Separate Like Stars Read online

  “So that’s Olivia,” Gavin’s voice startles me a few minutes later as I stand in the kitchen trying to puzzle out how I’m going to carry a glass of water for Olivia, a bowl of water for Lexa, and another round of beers for the rest of us.

  “That’s Olivia,” I parrot as I look out the window at her as she animatedly chats with Kira.

  “You okay?” he asks as he makes his way to my side and slips his arm around my shoulders.

  “I am,” I answer as I carefully lean my head against his chest. The top of my head might reach the bottom of his shoulder, resulting in the inadvertent stuffing of my face in his armpit on more than one occasion. Thankfully he has the decency to have stellar hygiene and an excellent nose for scents that work well with his natural odors.

  “It’d be understandable if you weren’t. I know you invited her to stay for Kira’s sake.”

  “I’m fine,” I assure him. “Are you jealous because Olivia stole your attention away?” I tease before poking him in his ticklish side.

  “I come in here to check on you, and this is how you repay me,” he somehow manages as he wriggles around.

  “Oh please, that’s not why you came in here.”

  “Fine. I came inside because I need to break the seal. That doesn’t mean I wasn’t worried about you though.”

  “I know, and I appreciate it,” I assure him as I hop up on my tiptoes and plant a quick peck on his cheek before giving him a hug.

  “Since we’re on the subject of how much you appreciate me,” he begins as he flashes me that charismatic smile that millions of women have fallen for, “what about Kira?”

  “What about her? She’s single and clearly flirting with you.”

  “Yeah, but do you mind?”

  “No. You’re both adults, capable of making your own choices about who you sleep with. If you were a man-whore and she a serial monogamist, then I’d warn her off. But I don’t see there being any issues with hurt feelings or the like. You have my blessing on one condition.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Bring out another round of beers when you’re finished in the bathroom. My hands are full,” I manage without laughing as I turn to walk away.

  *****

  “It was nice catching up with Kira. Thanks for inviting me to stay,” Olivia says as we look up at the stars from my reclining lounge chairs. Gavin and Kira disappeared a while ago, leaving Olivia and me to entertain ourselves.

  “To be accurate, it was Kira who invited you. I merely indicated that I was okay with it. But, if she hadn’t, I would have. Have you kept in touch with her?”

  “No. I’ve often wondered how she was doing, but I knew the two of you were close. I figured she wouldn’t want to hear from me.”

  “I’ve never told anyone not to be your friend. In fact, I never really shared the details of what happened with anyone.”

  “I gathered as much after she asked me if I wanted a beer. I appreciate your discretion.”

  “It’s not my story to tell,” I inform her of my position and leave it at that. We continue on in silence as we both gaze at the sky, Lexa faintly snoring from Olivia’s lap.

  “I can’t believe that we have such a great view of Lyra, Scorpius, and Cygnus tonight,” Olivia breaks the silence as I take another sip of my beer.

  “How many nights did we spend like this? All those nights we spent out here, and I still can’t properly locate the constellations,” I add with a laugh.

  “Many nights, but they were never like this,” she finally responds, a sadness lining her voice.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Just that we never had the fancy chairs. It was just the two of us on a blanket. We were closer. It felt more intimate.” Memories of our time under the stars flood my mind. I remember the night I found out Olivia was a novice astronomer. I remember Olivia trying to make me a s’more that I’d like every time we had a fire. I remember making love to her under this same sky, staring into her eyes as the flames from the fire licked off her blues as she came undone. “Do you think we’ll ever be like you and Gavin?” Her question pulls me from the past, acting like a life raft, saving me from reliving some of our more intimate moments.

  “Sorry?”

  “Do you think we’ll ever be friends again like you and Gavin are? I mean, he cheated on you, yet look at the two of you now. You’re so close.”

  “Gavin never cheated on me, we never dated,” I quickly answer, wondering where she got the idea that we had from.

  “You didn’t?” she asks as she looks over at me. I shake my head in response, still baffled by her line of thinking. “But you were together at his one premiere, and then those photos of him with that model came out a few weeks later.”

  “Tabloid gossip? Really? Gavin is like a brother to me. He starred in Alteration. We met on set and hit it off right away. We never dated. I’ve only been romantically involved with women. As for the premiere…I went as his date that evening, yes. It is was purely platonic.”

  “I would have dated you, but you were never interested,” Gavin interjects as he and Kira make their way back to the fire. At the sound of his voice, Lexa leaps off of Olivia’s lap and bounds over to him.

  “You would have required a few small losses and a couple of gains,” I quickly banter back.

  “I assure you, it wouldn’t have been a small loss, would it?” he says as he looks to Kira for support.

  “No way. You are not pulling me into this middle of this,” Kira protests as she settles into one of the chairs. Olivia and I both laugh at the inadvertent support Kira offered my claim when she refused to back Gavin up. “Crap. This is what happens when I try to remain an innocent bystander.”

  “It’s all right. I’m confident enough in my manhood that I don’t need the affirmation,” he says to Kira with his devil may care grin.

  “You shouldn’t,” Kira quickly answers.

  “Yes,” Gavin triumphantly shouts.

  “Damn it,” Kira huffs out when she realizes what she’s done.

  “Enough about little Gavin,” I interject, trying to put a lid on the next round of flirting between the pair. “Anyone want another drink?” I ask as I get to my feet. Kira and Gavin both agree to another round, but Olivia remains quiet, her eyes glossed over as she contemplates something a million miles away. “Olivia?” I say her name a little more loudly than necessary, pulling her out of whatever deep thought she was lost in. She turns to me with a look of incomprehension, one that she gave me many times in our years together. “I’m going inside for another round. Would you like more water?”

  “Sure, but I’ll give you a hand. Gavin, could you watch Lexa for a minute?”

  “Yeah, take your time,” he dismisses us before turning his attention back to Kira.

  “He seems like a good guy,” Olivia observes as we enter the house, the cats immediately weaving around our legs.

  “He is. He kinda took me under his wing when Alteration was filming, and everything was new to me. He made sure I was safe when we all went out, and he looked out for me so that no one was able to take advantage of me,” I share as I squat down to pet the cats. “He’s a down to earth guy who grew up on a farm in Iowa. He loves getting away from everything and disappearing here.”

  “Listen…about earlier…I’m sorry that I believed the rumors that the two of you were an item,” she says before releasing a nervous chuckle.

  “You know, an apology is more believable if you don’t laugh,” I inform her as I stand up again.

  “I’m laughing because I was thinking of all the unwarranted animosity I used to have for him. I was so jealous when I thought the two of you were together, and then I hated him after they said he cheated on you. God, it sounds so stupid when I say it out loud,” she whispers as her eyes fall shut and she shakes her head.

  “Hey, don’t worry about it,” I murmur as I attempt to ease the discomfort she’s feeling with a hand on her shoulder. “We’ve all felt irrational emotions be
fore. Don’t dwell on it.”

  “Yeah, I suppose.”

  “All right, let’s get those drinks. Maybe we can get a game of cards going,” I suggest as I pull the refrigerator open.

  “Actually, I should probably head home.”

  “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah. My chefs are starting tomorrow. I’m afraid it’s gonna be a long couple of weeks before we open.”

  “You’ll be open in a couple of weeks?”

  “Unless there is a major setback,” she shares with a smile. “Um…we’re having a soft opening about a week before the real thing. You’re invited. Addison is too. Dana and Scott are coming. Eddie, Ryan, Dee and Sally too.”

  “Just let me know when and I’ll see if I’m able to make it.”

  “Yeah,” she utters, but doesn’t manage to hide the flicker that crosses her face.

  “What is it?”

  “Nothing. Just tonight was nice. I forgot for a while how different things are between us now.”

  “I did too,” I admit after reflecting on it for a few moments and realizing that I did forget about the past for most of the night. Maybe it was the alcohol that helped me to forget, but I can’t deny the fact that it was nice to feel like Olivia was a friend again.

  “Shit, I’ve made it weird again, haven’t I?”

  “Nah. I was just lost in thought.” Olivia tilts her head slightly but remains quiet. “Come on. I should get these drinks out there.”

  “Yeah, I need to get to bed,” she answers, upending her glass in the sink before turning for the door.

  Chapter 18

  “You made it,” Uncle Eddie greets me as he pulls me in for a hug.

  “You doubted I would?” I ask as he releases me and I slide a step over to greet Uncle Ryan.

  “I didn’t but your mother on the other hand…” he trails off, averting his eyes to his right where my mom stands, chatting away with Janet and Martha.

  “Was she concerned about it already? I mean, it just got started what, 20 minutes ago, right?”

  “I didn’t tell you this, but she had a bug up her ass five minutes before it started. Said that Olivia is family and we all should have been here before it started to support her. I tried to get her to run on GST, but she wouldn’t hear of it.”

  “GST?” I hear Véronique’s thick French accent question from over my shoulder.

  “Gay standard time,” I inform her as I turn to face her. “It’s a joke between us because my uncles can never arrive anywhere on time.”

  “I see,” she answers, not a hint of humor in her eyes. I have to stifle a giggle when I spy my Uncle Eddie’s face, who moved behind Véronique at some point. “You look good, Jordan,” she informs me as I clamp down on my tongue to suppress the laughter that longs to escape.

  “Thank you. The years have been kind to you too,” I somehow manage, despite Uncle Eddie still making faces behind Véronique. “I just arrived, but it looks like things have come together nicely.”

  “I never doubted Olivia. She has all the skills you can teach someone coupled with the creativity that you cannot. I don’t know—,” she cuts her thought off as a pair of arms slips around my waist from behind. The familiar perfume tickles my nose as a pair of thin lips press a quick kiss to my cheek.

  “Addison? What are you doing here?” I question as I turn around to face her.

  “It sounded like this was important to you. So I had them rework my schedule to give me two in a row off so I could be here,” she answers after we exchange a quick kiss. “Besides,” she adds as she wraps her arms around my neck and situates her lips close to my ear, “now I can finally meet the infamous Olivia.”

  “So that’s why you’re really here,” I irritatedly observe, wondering if she will bother trying to deny it.

  “Addison Foster,” I hear her blow off my observation as she releases me and extends her hand to Véronique. I slip my hand out of Addison’s and make my way over to my uncles who have been joined by Dee and Sally.

  “Well this night just got a lot more interesting,” Uncle Ryan jests once I’m in earshot.

  “What is she doing here?” my mother asks a little more loudly than I’d prefer as she joins us.

  “I know you don’t like her, but I ask you to stop. I didn’t know she was going to be here,” I murmur as we hug hello. I step away from mom and greet Scott, Dee, and Sally as everyone watches Addison work the room. We chat for a few minutes before I excuse myself and head to the bar for a drink.

  “I don’t understand why you’re upset,” Addison whispers as she places her hand on my hip and leans into me.

  “I’m not upset. Look around though. Everyone is now focused on you being here and not the fact that Olivia’s restaurant is finally opening. She’s worked hard for this. You being here is sorta stealing her thunder.”

  “Me? Are you upset with Gavin too?”

  “Gavin isn’t here,” I argue as I turn to look around, spotting Gavin and Kira chatting with mom and Scott. “Is half of Hollywood here tonight?” I ask as I massage the bridge of my nose.

  “Don’t do that,” she reprimands me as she draws my hand away from my face, another reminder that wherever Addison goes, the paparazzi aren’t far behind. “I’m sorry if I’ve overstepped. It’s just you and Olivia have seemingly mended fences, and I thought my being here would be the best free publicity she could hope for. I wouldn’t have come if I knew you wouldn’t have approved.” Her thumb brushes against the back of my hand as I release a sigh of resignation. She’s right. Her presence here is better publicity than any Véronique’s money could buy. Du Pays will be all over social media before we get out of bed in the morning. “Your mom likes Gavin far more than she likes me,” she quietly observes before pressing a kiss to my forehead.

  “That’s because in her mind he’s charming and you’re a habitual cheater,” I inform her as I rest my head against her shoulder.

  “What—.”

  “Jordan! Look who we found,” I hear Kira announce her approach. I lift my head and chuckle when I spot her hauling Gavin and Olivia over to us, dragging each of them by the hand behind her.

  “Hey you,” I greet her, pulling her in for a hug. I don’t mind living alone, but every time I see Kira, I’m reminded of how much I miss living with her. “You’ve been keeping secrets from me,” I quietly tease her as I hear Gavin and Addison greet one another.

  “I’d say you have as well,” she counters, not missing a beat.

  “I didn’t know she’d be here,” I reply as I hear Gavin introducing Olivia and Addison.

  “Olivia said I could invite him. How did Addison end up here?”

  “She had them rearrange the schedule so she could give Olivia some free endorsement,” I share, the information immediately earning a skeptical look from Kira. “As long as she doesn’t start doing interviews, it’s fine. Come on. We should join them,” I direct as I hook my arm around hers and turn to face them. Gavin quickly envelopes me in a bone crushing hug before releasing me to discover Olivia and Addison chatting.

  “You actually came, and you invited Addison. You’re either crazy or brilliant,” Gavin observes.

  “Or I didn’t know Addison would be here. Olivia and I are friends. We aren’t inseparable like we were as kids, but we’re getting along. What about you and Kira? I take it my two best friends have decided to give something other than a weekend a go.”

  “We’ll see. It’s casual for now,” he answers with a shrug. “She invited me to be her date since I’d already met Olivia before. You don’t mind, do you?”

  “Of course not. I wish you both the best,” I manage as Addison slips her arm around my waist.

  “Thanks for coming,” Olivia acknowledges me, her smile and eyes radiating nervousness. “I had the staff arrange a place for you upstairs. I hope that’s all right.” I watch Olivia in her pristine white chef coat, fidgeting before us, trying to maintain eye contact with everyone. I struggle to recall a time where she was ev
er this nervous, but can’t. But her emotions are something I know well, having been nervous to the point of experiencing a panic attack before the premiere of Alteration. Gavin was there for me that night, the memory making me realize that it’s that kind of support Olivia needs now more than ever.

  “It’s perfect, thanks,” I assure her as I step away from Addison and pull Olivia into a hug. It’s the most contact we’ve had in years, and as she relaxes into the embrace, I feel waves of emotion surge through me. Yes, she’s the woman who ripped out my heart, but she was also my best friend. Hugging her almost feels like second nature, like I could become lost in the familiarity of it, yet hints of everything we went through ooze to the surface like murky water slowly seeping through to spoil the perfection. “Take a deep breath and relax,” I instruct, unsure which one of us the words are really intended to sooth. “Everything is going to be perfect,” I assure her as I release her, clasping her shoulders and looking slightly upward into her eyes. “Now go put on some Bowie and show everyone why du Pays is going to be the top dining establishment in the area,” I command as I squeeze her shoulders before dropping my hands.