Page 108 of Seeking Stars
He had no words. His fight had dried up when she'd asked him to say nothing, to step aside.
"Just a few days, okay?" Ana said, her voice small.
"Okay," he said, defeated. He scoffed. "I sent you my key earlier today. I did not expect this to happen."
"Your key?"
"To my house. I thought it'd be a romantic gesture. A sign of how much I want this."
"Liam, I want it too. I'm going to take the key. I'm not saying I'm not going to use it."
"I still hope you do."
"Me, too."
He believed her and, yet, as he hung up the call, he felt like fog had fallen around him.
Chapter 22 - Take a Chance
Ana cried for a long time after their call. After her tears had dried up, she texted Ely and asked her to come spend time with her after work. In the hours before Ely arrived, Ana searched online for stories of people who had fallen in love with someone famous. Some had worked out, some hadn't. Just like any other relationship. It helped her hold on to hope it could work for Liam and her, if only she learned to handle the attention.
Ely came to Ana's place with aguardiente and their favorite take out. They sat on the floor and used the coffee table for their food and glasses. It felt more intimate that way, as Ana told Ely of her conversation with Liam, her fears, and Diana's email.
"Have you heard from Liam?" Ely asked, a slight arch to her eyebrow.
"No. He's giving me time, like I asked."
"Is it everything you wanted? Is time helpful?"
Ana knew Ely's tone: a challenge to admit she'd been mistaken. That she'd messed up.
"It's only been a few hours. I need more time to settle, don't I?"
Ely shook her head.
"Tell me what you really think," Ana said with sarcasm. Ely's directness was one of Ana's favorite things about her friend, but it didn't make it easier when she had difficult things to say.
"I think time isn't what's going to make a difference. You need to get clear about what you want and how to make it work."
"And I need time to do that."
"Sure, but alone? That's not letting Liam into your thinking. That's not very relationship-y of you. He's also the one with the most experience here about what it's like to deal with B.S. like this all the time. You know, you can let him give you advice."
"He told me to ignore it, but isn't it easy for him to say? He can ignore it and it won't affect his career. Ignoring it could hurt me."
"Ana, you know I love you, so I'll tell you this: letting this get in the way of what you feel for him will also hurt you."
"So I'm doomed. I'll be hurt anyway."
"Yes."
Ana put her box of takeaway on the center table, finding it hard to eat. "Great."
"You know it's true."
"It's true, but shouldn't I do my best to plan how to manage it? Minimize the pain? See if there's a way to avoid it? There must be a way where what people say doesn't matter and my career survives and I keep Liam."
"I'm sure there is, but it's not something you can predict. You can't control the future that way."
