He opened his desk drawer and handed me an envelope. "Thanks for coming out."
"Thanks for having us," I said casually. "It was great seeing my sister and Luna enjoy themselves so much."
"I'm so glad to hear that," he said as I backed out of the trailer and changed places with Judd.
The others were waiting just outside, and everyone stared as I came out. I didn't say anything, but I gestured with the envelope in my hand as if our talk had been very official. Meanwhile, I was weak in the knees. I held in a grin at the thought of the way he had tenderly put his mouth on mine only seconds before.
Alex could have any woman he wanted, but it seemed as if he really liked me. He was kind and affectionate with me. I could clearly remember the way he stared at me when he pulled me onto his lap. He had stared at me like there was no one else in the world. My body was still reeling from it. My skin felt empty where he was no longer touching me. My heart still pounded as I made my way over to my sister and Luna.
Chapter 14
"Come on, Josie. We're almost home. Just humor me and open it."
My sister had been curious about that envelope ever since I walked out of Alex's trailer with it. Luna slept as we were driving, and Audrey had mentioned it more than once. I had refused to open it because I had no idea what was inside. I hadn't expected money so soon. I didn't expect money at all. If anything, I felt like I owed him money for the experience.
Memories kept playing in my mind. I thought about the dances and the interaction we had in the trailer. I could clearly remember how he looked at me, how he treated me, how he cared for me. Knowing that and having those memories in my heart made me feel protective of whatever was in that envelope.
"It could be a receipt from being in the show," I said to her, trying to think of the most boring option.
"We already signed that consent form," she said.
"I know, but it might be a receipt or whatever."
"A receipt? Really, Josie?"
"What? It might be."
"It's not a receipt. If anything, it's money. Or even better, a love letter from the director."
I laughed. "I can assure you it's not that," I said with true conviction. This night had already been overwhelming as it was. The notion of there being a love letter in the envelope seemed far-fetched.
"Open it, then," she said. "If you're so convinced it's nothing private, just open it. We're in our neighborhood, Jo. I'm curious about it, and if we wait till we get home, you'll forget about it and never tell me." I didn't say anything for a second or two, and she added, "Please."
I sighed as I turned around in my seat. I had put the envelope in my bag, which I put into the back seat. I didn't want to show it to my sister. Not only did I want to look at it alone for my own sake, but I was thinking about her as well. She was still hurt, and she still mentioned things about hating being alone. I was ecstatic that I had been close to Alex tonight, and I didn't want to share that with her for fear that my happiness would sting.
We were in downtown Missoula, seconds away from her driveway, and she was driving slowly, creeping along to give me time to open it. I aimed the open end of the envelope away from her as I reluctantly opened it. There was a piece of paper folded up.
"It doesn't look like any money," I said, pulling it out a little, and gazing in the end of it.
"What is it?" She reached over to grab it from me, and I snatched it away from her. I had always been the meeker of us two. Normally, I would haveforfeited whatever I was holding and never have made such a bold move.
She glared at me when I pulled it away. She asked me what it was, using a phrase with the F-word interjected, and I glanced back to make sure Luna was still sleeping, which she was.
"I'm sorry, but you're freaking me out," Audrey said. "What's in the envelope? Is there something I need to be concerned about?"
"What? What do you mean?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. You're just freaking me out. You never act like this."
"That's because I'm never in this situation. I've never been in a movie before."
"I don't think that envelope has to do with a movie," she said, smiling and gesturing to it.
"All the more reason for me to…" I trailed off because I didn't know what I was saying.
"Hide it from me?" she said, finishing my sentence.
"No. I'm not hiding it, I'm just looking at it first when I'm by myself, that's all. I don't know what it is. Besides, we're here." I put the envelope into my bag and turned in my seat to wake my niece. I had seen enough to know that there was a handwritten note on that piece of paper, and I was happy I had put an end to her questions, even if she was slightly offended. I had no idea what was in there, and I didn't want to share it.
