“Life doesn’t always go according to plan. In fact, it has a nasty habit of veering off the map. So when my job led me to New York City, something extraordinary happened…her script merged with mine.”
Hadley Theater, New York City, New York - Night
ENTER STAGE LEFT-Rowan Townsend, a twenty-nine year old Broadway starlet, strolls onto the dark, ominous stage. The bright spotlight finds her and she smiles broadly, her body buzzing in anticipation.
Rowan
Serendipity is a funny thing, isn’t it? It jumps out from behind the bushes and offers an unbelievable chance at happiness. It’s hopeful and intriguing, and maybe even a little terrifying.
Serendipity is a funny thing, isn’t it? It jumps out from behind the bushes and offers an unbelievable chance at happiness. It’s hopeful and intriguing, and maybe even a little terrifying.
ENTER STAGE RIGHT-Lark Hawthorne, a striking twenty-nine year old FBI agent and self-proclaimed liar, marches to Rowan and grabs her arm, coaxing her off stage.
Lark
Rowan, what are you doing? We need to leave. It’s not safe here.
Rowan, what are you doing? We need to leave. It’s not safe here.
Rowan and Lark look out into the audience and a menacing shadow in the back of the theater catches their attention. Her eyes expand in panic and he grips her hand tighter, offering reassurance.
Lark
It’s now or never. Are you ready?
It’s now or never. Are you ready?
EXIT STAGE RIGHT. Fade to black.
“I should probably go.” Lark begins to move off the bed, but I grab his hand. He takes a few breaths before turning toward me. And when he does, his eyes plead with mine.
“Lay with me? Just for a little bit.”
His eyes look to the door and he doesn’t answer. I can see warring emotions on his face. He seems to be weighing our odds.
I impatiently wait for his answer, but he doesn’t let go of my hand. He squeezes it, still watching the door.
After agonizingly long seconds, he kisses the top of my hand and walks to the door, closing it with a soft click.
Walking to the bed and pulls back the covers, slides into bed. He lies down next to me, slipping his arm behind my head, pulling me close to his body. I wrap my arm around his torso and entangle my legs with his.
I want to believe this could be easy. I want to pretend it wouldn’t be complicated as hell. So, instead of dwelling on what can’t happen, I lay my head on his chest, breathe in his unique, woodsy scent, that’ll I’ll never be able to forget, and listen to his heartbeat. He kisses the top of my head, his lips lingering for a long moment, and rubs my back in a gentle circular motion.
Before I know it, I’m fast asleep in Lark’s arms.
And when I wake later in the morning, the only sign that he was ever in my bed is the indention his body left in the sheets and his scent on my pillow.
Oh…and my memory.
Cassie Graham is the author of Unable to Resist and Anyone But Him. She also hates talking about herself. It makes her nervous and somewhat sweaty. So, she’s going to make this short.
While writing is her true passion, her family is even more important. Her ultimate happy place is sitting in her house with her husband and daughter while writing stories about lovers who are meant to be together. She’d live in that world forever if she could.
She lives in Arizona with her husband, daughter and two crazy puppies.
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