Chapter 14

14

A udrey poured the last of the wine into their glasses, the rich red liquid catching the fading light. This time of year, Audrey felt like she spent more time out on her deck than inside the house.

"Thank you," Lisa said as she brought the glass to her lips. Her phone chimed on the table beside them, and she picked it up, checking her notifications.

Even though both of them were busy with work, they always made time for at least one night out a week or night in, like they were having tonight. Piper had left yesterday, and Audrey knew she needed these few days to herself. She was getting too wrapped up in all things Piper, and Audrey knew it was a bad idea, but it was hard not to keep spending time with her when she lived just a few feet away.

Lisa's voice took her away from her thoughts. "Audrey, I don't know why you insist on keeping your phone free of social media. You're missing out on all the good content."

Audrey smiled, taking a sip of her wine. "There's nothing that important that I need to see."

"Yeah, but you're missing out on all this good content. See?" She showed her a photo of none other than Jake Griffen in a very fitted black dress shirt. He looked like he was on a red carpet. "Don't worry," Lisa said, swiping her finger over the screen. "I have something for you." Lisa turned the phone back towards her, and Audrey was looking at a photo of Evelyn Coleman and Piper posing for the cameras. Evelyn Coleman wore a stunning blue dress, while Piper looked effortlessly chic in a black blazer with a white dress shirt underneath, the top few buttons casually undone. The blazer was tailored perfectly to her body, and her hair fell across her shoulder in loose waves.

"Hm," Audrey murmured, her gaze lingering on Piper.

"There's a gay cinema event in Los Angeles this weekend, but Jake Griffen is there as an ally. He's playing a gay man in his next movie, which I absolutely need to see."

Audrey nodded absently, her mind still on the photo. Evelyn Coleman was someone so famous and so talented. This was Piper's life—red carpets, photo shoots, and high-profile events. Audrey's life was quiet dinners on the deck and long days working in the garden. The thought of trying to bridge that gap felt overwhelming.

Lisa kept talking, her enthusiasm undeterred. "There's always rumors about Evelyn Coleman and Piper Emerson, but last I heard, Evelyn Coleman met an Irish woman, and she moved to Ireland to be with her. I don't know why there's always rumors about co-stars."

Audrey forced a smile, trying to push her doubts aside. "It's just the nature of the industry, I guess. People love a good story."

Hours later, when Lisa had fallen asleep in the guest room, Audrey was still up, unable to resist the urge to turn on the TV and find one of those entertainment news channels. It didn't take long for images from the event to appear, and Audrey found herself glued to the screen, watching Piper navigate the red carpet with ease. The sight of her in that tailored black blazer was even more striking on screen. Audrey couldn't help but feel a sense of pride mixed with apprehension as she watched Piper interact with other celebrities, poised and confident.

As the camera panned out, showing the bustling crowd and flashing lights, Audrey tried to imagine herself in that world. She thought about the peace she found in her garden, the simple joy of a well-brewed cup of coffee in the morning, and the comfort of her routines. How could she ever fit into Piper's world?

The news segment shifted to a live interview with Piper, her bright smile lighting up the screen. The reporter asked about her current projects and her thoughts on the future of LGBTQ+ representation in film. Piper spoke with passion and clarity, her answers thoughtful and measured, and it all felt a little surreal. This was the woman Audrey had spent every night with for the past week. This amazing, talented, gorgeous woman.

When the interview concluded, the camera shifted back to the red carpet, where more celebrities were arriving. Audrey turned off the TV, suddenly feeling exhausted.

Audrey knew she needed to be honest with herself and Piper. This wasn't just about their age difference. It was about their worlds colliding in a way that felt almost insurmountable.