Page 54 of Gray Hair Don't Care
Lela could hardly believe any of this was happening, that people in high places wanted things like that from her. “Yes. I’d love to do all of that. Thank you.”
“Great. We’ll be in touch.”
Donovan stepped closer. “You were unbelievable.”
“She’s a real star,” Monica said as she walked away.
Lela’s face flushed with heat. She did like the compliments, especially from Donovan. “Thank you. You really think I did okay?”
He took her hand. “You did better than okay. But I’m a little concerned about the way I played into that whole story.”
“You know all of that. I told you the first day I was in your office.”
“It still hurts to hear it.”
Lela wanted privacy if they were going to continue this conversation, plus quiet had been called for on the set. “Come on.” She led Donovan to her dressing room. There was still a puddle of coffee on the floor. Her dress, draped over the arm of the sofa, was likely ruined. “I know it hurts to hear it, but this is just part of life, Donovan. People hurt each other and hopefully we try to do better.”
He pressed his lips together tightly. “I need to do better. By both of us.”
“With work?”
“No, Lela. Us.”
“Donovan, aside from friendship, there is no us. We’ve been through this.”
“But I felt like there was something there between us at the wedding.”
Lela picked up her dress and folded it into a small package. She thought about tossing it into the trash, but hopefully the dry cleaner could work some magic. “There’s always something between us, Donovan. I am always going to be hopelessly attracted to you. It’s just part of our dynamic.”
“Well, good. Then we’re even.”
“How exactly?”
“I’m hopelessly attracted to you, too. All through the wedding, I was struggling with what to do about it. My brother was in the way, and there’s work to think about…”
Lela was ready to express surprise at the first chunk of what he’d said, and agree with him on the second half, but she saw the pained expression on his face and felt like something must be wrong. “Are you okay?”
He squinted slightly and rubbed the center of his chest. “Yeah. I think I ate something that disagreed with me.”
“Did you ever make an appointment to see a doctor?”
“No. We just talked about this a few days ago.”
Lela grumbled under her breath. Why was this so difficult? “Come on, you. We’re taking you to see a doctor.”
“But I’m fine.”
“Let’s let a physician determine that.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“To see a friend. Don’t worry. You already like her.”
They met their driver in the garage and Lela texted Delia from the car on their way there. As luck would have it, Delia had a patient cancel, so she was able to see Donovan right away.
“I can’t believe you took me to the pediatrician.” Donovan sat on the exam table, swinging one leg so his foot clanged the metal base. All around him on the walls were decals of fish and sea creatures, plus a few posters about things like not eating too much junk food and the importance of sneezing into your elbow.
“We’re both busy. This was the quickest solution. Otherwise, it’s the ER and you could be sitting there forever.”
