The Space In Between(63)

“What…” I couldn’t speak. I turned to my brother, looking for more of an explanation.
“He said to tell you that you were never his second choice. Something like you were his only choice. Michelle said he is in the city actually. Meeting with his manager at the Williams Management building.”
The air grew thick. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do with the information presented to me. I looked around the room for someone to tell me what to do. Tell me what to do! I felt faintish. Yup, I was about to pass out, and my legs were almost about to give up on me. That was until I turned to see Daddy’s hand on my shoulder. I felt his love and support running through his fingers.
“Go, Andie.”
I couldn’t. What would I say? What would I do?
“Notting Hill.” I turned to see my best friend smiling towards me. A Ladasha pep talk was definitely needed. She always knew. “You don’t have to prove yourself to him. Do what the girl in Notting Hill did.”
Eric kissed her cheek and wrapped his arms around her waist. “You mean in the movie when she said, ‘I’m just a girl standing in front of a boy, asking him to love me.’” It was Ladasha’s knees that almost gave out now. She’d met the one person who understood her wackiness and saw her and loved her for exactly who she was.
I turned towards my mom, who rolled her eyes. “Oh for Christ’s sake Anders. Go!” She handed me my purse, tossed me a pair of shoes, and pushed me out of the door before slamming it in my face. The door reopened and my mom held out an umbrella and jacket. “Make sure to use these. It’s wet out there and I don’t want you to get a cold. You know me, I worry.” She winked as I leaned in and kissed her cheek.
And I took off running.


Chapter Forty-Two

I SAT IN front of Kyle wondering what he was thinking. I’d just presented him with my idea, and he hadn’t spoken a word.
“Are you sure this is what you want?”
I nodded.
“And you want me to actually call these people? Listen, like I said before—screw them, they don’t deserve to hear your story.”
“Yeah, they do,” I said.
“All right.” He shook his head as he went to his computer and started to type away. “I must say though, I’m surprised. You really pulled your shit together, my friend.”
I watched as the rain danced against the window, and I bit my thumb. I felt a bit drained after spending the past few months with my mom, but she was doing much better and told me to get back to my life. So I did. Back in the public eye. Back to my so-called-life.
I stood up and stretched a bit. “I’m going to go get some air, maybe grab some lunch. You want anything?”
“Nah, I’m good. But Cooper, this stuff right here.” Ky tapped the packets in front of him. “This is good stuff. If there was anything that could paint you in a good light, this would be it, buddy.”
As I stepped outside of the building, I allowed the water to slap against my face. My hands slid into my pockets, and as my foot stepped off the sidewalk, I heard the tires of a taxi come to a screeching stop seconds before it hit me. Annoyed, I slammed the hood of the yellow vehicle and yelled at the stupid-ass driver. “Jesus Christ! Watch where you’re going!!”
The driver rolled down his window and apologized. I didn’t care; I began to continue walking until I heard the driver holler at me. “Coop? Cooper, is that you?”
Turning back to look at him, I couldn’t believe my eyes. “Jesus!”
He laughed and waved me over to the taxi. “Yeah, well, they call me Joe on the streets. Get in.” I sat in the back of the taxi, amazed I had just run into the one man who’d pretty much saved my life in the mental hospital.
“So how you been doin'? I didn't think I would see you again after we left the clinic,” he said. Surprisingly enough, he didn’t seem as shocked to see me.
“I've been all right. What about you? You still saving lives?”
“Nah, they put me on these meds that make me actually think I'm human. The man's always trying to hold us down. Or I should say woman—my wife puts the pills in my oatmeal.”
“Yeah. Well, I'm sure you make a great human.”I smirked.
“Did you ever find that girl?” he asked. He was the one who told me I would meet someone other than Iris, and he was far from wrong.
“I did.”
“Yeah? And how did that work out?”
My head dropped to the ground. He noticed my look through the rearview mirror and changed the subject.
“Where do you need to go?” he asked as he rounded the corner.
I bit my lip. “I don’t know. You got a minute maybe? We could get some lunch.”


Chapter Forty-Three

I RUSHED DOWN the streets of Manhattan, getting splashed by puddles, dodging cars, and trying to deal with an umbrella that didn’t want to cooperate with me. Becoming frustrated, I tossed the umbrella to the side and became drenched in the rain.
The moment I made it to the Williams Management building I paused and took a deep breath. It was now or never, and I was ready.
As I busted into Kyle’s office, my heart dropped.
“How can I help—” Kyle looked up at me with confused eyes.
“Is Cooper Davidson here?”
“He just left…Wait a minute. You’re the girl. Holy shit,” he whispered.
“Language,” I murmured, taking after my mom.
“No! You’re the girl! You’re the one from the magazines! The strip club!” My cheeks flushed as I was reminded of the magazines. It wasn’t the highlight of my life, and I was trying to forget it.