Free Laguna Nights by Kaira Rouda Page B

Josh didn’t know what to expect, a show or a quiet retreat and either reaction could still happen. She wasn’t making eye contact with him, just staring and blinking.
    Josh put his hand on her shoulder, in what he hoped was a calming gesture. “Look, I know you may be in shock over this but you’ll come to see that what we had isn’t enough for you,” he said. She was still blinking. “Sally? Look at me. I’m sorry.”
    Finally, she turned her head, looking into his eyes for the first time since they’d sat down on the couch. “You aren’t going to invite me to stay here with you?” she said.
    “No. I’m not, I’m sorry,” Josh said. “I’ll call your driver for you if you’d like.”
    “Is it her? That blonde you were next to. Is that the reason for this?” she said. Her hands had balled into fists in her lap but otherwise she seemed calm Josh noted, relieved.
    “This isn’t about anyone else. It’s about us,” Josh said, hoping his expression hadn’t changed at the mention of Madison.
    “You’re lying. I saw the way you looked at her. And you’re right, I can do better. My assistant will have everything out of your pathetic house by the time you return to LA,” Sally said, standing up, looking down on him. When Josh began to stand she put her hand out to stop him. “Don’t. Just sit there, looking small. Because that’s what you are. Small. A has been. No wonder your parents don’t talk to you. You’re nothing.” As Sally walked away, Josh knew two things for sure. He’d done the right thing breaking up with her and that she was correct: He was nothing.

 
Sunday

    M adison had jogged to meet Annie in town at their favorite spot, Wahoo Fish Tacos. Her hair was in a ponytail and she had on a bright pink Lulu Lemon top and black shorts. Annie, wearing a bright yellow maternity dress, had her dark hair tucked behind her ears as usual. Hank had urged her to take a few hours off away from the kids, and she was anxious for “girl time”, she told Madison. They’d just finished their tacos, over light conversation mostly surrounding Annie’s two kids and their latest antics. They were now walking down Coast Highway to the Thalia Street beach entrance. It was another perfect day in paradise, aside from the swelling number of tourists that were great for local businesses, but trying for locals.
    “Use a crosswalk,” someone yelled from their car as two people darted from the ocean side of the sidewalk across Coast Highway, a stupid move anywhere along this stretch of road. Pedestrians have been hit even when they were in the crosswalks, lights flashing.
    “Stupid tourists,” Annie said.
    “Can’t live with them, can’t live without them,” Madison said as they walked down Thalia Street past the surf shop. Madison wondered if Dolby was working.
    “Do you want to stop in, see if Dolby’s there?” Annie said, reading her mind.
    “Nah, we’ll talk some other time. This is girl time,” Madison said, averting her eyes. They walked down the stairs to the beach and Madison smiled looking at the line of surfers out in the water, positioning themselves for the next wave. With a swell in from the south, they were having a good day, she knew.
    “Sit here?” Annie asked, pointing to an open spot of sand, and they plopped down. “It’s so weird that Josh’s back in town. I mean, it’s been great not having anybody else from the show back here. They’re all living somewhere else.”
    “Well, he’s only here for the filming. He’ll be back in LA by the end of the week,” Madison said, holding a mound of warm, white sand in her palm and then spreading her fingers to let it fall through the cracks.
    “You’re still in love with him,” Annie said, tracing a circle on the sand. “That’s normal. You guys had something special and then it just blew up, without any closure. Did you talk at all at dinner Friday night, or last night?”
    “You mean before his fiancé came to town?”