“Fair enough,” he said, stepping off the porch. “But I’m not giving up. When I want something, I go after it.”
Which Harlow Hayes knew all too well. “Have a safe trip home, Xander.”
“I’ll call soon,” he said. “I’ll prove we belong together.”
19
MATT
What happened to Harlow? Why were Simon Caster and his brothers passing out the Starlight flyers?
“Simon, hey, what are you doing?” Matt looked inside the sack looped across his body. “Where’s Harlow? Are those her skates?”
So far the flyers were a huge success, with people taking several, promising to talk to friends, family, coworkers. Several admitted they’d not heard about the Starlight’s demise or the chance to save it. Most of the businesses and shops sided with the Starlight. Salty, one of the assistant managers at Biggs Market, took a handful of flyers. “We’ll stuff them into the grocery sacks.”
As promised, Matt nailed several to the exterior of the theater, then headed to the bank. They rejected him.“We’reon the side of progress.”Figures.
“Harlow handed them to me when I told her some man was looking for her.” Simon waved a flyer at a passing family. “Do you live in Sea Blue Beach? Cool, take a couple of these. Sign thepetition to save the Starlight. Say, do you know this dude? He’s Matt Knight. Yeah, from the movies.”
“Hey, how’re you doing?” Matt nodded at the family.
The woman who took the flyer grabbed her husband’s arm. “Matt Knight. We heard you grew up here but never thought we’d see you. Honey, it’s Matt Knight.”
“I can see that,” he said.
“I loved you inUnder the Lamplight.” Ah, his first rom-com. “Can I have your autograph? We just moved here last year. I’m Jenn. He’s Bob.” She dug out a Biggs receipt. “Bob, do you have a pen?”
“Why would I have a pen when you’re the one with the Mary Poppins bag?” He focused on Matt. “Dug you inArizona, man. Gutsy stuff. Heard you did all your own stunts.”
“Aha. At last.” Jenn speared the air with her ballpoint. Matt scribbled his name while reminding Bob and Jenn to sign the petition. Then it was back to Simon.
“Some man was at her house. Said he was her fiancé.” Simon stopped outside of Suds Up Laundromat. “When I told her, she yanked off the skates and hightailed it, all heels and elbows. Miss Lucy, can we put some flyers in your window?”
Miss Lucy was more than eager. “I voted for that Harry Smith but never again. Move home, Matt. Run for mayor. You’d win in a landslide.”
“Maybe one day.”
“All sorts of celebrities are getting into politics. Our own president used to be an actor. Sonny Bono ran for office.”
Miss Lucy was a hoot. She talked on as Matt taped a few flyers to the front window.
Then he went back to interrogating Simon. “Her fiancé? Xander Cole?”
“That’s the dude.”
Matt looped hisGazettesack over Simon’s head. He had to find Harlow. “Take flyers to the library and the fishing museum.And Alderman’s Pharmacy.” A blue truck eased alongside them. Dale Cranston rolled down the window and raised a fistful of ripped-up flyers.
“Aren’t you supposed to stay away from me? I consider this breaking your protective order. I’ll let this one slide, but don’t let me catch you or any of your posse posting these gall dern flyers on the side of my theater or I’ll have vandalism added to your list of offenses.” Dale snorted and drove off.
More and more, he regretted punching that guy. But he had bigger concerns at the moment. Matt dashed toward Harlow’s in his skates, all the while working up a speech for Xander Cole. But when he saw a dark sedan in front of the house, he stopped in the middle of Sea Blue Way.
What was he going to do, barge in and punchhim? Get arrested again? Did he even have a right to get involved? This was Harlow’s private business.
Still, what was Xander doing here? Did he want the house? Did he decide she needed to pay him for it? If so, Matt would gladly loan her the money. She must be free and clear of that lump of flesh.
He considered sneaking onto the porch and peeking in the windows just as Dad drove by.
“Hey, someone fromThe David Letterman Showleft you a message at the house.” Dad passed him a slip of paper with a New York area code. “The lady said Emilio Estevez canceled.”
