“Were you happier?” I say. “I mean, before you found me again?”
“Are you crazy?” Jordan asks. He’s not just looking at his script, but glancing back and forth, up and down. Me and the page. “I couldn’t breathe when you were gone. It was like my life stopped for those six weeks. I didn’t even feel like I was alive.”
Rainer shifts in his seat next to Jordan.
“What did Maggie mean, then?” I ask. I play with the edge of my script. I can feel my face is hot.
“We all love you,” Jordan says. “It’s hard to go through losing someone you love. She thought she’d never get you back. You just need to give her time, that’s all. We all just need time.”
We keep reading. We’re almost through when Meredith pokes her head in.
“Sorry to interrupt you guys, but I need Alfonso.”
“All right, we just about made it,” he says.
I feel disoriented, like I’m coming out of a dream. I blink and see Jordan is looking at me.
“Never met a cast with more chemistry,” Alfonso tells us. “The next time I’ll see you all will be in Hawaii.”
“Alfonso is flying out tomorrow,” Meredith says, snatching up her Starbucks cup. “I believe you’re all arriving the week after next?”
“Yeah, except for this one,” Jordan says, gesturing to Alexis.
“I have to stay for the Do Something event I’m chairing,” Alexis says proudly. “You guys are Skyping in, by the way.” She turns to me. “And I’m dropping off a T-shirt later today. I want you to Insta yourself in it.”
“She doesn’t have Instagram,” Rainer says.
“Yes, she does,” Alexis shoots back.
Rainer looks at me. I shrug. “She set it up,” I say. “I don’t really know how it works.”
“Okay,” Alfonso says, clearly having had enough of our social media banter. “I’ll see you all soon. Get ready to work.”
Rainer shakes Alfonso’s hand. “We’re really looking forward to it.”
“Seconded,” Alexis says. She stands as well.
Alfonso follows Meredith toward the door. “We’re sending a car for you guys,” she says. “But feel free to stay or order lunch. Ella can help with whatever.” She gestures outside, to where her assistant is. “We’re excited!”
The door snaps shut behind her, and then silence fills the space.
“I wonder what we could steal here,” Alexis fills in.
Rainer laughs. “No cash. But the good booze is hidden in the next conference room.” He gestures with his thumb.
I think about how many times Rainer has been in these offices. I wonder where his father is, if Rainer has seen him in the last month. There is so much I don’t know about his life anymore.
“I should head back,” Jordan says, standing. “I’ll see you guys on Maui.”
Alexis makes a move for the door. “Can I hitch a ride? Brit dropped me off and took the car.” Alexis glances at me. “Sorry,” she says. “We, we’re just…”
I wave my hand through the air. “I’ll call you later,” I say.
Jordan holds the door open for Alexis, and then they disappear into the hallway, leaving me alone with Rainer.
“Do you want to have lunch?” he asks me.
My stomach is rumbling. I didn’t have breakfast this morning, or dinner last night, which puts my last meal at a piece of leftover cake at my parents’ house. But all of that takes a backseat to the fact that Rainer is asking to spend time with me, something he hasn’t done since before the Movie Awards. “Yeah,” I say. “I’m starving.”
