I chuckle and follow her into the dining room. The evening flows naturally. Audrey’s lasagna is to die for and reminds me of how infrequently I bother to cook anymore.
“Chaser’s band is opening for Shooting Fences at the Coliseum,” Audrey announces. “This weekend, right?”
Chaser nods like it’s no big deal. “Three shows.”
“I heard they sold out fast,” Doug says.
Too humble to brag about the sold-out shows, Chaser shrugs. “I can get you tickets if you want to go.”
Audrey and Doug share such a couple-y look that my heart does a happy tap dance. “That would be wonderful,” Doug says. “If it’s not too much trouble.”
“Saturday?” Chaser grins. “Let us get one show under our belts before you see us.”
“That works.”
“The band’s staying at the Golden Sands, next to the arena for the weekend. Maybe we can meet for lunch and I’ll get you set up with tickets and passes.”
“Sure.”
“This is huge, Chaser.” Audrey tips her wineglass in his direction. “I think the first time I saw Kickstart play was in front of maybe fifteen people.”
He chuckles. “That seems like a lifetime ago.”
The rest of the evening is quiet and pleasant. A far cry from the usual chaos that always seems to invade our lives these days. It makes me long for a fraction of the slice of peace Audrey seems to have carved out for herself.
It’s still early when we leave her house.
“You want to go down to the beach?” Chaser asks.
“That sounds perfect.” Anything to avoid going back to our noisy, smelly apartment for a little longer.
Since there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than the back of Chaser’s bike, the traffic doesn’t bother me as much as it usually would. Eventually, we wind our way down a secluded lane that opens up to a rocky beach.
Chaser stops the bike next to a cluster of trees. The crashing ocean replaces the rumble of the engine. I tilt my head back and inhale the salty night air.
With only the moonlight to guide our way, we traipse through the sand to a cluster of rocks.
“This looks like a good spot.” Chaser slaps his hand against the side of a rock almost as tall as he is.
“For you, maybe. How am I going to climb up there?”
He effortlessly bounds up onto a lower rock and makes his way to the top of the taller one, then extends his hand to me.
The flat top is narrower than it looked from below. “You have to cuddle up close to me,” Chaser says.
He drops down and pulls me into his lap. Resting my head on his chest, I tip my head back so I can see his face.
“Did you have a good time?” I ask. The mood surrounding him seems so sullen.
“It felt like having dinner with…parents or something.” His lips quirk. “Not my parents, obviously.”
“I know what you mean. I’m happy for her. He seems really kind.”
“It’s hard not to like the guy. As long as he treats her well, that’s all that matters.”
I hum a happy noise and press my cheek against his chest. His heart thumps a steady rhythm, mixing with the crashing waves beating against the sand.
“This is nice,” he rumbles. “We need more of this.”
At the longing in his voice, I lift my head. “I was thinking the same thing.”
“I’m sorry things have been so shitty lately.”
I raise my hand, allowing my fingers to skate over his bristly cheek. “I’m with you for the long haul, Chaser. Our road will be bumpy from time-to-time. As long as we have each other, we’ll survive anything.”
He ducks his head, burying his face against my shoulder. “I love you so much,” he murmurs.
I sense there’s more, but he remains quiet after his declaration.
“Is everything okay, Chaser?”
“This collaboration with Andrew’s been more work and less fun than I expected.”
“You’re no stranger to hard work.”
“It’s not that.” He stares out at the sea for a few minutes.
“Have you asked him about Mark Cutter?”
“I mentioned it once.”
“And?”
He tips his head down and raises an eyebrow. “You’ve met Andrew. He can’t focus on anything for more than five seconds.”
“It’s probably all the cocaine.”
Chaser shifts and lowers his gaze.
“Are you sure everything’s all right?” I ask again.
He takes a while to answer. “It will be.”
Chapter Eighteen
Mallory
“Miss Dove, we’re pleased to inform you…”
I stare at the answering machine as I replay the message over and over.
I got the part.
And no one’s here to share the news.
This certainly takes the sting out of losing the lifeguard role on Shallow End to Pamela. Not that I’m salty about the loss. Or jealous that the show got picked up for a whole season.
I hurry over to Marilyn’s to share the news before she leaves for the day.
“I just heard,” she says. “Good girl. I’m proud of you. You’ll nail it.”
At first, I’m not sure what to think when I show up and they explain I’ll be playing a “wholesome mom.” That wasn’t the part I’d read at the audition.
“So,” the director explains her vision. “You’re home with the kids all day. The only time that’s yours is that fifteen-minute window in the morning before everyone gets up and demands your attention to enjoy your cup of coffee. Got it?”
Since I have zero experience with any of that, I feel like a fraud for plastering a big smile on my face. “Got it!”
“Perfect. Take one!”
My mug is actually empty, so the acting challenges begin right away.
“Come on!” The director encourages between takes. “Your husband’s a selfish little boy only aware of his own needs and problems. That coffee is your only joy in life.”
Well, that got depressing fast.
The last take I stare longingly into my coffee the moment my fake children run screaming into the kitchen.
“There!” The director stands and waves her arms in the air. “Cut! That’s the one. Excellent job, honey.”
“Thank you,” I gush, not used to so much feedback about my performances.
Chaser’s waiting for me outside and I race over to him, eager to share my news.
“How’d it go?”
“Incredible.”
He picks me up and swings me around. “That’s my girl.”
“I played a mom who practically orgasms over her morning coffee.”
“I can’t wait to see that.”
Chapter Nineteen
Chaser
All my chill vanishes the second we pull into the arena’s parking lot. Whatever nothing-ruffles-me, rock star persona I’ve managed to develop over the last couple of years dissolves with the fumes pouring out of Alvin’s tailpipe.
Thousands of people fill the arena’s parking lot, waiting to rush past the chain link gates. Mallory clings to my arm, her nervous gaze taking in our surroundings.