“Where are you going?” James’s voice interrupted the madness coursing through him.
Mike just stared at him.
“Are you…crying?” James asked, taken aback. “What happened?” His eyes darted around. He must be checking if someone could see or hear them.
Mike touched his eyes. Shit. He wascrying. “He’s marrying her. I have to…”
“Who…? You know what? Whatever it is, no one can see.” He pulled Mike’s arm, dragging him away to a darker spot.
“I don’t care. Let me go.” Mike cast another look at Maggie. “I have to let her know.” He stared at his manager. “Everyone has to know.”
James glanced through the glass. “No, Mike. You can’t do this. Look at me. Don’t screw this up, for her sake. No one can know. Not like this.”
“I can’t just watch,” Mike hissed, his chest heaving.
“C’mon, man, get a grip. People are starting to notice.”
Fighting for control, Mike hid his eyes with his hand. All his years of experience didn’t know how to stop the tears. All the faces he had learned to wear failed to mask real pain.
“Think, Mike. If you go out there now, it’s going to be a scandal, for her before it’s for you. Look around you. The people from her movie are here. Her first gig. Do you want this for her?”
Mike stepped back, trying to compose himself. A flicker of sanity burned its way into his mind. This, right here, was his worst nightmare. Hurting Maggie. Telling her how he felt now or at any given time meant hurting her. And not just because it was going to be a scandal. “Fuck. I’m just… You’re right. You’re fucking right. I’m gonna ruin everything for her.” He pushed his hair off his face with one hand, the other wiping away the last of his tears. “I can’t… I…I’m gonna go.”
“You can’t go now. What will she think when she knows you came and didn’t even say hi?”
“Tell her anything. I can’t just look her in the eye and say congratulations.” He winced, reaching for the inside pocket of his jacket. “Here.” He placed a jewelry box in James’s hand. “It’s her birthday gift. Give it to her on my behalf.”
The glass door opened and Maggie faltered inside.
“Too late now,” James mumbled. “Get it together, Mickey.”
Mike’s heart, ripped to shreds, skipped a beat. His gaze followed her as people surrounded her. They must have been dying to know if she had said yes. They must have been admiring her ring by now, secretly envying everything about her and her fiancé.Where the fuck is he anyway? Why didn’t he come inside with her?
He peered back through the glass, and he could see Kyle from behind, hunched over the railing.
“She’s coming your way,” James said.
Mike jerked his head toward her. Piece by piece, he traced every detail about her as she approached, the burning in his heart growing by each step she took. Her new hair color gave her a beautiful glow. The dress couldn’t fit anyone else better. Her simple makeup must have been perfect before tears smudged her cheeks—tears of joy, of course.
As she faced him, he froze, unable to bring himself to say anything. Whatever strength he had left was dedicated to prevent his eyes from crying.
“Mike,” she whispered.
He looked down, feeling weaker. “Happy birthday…and congratulations,” he finally said, wondering how convincing he sounded. His gaze wandered over her finger and stilled.
His heart skipped another beat.
No ring.
When he stared up at her, she whispered again, “Get me out of here.”
Scene 32
Maggie
It was Tony’s Christmas party all over again. The same panic. The same guilt. The same guy to run away to. The same reason.
Mike.
