Falling Star

by Laura DeLuca

  Lainey snorted. “If you’re talking about the Andy Palmer scandal, then yes I already know. The paparazzi permanently camped outside would’ve been a pretty big clue even if I hadn’t seen the articles yesterday.”

  Elisa shook her head of windblown hair, frustrated. “I’m not talking about the stupid rags. Did you hear about what happened to Drew last night?”

  Lainey’s heart raced with an eerie sense of premonition, almost like déjà vu. For the first time, she noticed how frantic Elisa was behaving, not her normal sarcastic self at all. The Elisa she knew and loved should be compiling a list of derogatory comments about Drew and telling Lainey all the reasons she was better off without a man in her life, making sure to toss in an “I told you so” for good measure. Instead, she seemed to be on the verge of tears which was a rare occurrence in itself.

  “What’s going on, Elisa?” Erin demanded. Apparently Lainey wasn’t the only one getting a strange vibe. “Spit it out.”

  Elisa released a deep breath and laid her helmet on the corner of Lainey’s desk. “Let me see your computer for a second.”

  Trembling, Lainey stood to give her friend access to the keyboard. Erin inched over to Lainey’s side while Elisa typed furiously into the search engine. Lainey strained to make out the words, but even with her glasses on, her vision wasn’t clear enough to see such small print so far away. She waited impatiently until Elisa had the website for a semi-local news station pulled up. They were actually based out of Philadelphia, but it was the only channel that recounted any interesting happenings in Cape May County. A news anchor—a legit reporter, unlike the trash pickers outside, stared back at them, frozen in time until someone decided to press the play button on the video.

  “Now, Lainey, I know this isn’t going to be easy for you, but try to stay calm. Okay?”

  Lainey grunted. Elisa’s cajoling began to grate on her nerves. “Would you show me already? It can’t be any worse than what already happened.”

  Elisa stared at the floor, which told Lainey she might very well be wrong. Clearing her throat one last time, Elisa clicked the play button and stepped to the side so Erin and Lainey could get a closer look at the newscast. The serious, red-haired reporter stared at them through the monitor, never cracking a smile which was probably a good thing since her abundant make-up might have split.

  “In other news, Hollywood actor Andy Palmer was reported to have been in a major car accident at the Jersey shore last night. Wildwood police arrived at the scene shortly after sunset. They were able to get Mr. Palmer out of the vehicle safely using the Jaws of Life, and he was taken to Court House Medical Center where he is currently receiving treatment. There is no word yet on his condition.”

  A picture of Drew’s smiling face flashed across the screen and was quickly replaced with an image of his rented Honda wrapped around a telephone poll. The monotone anchor moved on to the next story without missing a beat, but Lainey didn’t catch anything else. All she heard was the sickening screech of tires, the crunch of metal against metal—both sounds that had haunted her most of her life. In her mind, the image of Drew’s ruined car overlapped with the memory of that last ride with her parents. The scent of the new upholstery mingled with the smell of burning gas. Her father, drenched in his own blood, reaching down to console her, was replaced with Drew’s desperate pleas for her to hear him out, to give him a second chance. She’d pushed away her father the very same way she’d pushed away Drew last night. Now she might lose the man she loved in the same horrible way she’d lost her parents.

  “No!”

  Lainey’s legs buckled under her weight and it took both Erin and Elisa together to keep her from collapsing. They struggled to drag her back to her chair where Lainey sat dazed and overwhelmed, barely able to breathe for what felt like hours. Her friends waited, both knowing full well that Lainey was rehashing her worst nightmare and living through a new one at the exact same time. She’d been hurt when she’d discovered Drew’s betrayal, but it was nothing compared to the raw pain that crippled her now. She couldn’t lose Drew. Not when her last words to him had been in anger.

  “H—he can’t die,’ Lainey finally managed to stutter. “Not like this. Please, not like this.”

  “Listen girl, no one said anything about dying,” Elisa reminded her. “That chick said he was taken to the Court House Medical Center alive.”

  “And remember really serious injuries are flown out by chopper to the big hospital in Philadelphia,” Erin pointed out.

  Unless they’re too far gone to make a difference.

  It was a pessimistic thought, but after what happened to her parents, it was hard not to think the worst when car crashes were involved. Maybe there was no word on his condition because Drew was in a coma and unable to speak. Maybe there’d been a turn for the worse since whenever that news report had gone live. Maybe Lainey was already too late.

  No! Lainey refused to think that way. The fates couldn’t possibly be so cruel as to put her through that sort of torment twice in one lifetime. Again her father’s face flashed across her memory. She’d had a chance to say goodbye to him and she’d squandered it. She didn’t tell him she loved him when she had the chance. It had been over twenty years and that wound still oozed as though it were fresh. But Lainey wasn’t a child anymore, and time was precious. She wasn’t about to make the same mistake with Drew that she’d made with her dad all those years ago.

  “I have to see him.” Lainey decided. “I need to go to him right now.”

  Elisa nodded. “Why do you think I’m here? I wasn’t about to let you go through this alone. You’re obviously in no condition to drive. I planned on giving you a ride on my bike anyway, but first we have to get past the trolls.”

  Lainey shuddered, and then felt sick when she remembered the one lady who’d mentioned something happening to Drew last night. She hadn’t even stopped to consider what that meant, but now it made sense. Once again, she was the last to know what was going on, but this time she had no one to blame but herself. She could even recall hearing sirens in the distance not long after Drew had left. There wasn’t much going on in Wildwood in November, so they must’ve been heading to the accident scene. That meant while Lainey sobbed into her bubble bath about how she’d been wronged, the man she loved was fighting for his life a few blocks away. It was a terrible realization, but she couldn’t let herself fall into self-pity now. They needed a plan and quick. Lainey didn’t want to waste another second, but the journalists presented a problem.

  “The only reason I got past those idiots when I came in is because Erin’s dad scared them off,” Lainey fretted. “I have no idea how we can get out of here now without them swarming us.”

  Elisa’s lips turned in a conspirative smile. “Again, that’s why you have me. Believe it or not, I’m filled with good ideas, especially when it comes to getting out of hairy situations. I have a plan all worked out.”

  Elisa picked up her helmet and offered it to Lainey along with her leather jacket. Lainey stared at the accessories, dumbfounded, until at last Elisa’s plan started to come together. “You want me to wear these so they think I’m you.”

  Elisa nodded when Lainey’s face lit with understanding. “It should buy us at least a few extra minutes. Just make sure you tuck your hair up inside there or they might catch on too soon. I’ll go around the back way and meet you at my bike. I have another helmet waiting there. In the meantime, you can glide right out the front door.”

  Erin grinned with approval. “Ingenious. Remind me to call you if I ever need to bust out of prison.”

  Lainey wasn’t quite as convinced. “But won’t they catch on once they see they’re two of us on the bike?”

  Elisa laughed. “You only have to make it to the motorcycle without getting snagged. Leave the rest to me. Don’t worry, no one’s gonna catch us.”

  With that, Elisa made her exit, actually deciding to crawl out their office window instead of drawing any attention by crossing the whole
building to use the back door. Lainey watched her go with much trepidation. She’d never been on a motorcycle before, and already having issues with high-traffic areas, the prospect of riding one along the parkway petrified her. But the idea of Drew lying alone in a hospital bed trumped even her biggest phobia.

  Lainey lifted the shiny black helmet onto her head, doing her best to tuck her long locks securely under the metal. Erin came over and offered an extra hair tie from the stock in her desk drawer, and even pulled Lainey’s hair up into a ponytail the way she used to when they played tennis together in high school.

  “I wish I could be there with you.” Erin choked back a sob as she patted away the lumps in Lainey’s hair. “You shouldn’t have to do this alone.”

  Lainey squeezed her hand and forced a half-smile. “I won’t be alone. Elisa will be there the whole time, and she’ll kick anyone’s ass if they try to get in our way. Besides, I know you’ll be with me in spirit.”

  “Always.” Erin pulled her close. “And you better call me as soon as you can. I swear if you turn off your phone again I’ll track you down on foot.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Lainey saluted and grabbed her handbag, but Erin stopped her one last time before she could leave. She held Lainey’s fingers so tight it almost hurt. “Listen Lainey, I know what’s going on in your head and I have to say this.” She took a deep breath. “No matter how angry you were at him, Drew knows you love him. And so did your dad. None of this was your fault—not what happened last night and certainly not what happened twenty years ago.”

  Tears fogged the visor of the helmet as Lainey headed out the door. “Thank you for saying that.” Then with the long leather jacket buttoned and her helmet firmly in place, she glided out of their office and right past Stephanie.

  “See you later, Elisa.”

  Surprised even her co-worker hadn’t caught on to the deception Lainey didn’t say a word and continued straight for the motorcycle before she lost her nerve. She strutted right past the paparazzi, flicking them the finger as she embraced her role. But the trolls were smarter than they gave them credit for. As soon as Elisa ran out from behind the bushes, one of them raised the alarm. Disregarding Greg’s warning, they flooded back into the parking lot, blocking the driveway that led out onto the road. Lainey managed to jump behind Elisa and grab hold of her waist while her friend cranked the throttle, but she had no idea how they would escape the parking lot when there was a manmade wall blocking their path.

  “Now what?” Lainey yelled to be heard over the sound of the engine.

  Elisa checked over her shoulder. Even through the visor, Lainey caught the wicked gleam in her friend’s eyes. “Now we show these bastards what real Jersey girls are made of.”

  With a peel of tires, the bike sprang to life. Instead of going in reverse as Lainey had anticipated, Elisa urged the motorcycle forward, plowing right through a plot of late-blooming flowers. Lainey bounced on the back of the bike, the thrum of the engine throbbing between her legs like a living thing. With her heart racing with a combination of excitement and fear, she clung to Elisa’s waist, praying she wouldn’t fall off and wind up in the bed right next to Drew.

  “Hold on tight!” Elisa warned.

  After navigating the gardens, they sped across the pedestrian walkway, almost hitting one of the reporters who attempted to chase them down, before finally crossing over into another parking lot that opened up onto the main road. With their speed quickly accelerating, the paparazzi didn’t even have time to choke on the cloud of dust they left in their wake before the motorcycle carried the girls out of sight and on course with their destination.

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Drew spent hours drifting in and out of awareness. He vaguely recalled the first responders pulling him from the ruined rental car. The ride in the ambulance was more vivid. Every bump in the road sent an unbearable jolt of agony coursing through his body, dragging him back from the fringes of unconsciousness. Once they arrived at the hospital, he was finally given something to ease the torment—a drug that swiftly sent him into a blissful, dreamless void. Unknown hours later, as he struggled to open his eyes, Drew was engulfed in the scent of sickness only slightly masked by disinfectant. Rays of light snuck in through the closed blinds revealing morning had dawned, but even the sun couldn’t bring cheer to the drab interior design consisting of pink leather chairs and beeping machines.

  “You’re awake!”

  A shadowy figure loomed over his bed, still fuzzy as his vision adjusted to the light. At first, with his mind foggy from drugs and sleep, Drew was certain it was Lainey’s voice. Finding her there would be a pleasant surprise. Of course, no matter how angry he’d made her, she was too tenderhearted to turn away from someone in need. Drew was positive it was Lainey’s soft hand gently caressing his cheek, the cool touch soothing the pain that racked his temples. He longed to reach out and grasp her fingers, to tell her again how sorry he was and do whatever it took to make things right. But that wasn’t going to happen. All of Drew’s illusions were dashed when the woman spoke again and he picked up the unmistakable hint of a French Canadian accent.

  “Andy, darling, I am so happy you’re rousing. I was beginning to worry. You’ve been asleep so long.”

  Drew squinted and blinked. He instantly regretted it when the familiar face began to come into focus. Catherine was stunning as always, even dressed casually in a pair of tight-fitting designer jeans and a cashmere sweater that probably cost more than most people’s cars. Her hair was pulled back in a tight French braid, without a single lock out of place. An infinity scarf completed the ensemble. Even her sleek makeup resembled that of a sexy porcelain doll. She could’ve just come off a photo shoot.

  Drew turned away, wishing he could slip back into the fantasy that it was Lainey who stood there smiling down at him. “Cat, w—what—?”

  The words stuck in his throat, his voice unfamiliar to his ears. He sounded gruff and hoarse, like someone with severe laryngitis. He didn’t realize until that moment how dry his mouth was. It felt like he’d swallowed a whole bag of cotton balls. Looking around, he noticed a mustard yellow pitcher sitting on a tray beside the bed and he made an awkward grab for it. Not a good idea.

  “Ugh!”

  Drew groaned and doubled over as a severe pain sliced through his body, cutting his breath short. Instinct caused him to reach for his side, where the worst of the pain stemmed from, but when he tried to move his arm, an agony of equal intensity paralyzed his shoulder. For the first time he noticed his right hand was in a cast, and the left attached to an IV, leaving him little freedom of movement. Catherine rushed to his aid, her lips set in a concerned frown. She wrapped her arms around him and helped ease him back down into the pillows. Drew was too startled and hurting too badly to push her away.

  “Andy, dear, you must not overdo it,” Catherine scolded gently. “Lie back and try to relax. I can get you anything you need. If you want to sit up, all you have to do is ask.”

  There was a remote on the side of the bed that Catherine picked up. She pressed down on a button and the back of the mattress slowly rose to a sitting position. Even that gradual incline was painful, but not nearly as intense as when Drew attempted the maneuver of his own volition. Once they were at eye level, Catherine fluffed up the pillows behind his back. Drew gawked, slightly incredulous by this nurturing side of his co-star, as she proceeded to pour a glass of water from the pitcher and hold a straw to his lips.

  “Thanks, but I think I can handle this part myself.”

  He was too stunned and thirsty to decline the drink, but his pride was injured enough without having her hold the glass. Since he still had one working arm, he grabbed the cup, sucking down the water greedily while he observed Catherine’s sympathetic frown with a wary eye. Once he relieved his parched throat, he felt more coherent. With the cobwebs fading, he couldn’t help but wonder what Catherine’s motives were for making a personal appearance.

  “Ther
e now.” The actress smiled as she retrieved the empty cup and placed it back on the tray. “Isn’t that better? Do you want anything else? Should I see about having some food brought?”

  Drew adjusted in his bed, careful not to jolt his injured side. “Cat.” He coughed, clearing the last of the cotton away. “I don’t mean to sound rude, but ... what the hell are you doing here?”

  “Well, ain’t that a nice how do you do?”

  The snippy reply came right after the loud flush of a toilet. Drew had no idea he and Catherine weren’t alone until Paulie skulked out of the bathroom with his suit jacket slung over his shoulder. That was exactly what he needed. They’d be double-teaming him for sure, and Drew didn’t have the strength to deal with it. The pain meds they’d given him must’ve been wearing off because every muscle in his body ached and his head throbbed ten times worse than his last migraine. All he really wanted was to fall back into oblivion and forget everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours. But with his agent in the room, that was an unrealistic desire.

  “Paulie.” Drew cradled his head in his uninjured hand. “Didn’t I tell you to go home?”

  Paulie frowned. “I normally don’t take orders well, but I was actually on my way to the airport when I got a call from the cops about the wreck. Seems my business card was the only number in your wallet and they thought I might be able to get in touch with your family. I was halfway to Philly and dreamin’ of cheesesteaks, but I turned right back around. It’s a good thing too. I already scared off two jokers trying to get snap shots of you in that bed. That isn’t the type of photo op we need right now. And let me tell you, this hospital is seriously lacking in security. They don’t even have a metal detector for Christ sakes. Forget the cameras, I could walk in here with a gun and no one would be the wiser.”

  Drew sighed. He hated to admit it, but he was grateful Paulie was there to scare off the paparazzi. It was true the small town environment didn’t offer the same protection he would’ve gotten in a Los Angeles hospital. There anyone who walked in the door was practically frisked and patted down. Luckily, despite his small stature, Paulie was an intimidating guy who could pass for an extra in Goodfellows when he was in a bad mood. Intervening with the press wasn’t even part of his job description. He was an agent, not a publicist, but Paulie had been playing dual roles lately—not to mention his current title of babysitter.