Chapter 19

“Your phone has been ringing since the letter was posted on your social media accounts,” Lindsey informed her sister. “Screenshots of the letter are currently going viral. The comments of your fans are overwhelmingly supportive.”

Mel turned on her phone, noticing the insane amount of missed calls, text messages, and e-mails. A big part of the messages was from the press wanting further comment about her open letter, some were from her ex-agent, her ex-manager, and her ex-publicist. She blocked their numbers and let her lawyer deal with them.

“I’ll go to get some coffee,” Lindsey said to her sister.

“You know how I like it!” Mel yelled to her sister before she could leave her room.

Lindsey just waved to her sister. She didn’t mind going out for a while. She was badly in need of some me-time.

As she stepped out of the elevator and into the lobby, she was shocked by Spencer’s familiar blue eyes looking back at her from the concierge desk. He was speaking to him softly, but she couldn’t make out the words.

Lindsey stopped in her tracks and pinched herself to make sure she was awake.

Spencer saw Lindsey and waved at her. She would have never imagined that Lindsey could look so beautiful, but she did.

He moved to close the space between them. It felt like watching a romantic movie where the beautiful couple is running in slow motion toward each other through a golden, sunlit field.

Spencer was here! My God, what does that mean?

“Spencer, what are you doing here?”

He saw the huge smile on Lindsey’s face, and couldn’t help but smile back.

“You left Middletown in such a rush, that I didn’t have a chance to say goodbye. So, I thought I could take a week off from work and visit you, this is okay, right?” Spencer asked.

Lindsey smiled at him. “Yes, of course it’s okay! I’m glad you came,” she added quickly. “I was going to get some coffee, would you like to join me?”

“Sure. I’d love to.”

“Are you really here?” she asked through her shock.

“Yes, I am,” Spencer couldn’t stop smiling.

“How did you find us?”

“I just followed the paparazzi,” he said half-jokingly. “It’s crazy out there. I was almost blinded by the flashes. How do you deal with paparazzi attention and the media circus?”

“In the beginning, it was a bit of a shock, mind-boggling. I don’t like when they get in your face. It’s scary and frightening especially if you are not used to it. The sad reality is that, after a while, you learn to live with it.”

“I could never get used to something like this.”

Spencer looked at Lindsey. She looked torn. He squeezed her hand, sensing her sadness at his words.

“Follow me,” Lindsey finally said.

She led him down cobblestone walkways and through palm trees and shade created by stockade fencing. Most had flower arrangements hanging off of them, creating a nice oasis of tranquility.

He tried to picture himself walking down this path with a bag of groceries and living in a hotel room. He couldn’t. His heart was in Middletown and he wasn’t about to give up his peaceful, quiet life for anything or anyone. Not even Lindsey.

They left the hotel through a back door to avoid the press.

“I’m so sorry I left Middletown like I did, Spence. I wanted to say goodbye to you and thank you for the great time we spent together. But Mel’s crazy world caught up with us,” Lindsey cautiously said as they walked through Sunset Boulevard. “I’m sorry I wasn’t strong enough to fight for us. However, something good came from our visit to Middletown. Mel is doing some positive changes in her career; she fired all her staff and hired a new agent.”

“Was it because of what happened in Middletown?” Spencer asked.

“No, that was the straw the broke the camel’s back, but it was long overdue.”

“What about you? Did something positive came for you?”

Lindsey blushed and shrugged.

“There’s something I need to tell you...” Spencer went on.

“Go ahead.”

“I came to LA looking for you. I think what we have is worth fighting for. I want you in my life. The time I spend with you was the best time I’ve had in years. Is there a chance you and I...?” he pleaded as he lifted her head to look at him.

“You and I ... what?” Lindsey asked, willing herself not to cry.

“I don’t want to live without you.”

Her body reacted to his words, but her mind held out.

“I do care for you,” Lindsey responded softly. She looked into his eyes. “Spence, my situation hasn’t changed. One minute we’re good and then things get crazy. I wish life came with a manual ... I could use one now. Mel still wants you back in her life.”

Spence shook his head.

“But I don’t want her in mine! I don’t know how to make it any clearer to her. I want to be with you, not her. I shouldn’t have to sell myself to you. You either like me or you don’t. Are you telling me you don’t feel about me the same way I feel about you?”

She took his hands in hers and squeezed them, “This has nothing to do with how I feel about you. Of course I have feelings for you. Strong feelings. I can see myself falling in love with you, and as much as I’m trying not to, it’s not working,” she said, swallowing past what felt like a huge lump in her throat.

“Then, if you feel the same way I do, why don’t you give us a chance?” he pleaded.

It hurt to see him like this. Her heart wanted her to leap into his arms and tell him they’d work it all out and things would be fine, but her head refused to allow that.