Falling Star

by Laura DeLuca

  “Thanks,” Drew said flatly. “I appreciate you stepping in.”

  Paulie made a face. “Yeah, the gratitude is actually seeping from your pores.”

  Drew ignored the sarcasm and raised an eyebrow in Catherine’s direction. “What about you? What do you expect to get out of playing nursemaid?”

  Catherine stuck out her painted lips in a pout. “I was worried about you, Andy. Paulie called me when he heard you were hurt and I was on the next flight. I flew all night and came straight here. I haven’t even had time to find suitable accommodations.”

  Drew almost snorted. First, because he doubted the local hotels or even the fancier bed and breakfasts open this time of year would meet with Catherine’s expectations. She was used to a suite at the Ritz with twenty-four hour room service. But mostly he was annoyed by her obvious exaggeration. Her eyes were bright and alert, without any telltale bags that spoke of a sleepless night on a plane. He also questioned the tears that suddenly materialized when he doubted her sincerity. She was a damn good actress, one of the best, and she could turn on the waterworks on demand when it suited her purpose. Catherine had to have an ulterior motive for showing up at the hospital, one that had more to do with her wellbeing than his, but he wasn’t about to waste time worrying about Catherine and her schemes. After their argument the previous night, the only woman on his mind was Lainey.

  “Where’s the phone?” Drew demanded, avoiding Catherine’s tearful gaze. “I need to make a few calls.”

  Paulie shrugged. “Probably still in the rental car. I can find out where they towed it off to, but even if we find it, I wouldn’t count on the phone surviving the crash in one piece. No worries though. I can have another ready for you before you’re released.”

  Drew huffed, frustrated. He would’ve preferred his cell, but when he scanned the room, he noticed a phone hooked to the wall a few inches above the tray. Throwing back the blankets, Drew made a valiant effort to pull himself up from the bed. Again the pain stopped him short. He barely managed to swing one foot over the edge when invisible knives plunged through his chest and lungs, making it hard to breathe, but he didn’t allow it to overwhelm him completely. Struggling past the discomfort, he stood for a whole fraction of a second before the room tilted in circles, spinning almost to the same rhythm as the hammering in his head. Drew probably would’ve collapsed onto the tiled floor if both Paulie and Catherine hadn’t caught him on the way down.

  “I thought this accident might’ve knocked some sense into you,” Paulie complained as he lowered Drew onto the mattress. “But obviously you’re just as dense as before. You do know you’re in that bed for a reason, right? This ain’t no luxury vacation. Now try to stay put before you do any more damage.”

  Catherine bobbed her head in agreement. “Paulie is right, Andy. Of course, it could have been much worse, but you have fractured ribs, a broken wrist, a dislocated shoulder, and a concussion.” She ticked off on her fingers as she listed each injury. “You must lay still and rest, love, or you’ll never recuperate in time for the premiere of Masked Secrets this weekend.”

  There it was. The real reason Catherine was so concerned with his speedy recovery. She wanted a date for the red carpet almost as much as she wanted the film to top the box office. Drew almost laughed, except the situation really wasn’t funny and it probably would’ve wreaked havoc on his ribs. He also didn’t want to piss them off anymore when he needed their help to get in touch with Lainey.

  “Okay, I’m staying put,” Drew promised them. “But can one of you hand me that phone over there. I need to make a call.”

  Paulie crossed his arms. “Listen buddy, there ain’t no one you need to talk to right now. I’ve already handled calling in the claim with the insurance company and notified the rental place. I even got in touch with your parents and let them know you’d be right as rain in a few days before they stranded themselves in this hellhole. Now you need to take it easy so you don’t make a liar out of me.”

  “You should listen to Paulie.” Catherine stomped her high-heeled boots for emphasis. “You’re body needs time to heal, Andy. That’s all that matters now. Everything else can wait until you are well.”

  Drew sneered, sick of her phony empathy. “Listen, Cat, I’m sure you think Candy’s big hospital bed reunion will make great headlines, but I have bigger news for you. The only thing that matters to me right now is Lainey. I couldn’t care less about my broken bones, the god-damned movie, or your Florence Nightingale routine. Just give me the goddamn phone and then get out of here.”

  Catherine’s lips set in a tight frown, causing tiny crow’s feet to crease the skin around her smoky eyes. That wasn’t acting. However, the smile she forced once she got ahold of herself was. “That is hardly fair, Andy. I’ve been nothing but sincere in my desire to help you, as a friend. Besides, Paulie already called your little lover hours ago to let her know what happened, but I’m afraid you may not like what she had to say.”

  “What do you mean?” Drew’s eyes narrowed as he turned to his agent. “You talked to Lainey? Who told you to do that? You had no right to get involved in my personal life.”

  Paulie grumbled under his breath and lowered his bulk into one of the pink chairs. His agent was so wide, the armrests were squished against his waist. “Listen, I was only trying to help. You babbled the chick’s name all night, so I found the number of your vacation girlfriend. Without your phone, I had to try the insurance place first—got the location from my reporter friend ‘cause I know he sent people there to try to catch her off guard. The lady who answered the phone said she went AWOL, which don’t surprise me one bit if the reporters were hounding her. I told you she couldn’t take the heat.”

  Drew took a calming breath but still clutched the sheet covers so tightly his knuckles turned white. “Get to the point, Paulie,” he said through gritted teeth. “Please.”

  “Sorry, sorry.” Paulie’s eyes rolled heavenward. “Anyway, after telling the receptionist at the insurance place who I represented and doing a little classic schmoozing, I was able to weasel a cell number from her. Had to try it a dozen times, but a few hours ago I finally got an answer.”

  “You actually talked to Lainey?” Drew shuddered. That could have all sorts of terrible implications. “What did she say?”

  “Not much, really.” Paulie adjusted his tie. “She pretty much said she didn’t give a crap what happened to you and she had enough of your bullshit.”

  Drew shook his head. “Lainey would never say that.”

  Looking aggravated, Paulie shifted his weight. “I may be paraphrasing. Damned if I remember her exact words, but the gist of the conversation was that you, me, and all of tinsel town could go to hell in a hand basket. And you know what, I can’t say I blame her. You turned that girl’s life upside down. There are reporters camped outside her doorstep, and she doesn’t even get the benefit of an eight figure income to make it worth the hassle. The gentlemanly thing to do at this point is to back off because I’m telling ya, this chick wants to be left alone.”

  Drew pinched the bridge of his nose and caught his breath. The ache in his chest suddenly expanded, but he didn’t think it had anything to do with his fractured ribs. He knew Lainey was angry, but he’d really believed she’d cool off once she had time to think things through. Even if she still wanted to end the relationship, he couldn’t imagine her hating him enough to ignore the fact that he’d been in an accident. Not Lainey—not after what happened to her parents. She got teary-eyed when they drove past strangers in fender benders. How could she ignore what happened to him?

  “I don’t believe it.” Drew pressed his lips together. “If you’re telling the truth, let me call her so I can hear it for myself.”

  Catherine huffed. “Andy, think about this for a moment. If this girl cared for you, don’t you think she’d be here right now? The accident is all over the news. Everyone in this sideshow of a town knows you’ve been hurt. There are herds of reporters and fan girls
parked outside. But do you see this ... this Lainey anywhere?” She turned and skimmed the room, as if Lainey might magically appear. “No, you don’t.”

  Drew leaned back against the pillow and closed his eyes, mostly so Catherine wouldn’t see how much her words struck home. “She’s just angry. Finding out I was an actor the way she did was a big shock to her.”

  Catherine sat down on the edge of his bed. “Being an actor is who you are, Andy.” She tsked. “It’s the world you chose to live in and it is where you belong. Not everyone is cut out for that world, but that doesn’t mean you are alone. I not only accept who you are, I embrace it, revel in it. And I’m a part of it. I care about the man you really are. Not whatever part you played while you were hiding out here. So forget this silly girl, Andy. Forget her and come home to Hollywood with me. You know that’s where we both belong.”

  Drew refused to meet her gaze. Maybe it was the drugs, but what Catherine said made sense. Not only the part about him being a fish out of water, trying to live an average life, but even what she said about Lainey. She must’ve heard about the crash, but she wasn’t there. Apparently, Lainey hadn’t even asked how serious his injuries were. If she didn’t care if he lived or died, was there any chance their love affair would survive? Yet he stubbornly clung to that small shred of hope with everything he had. He wasn’t ready to give up.

  “Please, Cat, I need to hear it from her?” Drew pleaded. “I promise you, if she tells me she doesn’t want to see me again, I’ll be right there with you on the next flight back to Los Angeles.”

  “Not today you won’t!” A cheerful voice chirped from the doorway. A plump nurse wearing purple scrubs with flowered pants pranced into the room, wheeling a contraption that had a computer monitor and a dozen intimidating devices strapped to the side. “I’m afraid you’ll be staying with us a little longer, Mr. Palmer.”

  “When do you think I’ll be released,” Drew asked. “I have a few things that require my urgent attention.”

  The nurse peered at Drew over the edge of her glasses as she stuck a thermometer in his mouth, unmoved by his petition. “Sorry, but you’ll be with us at least another day or two. I suppose after that, the doc might clear you for air travel, but that will be entirely up to his discretion.”

  “A couple days ain’t so bad,” Paulie piped up from his chair. “At least you’ll be back in time for the premiere.”

  That was the least of the problems on Drew’s mind, but with the thermometer in his mouth he couldn’t have explained it even if he wanted to. Once the beeping signaled he was fever free, the nurse withdrew the stick and after studying it a moment, typed something into the computer. Then she grabbed her stethoscope and blood pressure belt. Wanting to be a compliant patient, Drew sat straighter, which made him flinch and grunt. Catherine immediately leapt from the bed, looking alarmed.

  “Nurse, Mr. Palmer has been experiencing a great deal of pain since he awoke.” She gave the woman the most pathetic expression she could muster. “I do hope you have something that will help with that.”

  “Right here, honey.” The nurse lifted a needle from her portable torture chamber before turning to Drew. “The day after is always the worst, but a shot of this will fix you right up. It’ll help you sleep too. Nothing helps you heal quicker than a good sleep.”

  “Wonderful.” Catherine smiled as the nurse injected the tip of the needle into the IV. “We appreciate your help.”

  Drew didn’t argue, glad the needle went into the IV as opposed to his already sore arm. Besides, something to dull the constant blinding pain he experienced every time he moved or even breathed sounded like a good idea to him. Perhaps it would even ease the ache in his heart. But he couldn’t get sidetracked from his original plan. As soon as the attendant left, Drew pointed a shaky finger at the phone jack.

  “Please,” he entreated Catherine. “Get me the phone.”

  Paulie and Catherine exchanged nervous glances, something that solidified Drew’s theory they were somehow in cahoots. Nevertheless, after a moment’s hesitation, his agent shrugged his consent. Before Paulie could struggle out of his seat, Catherine had already glided across the room and lifted the headset. She stretched the cord to its full length so it reached Drew’s bed.

  “T—thank you, Cat.”

  She nodded as Drew accepted the phone. Once he had the receiver in his hand, he stared silently at the buttons. His vision blurred until he saw two of each digit. He blinked a few times to clear his vision and attempted to recall the numbers he needed to dial. Did Lainey’s number begin with a six? Or was it a four? Did he need to dial the area code to reach her from this hospital? He wasn’t quite sure how far he was from Wildwood. He couldn’t even be certain he was still in New Jersey at all.

  The drugs must be working already.

  That had to be the problem. Even the outlines of Paulie and Catherine, who now stood side by side, had begun to mesh together until they resembled a very odd pair of Siamese twins. Drew told himself to ignore their concerned frowns and concentrate on getting in touch with Lainey, but his brain felt like mush in a blender and he couldn’t even remember her number. After all, he’d only dialed it manually a few times since she was on his speed dial. Damn, he really wished he had his cell. Since he didn’t, he peeked up at Paulie through drooping eyes.

  “Y—you said you had her number, right?” Drew wiped a hand along his face. “I—I can’t seem to remember it.”

  Paulie was openly aggravated. “It’s out in my car.”

  “Why not get it for him, Paulie, dear?” Catherine suggested, her tone too placating for Drew’s liking. “And while you’re down there perhaps you can grab me a coffee from the little shop we passed by?”

  Now Paulie was openly affronted at being demoted to Catherine’s lackey, but in spite of his grumbles of protest, he vanished through the door, leaving Drew alone with the actress. He felt strangely vulnerable left in her clutches in his current condition, but his co-star gave him a demure smile as she returned to her spot on the edge of his bed. She brushed away a lose strand of hair before allowing her hand to wander further down, coming to rest on his good arm. Her fingers made gentle circling motions along the bare skin. The sensation was oddly soothing and in his drug-induced daze, his eyes grew even heavier. Drew almost dozed off, but jerked back to awareness at the last second.

  “Relax, Andy,” Catherine purred. “Let yourself rest. Don’t fight the medication.”

  Drew attempted to shake his head, but it weighed more than a wrecking ball. “C—can’t. Have to ... have to talk to Lainey.”

  “Shhh,” Catherine soothed. Again she manned the controls of his bed, setting the mattress back to its original position. “All that can wait.”

  “But ... Lainey...” Drew tried to fight it, to hold on long enough for Paulie to return with the number. But whatever that nurse had stuck into his IV was some hardcore stuff. His whole body felt weighed down by bricks, but at least the pain had begun to fade into the background.

  “Lainey isn’t here, love.” Catherine lifted a perfectly manicured hand to stroke his cheek. “I’m the one who is here now and I’ll be the one who is still here when you wake up. Perhaps that will show how much I truly care for you.”

  Those were the last words Drew heard before darkness claimed him again. Strange, but they sounded almost sincere.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Lainey clung desperately to Elisa, burying her face against her friend’s back as they swerved in and out of lanes of traffic. Her eyes were squeezed so tightly shut, she was surprised she didn’t burst a blood vessel. Every time she dared to sneak a peek at the landscape whizzing by, she had visions of making impact with the concrete. Her breath would get constricted, and it had nothing to do with the wind whipping in her face each time they picked up acceleration. The vehicles around them seemed to be in dangerous proximity and though she was unable to see the speedometer from her vantage point, she was certain Elisa traveled at well over sixty mile
s per hour. Maybe it was simply rehashing old wounds, but the ride was difficult for Lainey. Panic snaked around her heart that she’d thought she’d left behind in her childhood. It wasn’t a pleasant sensation.

  Elisa chuckled at her anxiety as they idled at a red light. “You okay back there? I don’t think I ever had such a tense passenger. You really need to loosen up.”

  “I’m fine, but I’ll be better when I’m off this contraption.”

  Lainey had to shout over the rumble of the engine and the visor that covered most of her face. She hugged her legs tighter against the motorcycle when a car pulled up in the lane next to them. Knowing her grip on the driver was the only thing helping her maintain her precarious balance, she squeezed Elisa harder. The young male driver in the sports car gave them an appraising nod before moving along when his light changed. Lainey and Elisa were still stuck waiting for the left arrow to turn green.

  “Geez,” Elisa complained. “When I said to hold on tight, I didn’t expect you to leave behind claw marks. Must be that karma Sharon is always talking about because I finally know how all the men in my bed must’ve felt after I had my way with them.”

  Lainey shook her head. Only Elisa would make a comparison like that at a time like this. She was relieved the light changed before she had to make a suitable reply. With a flick of her ankles, Elisa kicked off, taking a sharp turn across the busy highway. As soon as they were around the corner, the brick walls of the hospital came into view. Lainey was grateful when they pulled into the parking lot moments later, but finding a spot proved more difficult than they expected. The few spaces available were all the way in the back, close to the parkway. Even in summer, the hospital wasn’t normally so crowded, but Lainey guessed right away what the problem was. The main entrance was overrun with cameramen and reporters. Unlike the twisted romance story in the tabloids, a Hollywood actor getting into a major car accident was big news in a small tourist town. If the vans Elisa squeezed her motorcycle in between were any indication, the incident had drawn anchors from news stations as far as New York and Philadelphia.