Nora shook her head, smiling slightly.
“No, thank god. If they were a few years older it might be another story. They know about you, though. Or they know he’s been seeing someone.”
Grey shifted her weight, trying to figure out what exactly Nora knew, what Ethan had told her. After all, they’d never “officially” broken up.
“I am sorry, though. That they’ll have to…eventually. That’s shitty.”
Nora shrugged. “I’m sure it was worse for you than it’ll be for them. Ethan and I have done our share of sex scenes over the years,together and apart. And he’s certainly been in the news for worse. They’ll have to deal with all that one day, too. Just one more item for the therapist’s couch.”
Grey laughed, relieved.
“Can I get you some coffee or anything? Latte? Or do you have to get going?”
Nora looked like she was about to decline, then thought better of it.
“Sure. A latte would be great.”
Grey turned toward Ethan’s espresso machine, grateful to have something to keep her occupied. Nora perched on one of the island stools.
“So, how have things been? With you two. With everything.”
“Um…things are good. We’ve had our ups and downs,” Grey answered diplomatically, measuring the espresso beans. She turned around to see Nora studying her.
“I know we only just met. I don’t want to pry into your relationship. But he missed his last weekend with the girls—which is why we’re here now—and when I called him…he was a mess.”
Grey felt like the temperature of the room dipped ten degrees. She shivered, but said nothing, pulling a mug out of the cabinet. Nora seemed like she was trying to choose her next words carefully.
“I just…I just want to make sure. That he’s treating you well.”
Grey shrugged. Outside, Ethan and the girls had taken over the pool, laughing and splashing.
“So far, so good,” she said breezily. She met Nora’s eyes, and was startled to see concern creasing her face.
Nora exhaled. “Look. I know what it’s like to be with him. When it’s good, it feels like the whole world revolves around thetwo of you. Like nothing could ever go wrong. But when it’s bad…”
Grey’s stomach clenched. She tilted the shot of espresso into the mug and poured the steamed milk over it. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, I’m not trying to scare you,” Nora said reassuringly. “He never cheated. He never hurt me. Well, I guess that’s not true, he did hurt me. Not physically, I mean. But I hurt him, too. Maybe that all goes without saying. But Ethan…” Her gaze strayed out to the pool. “Ethan is tricky. He’s one of the sweetest people I’ve ever known. The most sensitive. The most loving. But he also carries a lot of pain. A lot of guilt. He’s never quite figured out how to hold it.”
“Yeah. I know,” Grey said softly. Nora looked back at her, accepting the coffee mug gratefully.
“I just hope you don’t think it’s your job to fix him. No matter how much you care about him.” She drank a sip of coffee and shook her head. “I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m telling you all this. You’re obviously a smart young woman, I’m sure you can take care of yourself. I don’t want to assume anything. Please tell me if I’m overstepping.”
Grey sipped her own coffee. “No, no, it’s fine. It’s…it’s helpful, actually. Thank you.”
Nora waved her hand in front of her face, as if she was trying to physically banish the somber mood that had settled over them. “Anyway. Enough about him. What about you? What else are you up to these days? I was a big fan of your show, by the way.”
Grey laughed in surprise. “Really?”
“Oh yeah.”
“Thanks for not being ashamed to admit it, at least. I know I would be.”
Nora laughed. “So do you have anything exciting lined up? I always thought you’d be the one to break out.”
Grey thought about brushing off the question the way she normally did, the loss ofGolden Citystill stinging, but something about Nora’s frankness—not to mention her compliments—had relaxed her.
“Actually…my friend and I—she’s a director—we’ve been trying to get our own movie made. We’ve been working on the script on and off for years. She’s been out of the country for the last few months, but we’re just about ready to start trying to get some meetings going.”
