Genuine Lies

struck Eve, not altogether pleasantly, that she must at last be getting old if she had come to hoard in her heart like a miser the everyday things she’d once ignored.
    The location shoot had gone well. Certainly better than she’d anticipated. She could credit Peter for much of that—not only for the bouts of good, solid sex, but for his patience and enthusiasm on the set, his sense of humor even when things were at their worst. Years before she might have made the mistake of stringing their affair out, of pretending, at least to herself, that she was in love with him.
    Or, she certainly would have used whatever means at her disposal to tip him over into love with her. Good sense had prevailed, and they had agreed to leave the lovers in Georgia and come back to the West Coast as friends and colleagues.
    Now, lowering thought, maturity offered perspective. Sherealized Peter reminded her of Victor, of the vital, charming, and talented man she had fallen so helplessly in love with. Of the man she still loved. Oh, God, she missed him. Of all her fears, the greatest was that they would waste what time they had left together.
    Julia entered five minutes later. She was out of breath because she had hurried, had felt the need to hurry. The moment she saw Eve, bent low in a hamstring stretch, her tall, lush body unbelievably stunning in a snug sapphire leotard, she understood why. She had missed her, Julia thought. Missed Eve’s acid comments, her stingingly honest memories, the outsize ego, the arrogance. All of it. She laughed to herself as she watched Eve switch her weight.
    At that moment, Eve glanced up, caught Julia’s smile, and returned it. Fritz looked over, his eyes moving from one woman to the other. His brows raised speculatively, but he said nothing. Something passed between them in the silence, unexpected by both. As Eve straightened, Julia felt an urge to walk to her and embrace, knowing she would be embraced in turn. Though she did cross the room, she only held out both hands, her fingers linking with Eve’s in a quick, welcoming grip.
    “So, how was the swamp?”
    “Hot.” Eve searched her face, pleased with what she saw there. Relaxation, a quiet contentment. “How was London?”
    “Cold.” Still smiling, Julia set her gym bag aside. “Rory sends his regards.”
    “Hmm. You know what I really want is an opinion on his new wife.”
    “I think she’s perfect for him. She reminds me a bit of you.” She swallowed a chuckle as incredulity shot into Eve’s eyes.
    “Darling, really. There’s no one like me.”
    “You’re right.” The hell with it, she thought, and went with instinct, wrapping her arms around Eve in a tight, affectionate hug. “I missed you.”
    Now it was tears that glittered in Eve’s eyes, quick, unexpected, and difficult to control. “I would have liked youwith me. Your cool observations would have livened up the hours of boredom between takes. But I have a feeling you enjoyed the company in London.”
    Julia stepped back. “You knew Paul was with me.”
    “I know everything.” Eve flicked a finger down Julia’s jaw line. “You’re happy.”
    “Yes. Nervous, dazzled, but happy too.”
    “Tell me everything.”
    “Work,” Fritz interrupted. “Talk while you work. You can’t just exercise your tongues.”
    “You can’t talk and do crunchies,” Julia complained. “You can’t even breathe and do crunchies.” He only grinned.
    By the time he put her on the weights, she was sheened with sweat, but she had her wind. Over his grunted instructions she told Eve about London, about Paul, about all the feelings that were bubbling inside. It was so easy she hardly thought about it. Years before, it had been impossible to talk to her mother about Lincoln. Now there was no shame, no fear.
    There were a dozen times when she could have angled the conversation to Delrickio, but Julia felt it wasn’t the time. And with Fritz in attendance, it wasn’t the place. Instead, she tried what she thought would be a less sensitive area.
    “I have an appointment with Nina’s predecessor, Kenneth Stokley, this afternoon.”
    “Really? Is he in town?”
    “No, he’s still in Sausalito. I’m flying down for a few hours. Is there anything you’d like to tell me about him?”
    “About Kenneth?” Eve pursed her lips as she finished her leg curls. “You might find him a difficult interview. Terribly polite, but not very expansive. I was very fond of him, and sorry when he