Lost and Found

by David Horne

  I pondered over our two main characters before saying. "Maybe, but Tom throwing it is kind of funny because he is obsessed with elephants."

  Harrison nodded. "You're right!"

  We went on like this for the entire week: editing and re-editing, until the day before New Year's Eve.

  Harrison shut his laptop and said with finality. "I think it's done."

  I looked at our shared document on my screen. Harrison's avatar was no longer active. He was serious. "You think so?"

  Harrison nodded and stood behind me to look over my shoulder as I scrolled up and down on our script. He put his hands on my shoulders. "Send it to Barb. It's good. It's done."

  Skimming through the scenes, I bit my lip. He was right. I formatted the script into a PDF and sent it off to Barb.

  Slowly, Harrison shut my laptop. He smiled. "Our first screenplay together! And many more to come!" He walked away heading into the kitchen. "Time to celebrate!"

  I smiled thinking about Harrison saying there were many more to come. Were there? I hoped so.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Harrison

  The morning of New Year's Eve at Sal's house was bustling with energy. Malia was already over making sure everything would go smoothly. Sal was a semi-wreck worried about what Barb would think of our script. I started his morning with homemade Bloody Mary's to get him in the festive mood. I had no doubt Barb would love what we had written. It was my mission to get Sal to relax and enjoy the holiday. He deserved it.

  He stumbled out of bed surprised to see so many people roaming around his house and arranging furniture. I could see the anxiety slowly rising inside of him. Immediately, I placed a Bloody Mary in his hand to ease him into the intrusion of strangers.

  "Thank you," he muttered, his voice still steeped in sleep.

  I patted him on his shoulder. "Don't worry about a thing today. Malia has everything under control."

  Sal gave me a nervous smile before he drank his morning cocktail. In a tight quiet voice, he admitted, "I've never had so many people in my house."

  "It will be great! Don't worry." Seeing Malia's staff shuffling his belongings about was entirely too anxiety-producing for Sal. I'd anticipated this would happen, so I arranged a special day for him. "Get dressed. I’ve scheduled you for the ultimate detox treatment at Ciel Spa."

  Sal's face lit up in surprise. "What?" He looked around at all the people busy at work. "What about everything here."

  I pushed him upstairs to get ready. "I told you. We have everything under control."

  By the time Sal was back from his detox treatment, the house was resplendent in tasteful gold and black decor to ring in the new year. He looked rested and at ease. Malia's staff thinned out to only the bartenders and the servers. Sal seemed ready for the onslaught of friends, mostly acquaintances, that would soon be taking over his house.

  When he came back downstairs, he looked gorgeous. He had on a black velvet blazer with a dark plaid military shirt, a skinny alloy striped tie, and light gray distressed boot cut jeans. Sal's style was incredible. He looked stylish for the occasion but not in a boring tux like what I was wearing. I had on a black Tom Ford double-breasted tuxedo.

  Guests trickled in at a steady rate. Ryan Evans came fairly early on and looked just as miserable as Sal described him to be.

  "Where's Tabitha?" Sal whispered watching Ryan stand in the corner with a blank look on his face.

  Checking my watch, I noted the time. "Tabitha is always late, but she'll be here." Cocking my head toward Ryan, I grabbed two champagne flutes from a nearby server. "I'll occupy his time before she gets here."

  Sal's eyes were grateful. "Good idea!"

  Ryan stood with his hands in his pockets. Sidling up next to him, I handed him a flute of champagne. I joked, "You look like you need this."

  Ryan looked up from staring into space. He ran his hand through his dirty blond hair shaking his head vigorously. "I'm so out of it." He took the champagne from me. "Thanks." He squinted at me. "You're writing that screenplay with Sal, right?"

  I nodded. "Yup. Just finished it yesterday."

  "Wow! That was fast." With a head nod in the direction of where Sal stood talking to guests, Ryan confided, "I haven't seen him this happy in a long time."

  Before I could say anything more, I heard my name above the din of the crowd. "Harrison!" I swiveled around to see Tabitha dressed in a long glittering gold gown that hugged her beautiful curves. She pranced over to me raising her arms above her head before twirling around in a circle. Tabitha looked stunning.

  She kissed my cheek. "Fabulous party, Harri!"

  I grinned at her. "You look amazing, Tabitha."

  She curtsied with a laugh, putting on a posh English accent. "Thank you, sir."

  Ryan broke in, "You look beautiful."

  Tabitha looked over at Ryan, her cheeks blushing red. She held her hand out, "Tabitha Warren."

  Ryan stepped closer to her taking her hand in his and bringing it to his lips. "Ryan Evans. It’s a pleasure to meet you."

  Tabitha giggled glancing over to me with eyes that said, "OMG!"

  Surely, Ryan and Tabitha knew each other, but it was the first time they had actually met. It was cute to see two wildly famous movie stars have their meet cute.

  Ryan gushed, “I absolutely loved you in Budapest Sunset.”

  Tabitha blushed even more. “Confession: You are my favorite superhero in the Marvelous series.”

  Ryan smiled boyishly. “Really? Magento always plays second fiddle to Captain Force.”

  Tabitha threw her head back. “Captain Force? Never heard of him.”

  The two began to laugh together. I excused myself, but neither one of them noticed.

  I spent most of the night getting caught up with one guest after the other. I invited all staff and crew from Cubicles and The Bored Room. Everyone was excited for the new season to start. After writing Cross Country with Sal, I was looking forward to getting back in the writer's room, so I didn’t mind catching up with everyone, but every time I spotted Sal and tried to scoot over to him, someone else pulled me away.

  At ten minutes to midnight, I was on a hunt to find Sal. He was the only person I wanted to be with at countdown. Climbing the stairs to the patio on the roof, I hoped to find him up there. The rooftop was crowded, but as I squeezed my way between guests, I realized Sal was nowhere to be found up there. It started to worry me that maybe he'd left his own party.

  Maybe I’d made a mistake pushing him into having a party at his place. Sal was an extremely private person. Could all these people have driven him to hide away?

  As I was leaving the rooftop, Barb sashayed in. She stood regally dressed in a tasteful bright red gown smoking a cigarette. When she saw me, she screeched, "Harrison!"

  I put my arms around her frail shoulders for a gentle hug. "Hi, Barb."

  She looked me over running a finger through her silver fringe bangs. "I read the script, you know."

  I nodded, unsure of what to say. I hoped for the best but braced myself for the worst.

  She leaned in and whispered, "It was excellent." She took a drag on her cigarette dramatically.

  I was relieved. "You liked it?"

  Barb blew out a plume of smoke. "I planned on telling Sal how much I loved it, but I can't find him." She placed her cool hand on my cheek. "Thank you."

  "Thank you for what?" I responded, confused.

  Barb smiled. "Thank you for taking care of my boy. Now go find him! It's almost midnight."

  Checking my watch, she was right. I raced down the stairs hoping I'd find Sal soon. Squeezing through the guests, I hurriedly scanned the room. Then I saw him, next to the champagne fountain talking to Tabitha and Ryan. Making a beeline for them, my heart raced with excitement. It was a minute until midnight.

  "Harrison! There you are!" Sal shouted handing me champagne. "I've been looking all over for you!"

  I took the champagne from him happy to see him. "I've been looking for
you!"

  Tabitha had her arm looped around Ryan's. It looked like things were going well between them.

  Our guests began the countdown. "Ten! Nine! Eight!”

  My heart pounded in my chest as I looked at Sal. “I ran into Barb!” I screamed.

  "Seven! Six! Five!" Our guests roared louder.

  Sal nodded with anticipation. I continued, “She loves it! She absolutely loves it!”

  Sal’s face gleamed with relief and happiness. “She did!” He threw an arm around me laughing.

  “Of course she did!” I answered.

  The party roared on, "Four! Three! Two! One! Happy New Year!"

  Noisemakers clamored in the air while confetti and streamers fell down on us. Tabitha and Ryan were locked in a kiss. Sal and I looked into each other's eyes and laughed. Our friends had gotten along faster than we both expected.

  In the cacophony of noise and cheer, it felt like we were in our own little world. I felt Sal's hand reach for mine as I tilted my head to his. It was the perfect moment.

  Just then, a hand reached for Sal’s shoulder, spinning him around and pulling him from me. Our magical spell broke in an instant.

  My heart sank and shattered into pieces. It was Greg. Of all people, Greg Stewart stood in front of us.

  And just like that, Sal dropped my hand.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Sal

  I didn’t know if it was the excitement of the moment, the countdown to the new year, or the champagne buzz, but Harrison never looked more gorgeous to me. The last few New Year’s Eves, I’d been alone bypassing the numerous parties I’d been invited to preferring the sanctuary of my solitude.

  This year? Harrison had planned a beautiful gathering at my home and even shooed me away to relax at Ciel Spa during its preparation. At midnight, seeing Tabitha and Ryan embraced in a kiss made me want that comfort too. Harrison had just told me that Barb loved our buddy romantic comedy. My worries that I’d never recover from the box office bomb, Budapest Sunset, dissipated. Relief and happiness washed over me.

  I’d taken a chance taking on a writing partner and developing a screenplay out of my usual comfort zone. Maybe I could take a chance in my romantic life? Up until that point, I was still unsure about Harrison’s feelings for me. I’d assumed they were strictly platonic, but that night, the way he was looking at me I thought maybe there was a possibility he felt something more.

  I decided to go for it. I took his hand in mine and pulled him closer. As Harrison and I leaned forward into each other, I let all my anxieties and worries about my inability to connect with another person go. Maybe all those guys from my past were wrong about me. Harrison had to be different. We had something special.

  Didn’t we?

  Then, the most unexpected thing happened.

  Greg showed up.

  What was he doing at my New Year’s Eve party?

  Looking around me, Harrison, Ryan and Tabitha stared at me in stark confusion. I was just as befuddled. Greg went in for a hug. Still in my state of shock, I let him. I hadn’t seen him in years since the day he broke up with me. I’d heard his CW show had been canceled. Aside from that, Greg Stewart, my ex-fiancé, hadn’t crossed my mind.

  Like I’d always said, out of sight, out of mind.

  But there he was in my house on New Year’s Eve, looking handsome in a black vest and tie paired with charcoal jeans. He leaned into my ear and whispered, “Can we go somewhere to talk?”

  With an apologetic face, I turned to Harrison. “I’ll be right back.”

  Harrison smiled wanly nodding and looking away. Ryan shot me a concerned look. “I’ll be okay,” I told him as I followed Greg outside.

  My mind flooded with a million thoughts at once. Was something really happening between Harrison and me? What were Harrison’s true feelings for me? Should we even risk our friendship?

  Why was Greg even here?

  Greg led me to the front door. “I thought we’d go for a walk.”

  I looked back wondering where Harrison was at that moment and how he was feeling. “I’m having a party.”

  Greg followed my gaze. “Okay.” He opened the door. “We won’t go for a walk. Can we just talk outside?”

  Reluctantly, I agreed and walked out onto my porch. Greg closed the front door behind us. My mind was still swarming. Harrison and I were getting along so well as friends. Was it a good thing that Greg interrupted us? I looked at Greg standing before me. He was a prime example of a failed relationship.

  Seeing him reminded me of what I was: emotionally inept. I had been a terrible boyfriend. Could I risk losing Harrison as the dear friend he had become? Didn’t Harrison deserve more?

  Greg cleared his throat. “I was surprised when you invited me.”

  Confused, I looked up. “I’m just as surprised.” What was he talking about? I invited him?

  I pulled out my phone checking the evite. Scrolling through the invite list, I saw Greg’s name. On accident, I invited him when I imported my contacts into the list of invites. Rubbing my forehead, I was at a loss of what to say.

  Greg observed, “I thought I’d never see the day you would actually host a party.” He chuckled, “Remember our planning for our wedding? I guess things have changed.”

  I turned to him, noting the bitterness in his voice. “Things have changed.”

  Greg swallowed. “That’s why I had to come. I’ve changed.”

  Rubbing my eyes, I was suddenly very tired. “I’ve changed too, Greg.”

  He waved his arm around gesturing to the decorations and the lights for the party. “I can see that. This shindig is bigger than what our wedding would have been. You wanted a small intimate gathering, remember?”

  It wasn’t my plan to spend New Year’s Eve reminiscing about my failed engagement. What did Greg want? “Why do you want to talk about this? It’s New Year’s Eve. What happened between us was ages ago.”

  He exhaled slowly. “It was, but what haven’t changed are my feelings for you.”

  I said nothing as memories of our past together rushed through me all at once: Greg hurt that I’d cut him from the film, Greg accusing me of not putting in enough effort into our relationship, and finally Greg disappearing from my life for good.

  Quietly, he uttered, “Do you think you could ever give me another chance? I’ve never gotten over you.” He looked down. “I saw QWERTY. It was a good move to cast James Chanco. I shouldn’t have been so hurt. I should have never put you in that position.”

  “Why tell me all this now?” I asked, growing frustrated as my mix of emotions for both Harrison and Greg swirled inside me.

  Greg stepped closer. “I was afraid, but I realize I pushed you in ways you weren’t comfortable with. Getting married so early in our relationship was a mistake.”

  Listening to Greg rehash our past, suddenly, it was clear what I had to do.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Harrison

  After Greg showed up at the New Year’s Eve party, I didn’t see Sal again for the rest of the night. Because of the likely assumption he was off somewhere with Greg rekindling their romance, I went back to my place in Pacific Palisades. The last thing I wanted to do was be there in the morning when the newly reunited lovebirds emerged from their nest.

  I spent New Year’s Day alone. Previously, I’d imagined Sal and me brunching somewhere fun and posh living it up as the hip Los Angelenos we tried to be. I had hoped that we might have had an adventurous night together rolling around in Sal’s bed, but I’d been wrong. How could I have been more of an idiot!

  Why was I so horrible at dating? How could I have been so stupid to think Sal had any feelings for me past friendship? I’d been trying to hold in my hope that there was something special between us, but it was the same thing over and over again with us.

  Every time I got my hopes up that something was happening with Sal, nothing happened. Could I be satisfied just being friends with him? We’d written this amazing script together. Had I
mistaken our writing partnership for something more?

  I wasn’t surprised. I’d tottered along in a nowhere relationship with Arnie for years silently hoping things would get better. Here I was doing it again with Sal.

  The last time I hooked up with Arnie I asked him straight out why things hadn’t worked between us.

  In a reluctant and repentant tone, he said, “I’m not the settling down type of guy. I know you want the whole package: husband and kids. I’m too much of a wandering gypsy. I can never give you what you want, and I’m sorry that I was dishonest about it.”

  After that, Sal had called, and I’d stopped using Arnie as my emotional salve even if it was just in the form of unattached sex. Sal had become my new emotional salve, but it seemed that it was only temporary. Possibly, that stupid self-help book was right? Did I need to be my own balm to soothe my emotional upheavals?

  Weeks past and Sal hadn’t called, but I refused to make the first move and call him. Whatever he was up to with Greg, I didn’t want to know about it. Tabitha had also been unavailable due to her budding romance. She and Ryan had left for Maldives a week after New Year’s Eve. So many nights in my misery of missing Sal, I’d nearly called Arnie, but I’d powered through, took a Benadryl, and waited for sleep.

  A month after Tabitha and Ryan had taken off on their romantic getaway, I get a text from her: I’m baaaack! Dinner tonight?

  I text back: Sure. How was Maldives?

  She wrote back: Amazing! Will tell you all about it tonight! Kismet. 8PM?

  I wrote: Kismet it is.

  I arrived at Kismet, a contemporary Peruvian restaurant, ready to see Tabitha and hear all about Ryan, but when the hostess brought me to their table, I saw Tabitha, Ryan, and Sal sitting there. I’d been mistaken to think that this was going to be dinner with just the two of us.

  Sitting down at the table next to Sal, Tabitha was ecstatic to see me. She jumped up and ran over to me. “I’ve missed you, Harri! Thanks for coming!”

  Thanks for coming? If I would have known Sal was going to be there, I would have ordered from Postmates and called it a night. I feigned a smile, “Of course!”