, but we both know that’s how this started, through your connection to him. But it’s gone so far beyond that now.”
“We’re going to need some time to talk about this,” Jordan said.
“That’s the thing. We don’t have a lot of time. If the show is over, we have one episode left to shoot to wrap things up. If it’s not over, we need to figure out how we’re going to leave them hungry for more. The plane is coming next Tuesday to pick us up to go home, which means we’ve got this week to shoot our final episode of the season. I’m going to need you two to tell me later today what you decide so we can end the season on the proper note.”
Matilda signed the check the waiter had left on the table, took the receipt for her expense account and stood. “Here’s the script for the first two-thirds of the final episode.” She put two copies of the document on the table. “The last third is contingent on whatever you guys decide to do. I’ll leave you to discuss it, and I hope you make the right decision. Opportunities like what you’re being offered don’t come along every day in this business. You have a real chance to build your show into an even bigger hit than it already is. I’ll be looking forward to hearing from you soon as whatever you decide will need to be written ahead of shooting the last episode.”
After she walked away, neither Gigi nor Jordan said anything for a full five minutes as they pondered what she’d said.
“So,” Gigi finally said, “how’s your day going?”
“It started out great, but now? I don’t know.”
“While Matilda was talking, I had an idea I wanted to run by you. Hear me out before you say no.”
“Okay…”
“What if Mason was able to somehow take a three-month leave of absence in the off-season so we could film the show in LA or some other location, and he could be with you and the baby?”
“I doubt he’d go for that. His career is important to him, too.”
“I know, but he’d tell you himself it’s dead around here in the winter, and it probably wouldn’t be a big deal for him to turn the department over to a deputy during those months.”
“I’d hate to even ask him for that.”
“He’d hate for you to give up a huge opportunity that could set you both up for life without even asking him about the possibility.”
“You want to keep going, then?”
“Only if we can find a way to make it work for both of us. I’m fine with stopping now or keeping it going.”
“I want you to have the financial safety net. I’m sure the crew would be thrilled to have guaranteed employment for a few more years, too.”
“I’m good. I’ve been very frugal with what we’ve already made, and I’ve got my practice and a bunch of endorsement offers—as do you.”
“But this kind of money would make life easier for you forever. I want that for you.”
“Not if it messes up things for you with Mason. That’s got to come first.”
“What about Cooper?”
Gigi nearly recoiled from the question. “What about him?”
“Doesn’t he factor into the decision for you?”
“Of course he doesn’t. I just met him.” Feeling immediately disloyal to him, she said, “I like him. He’s a nice guy, and he’s been very sweet to me. But it’s just a fling.”
“Who are you trying to convince of that? Me or yourself?”
“Could we please get back on track and figure out what the hell we’re going to do about Matilda and the offer?”
“I liked filming on location,” Jordan said.
“You like banging your brains out with the tall-as-fuck fire chief.”
“I like that, too, but I enjoyed doing something other than predictable LA nonsense.”
“I did, too. So if we continue, we pick some other place to explore and get to know for a few months, like Santa Fe or Phoenix or somewhere warm in the winter.”
“I’d be down for that if I could come back here for the summers,” Jordan said. “You think Matilda and the crew would go for shooting on location again?”
“They want three more seasons of job security, and they need us to make that happen, so I suppose they’d go along with whatever we decide. You need to talk to Mason before we do anything else.”
“I guess so,” Jordan said with a sigh. “You’re sure he won’t hate me for asking this of him?”
“I’m sure he loves you more than anything, even his job.”
“He’s so excited about the baby. I’ve never seen him this happy about anything.”
“He’s excited about a life with you. Talk to him. Tell him what Matilda is offering and figure out if you guys can make it work. If you can’t, there’s no point in talking about it anymore, and we’ll end the show with this last episode.”
“And you won’t hate me if that’s what I decide?”
Again, Gigi rolled her eyes. “Mason’s not the only one who’ll love you forever.”
Jordan’s eyes filled with tears as she put her hand on top of Gigi’s. “Same goes. Forever.”
Jordan would never know how much hearing that meant to Gigi. Everything had changed this summer, but some things—the most important things—had stayed the same.
“I’ll talk to him and let you know.”
“Talk fast. She wants an answer later today.”
“I’m on it—and PS, you should talk to Cooper about it, too, because the man is crazy about you and deserves to know about this.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Don’t mess it up with him, Geeg. I have a feeling you’d regret that forever.”