The drive to the train station takes longer than I’d hoped on the snow-slick roads. Once we get there, I help Minnie with her luggage. We make our way through the crowded station. It’s charming. Flocked garland and twinkle lights hang from the walls. There is a massive silver Christmas tree, and when we get closer to it on our way to the ticket booth, I see it’s all made of CDs. There must be hundreds of them. They reflect the twinkle lights on the wall in rainbows.
We get the ticket situation all squared away. We’re lucky there is a train leaving in the next thirty minutes to London, and we headtoward our platform, weaving through people. My phone rings in my pocket. I’ll have to remember to turn the sounds off.
A woman stops me for a photograph, even with my hat. I smile, and we pose quickly. I glance around the crowded station and hope it doesn’t turn into a selfie line.
The phone call went to voicemail. We continue on towards our platform. Minnie takes a seat, and I set her bag down next to her. There is a band set up, with a keyboardist, guitar player, and singer near the waiting area playing“Silent Night”.I move away with a finger to one ear, my phone pressed to the other to listen to the voicemail. It’s Jake.
“Miles, everything should be in order. The lawyers were able to handle most of it. Papers are all signed. Check is cashed. You’re crazy, but they’ll meet you this afternoon. I’ll text you the address of the pub where you can pick up the keys. Oh, have you seen the news this morning about Ty? Not too surprising, but yikes. Call me later.”
I take a seat next to Minnie. She has earbuds in and is scrolling again. I check the time. Still twenty minutes until the train. I pull up the internet browser on my phone and google Ty Marshall. The first thing that pops up is an image of him kissing a red-haired woman, taken as a selfie, the loch shimmering behind them. The red-haired woman looks an awful lot like Minnie. My stomach sinks into my shoes. Not this on top of everything else she’s been through.
I click the link, and an article pops up fromYou Heard It First.
Hanky Panky on the Set of the New Ty Marshall Movie
My spine stiffens. It’s really more the new Miles Casey movie or, more accurately, the new Natalie Rodriguez movie. I read on.
An anonymous source sent one of our news affiliates a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes pictures from the new Ty Marshall movie currently filming in Scotland, and over half of them, as you can see, feature Ty macking on a young woman working as a PA on the film. Sources say the two acted very much in love, sneaking off together on day trips, often sleeping in the same room (we doubt any sleeping was done), and making lovey-dovey eyes at each other on set. This would all be well and good if Tyweren’t already engaged to Charlotte Romine, the supermodel trying to turn actress.
At the time of this article, we have reached out to some of the involved parties for comment, but have not heard back. Stay tuned as this drama unfolds. And if their movie is half as steamy as some of their backstage shenanigans, we’ll be first in line for tickets.
Oh shit.I cover my mouth as I read the article again. How will Minnie take this? Not only was she betrayed by Ty, but now their relationship is all over the internet. I show Minnie the screen lit up with a picture of Minnie and Ty cheersing two beers. “Have you seen this? Minnie, they have photos of you and Ty.”
Her face breaks into a wide smile as she takes my phone and scrolls to one of the photos. “I thought this one was a particularly flattering shot of me.”
My eyes go wide. “Minnie!”
She hands me back my phone. “What?”
“You leaked these photos?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Her smile is positively beaming. “Ty can’t just keep chewing people up and spitting them out with no consequences.”
I sit back and chuckle. “Wow. Okay. Note to self, don’t fuck with Minnie Le Blanc.”
“Damn straight.” Minnie turns to me. “Miles, I should’ve listened. I’m sorry I said you were jealous.”
I wave her away. “You don’t need to apologize. I get it. I’ve been in love before.” The wordsright nowblare in my head. “I know what it’s like.”
A few people walk by, staring at Minnie the whole way, and one even takes a photo.
Minnie half laughs. “I didn’t expect to be quite so recognized, though.”
“Weird, huh?” I take my hat off and hand it over. “You can borrow my disguise if you want. Works half the time.” I consider and laugh. “Maybe more like thirty percent.”
Minnie laughs, tucking her hair into the ball cap. “I’ll give it a shot.”She smiles and slips her earbuds back in.
The band has stopped playing, making the voices of the hordes of travelers seem louder. When it starts again, they’re playing “Fairytale of New York” and I wish Skye were here so fiercely, it feels like my heart might crack.
An announcement comes over the loudspeaker for the train to London. As we make our way onto the platform. I check over my email. The signed contracts are sitting right there at the top. A mix of uncertainty and excitement washes over me. I sure hope this plan works.
SKYE
Irun through the station. An announcement comes over the loudspeaker that the train to London is now boarding. Shite. I might be too late. I run faster, wishing I had my bike. I can’t believe Miles actually likes doing this, arms pumping, legs burning. “Fairytale of New York” plays from a band set up in the corner. The platform is crowded. Streams of people bundled up for the weather, presents in tow, board the train. I scan for Miles but can’t find him.
My eyes keep roaming. It’s like trying to find an individual snowflake in a blizzard. But then, through the window, I see it. That ugly purple hat Miles thinks is somehow a disguise. He’s seated near a window, the glass tinted, turned the other way so I can’t see his face, but the window next to him is mercifully open a crack.
“Miles! Miles!”
