Page 54 of Changed By You
“I love you, too.” My own eyes flood with tears. “And you’re my best friend.”
She looks up at me, a wet trail running down each of her cheeks. “Really? Even though our relationship has been completely about me?”
“It hasn’t. You watchedMean Girlsfor me. You took me to that French bakery so I could try things even though you didn’t want any of it.”
She laughs softly. “I wantedall of it.”
“You’ve always included me in your adventures. I’m not some sad little assistant who waits in the trailer while you’re skydiving and going on safaris. We’ve done things together that I never would have dreamed of doing without you.”
She covers my hand with her other one. “Thank you for being so gracious. But I have to say this just so I know I did this the right way. I’ve treated you unfairly and you’re the last person in my life who--,” She pauses to take a breath after her voice breaks. “Who deserved that. I’m sorry. And I’m so happy Dalton realized the most amazing woman on that show--the greatest catch--was you.”
We’re both crying as I wrap my arms around her in a hug.
“Of course I forgive you. I’m so happy you’re not...mad at me.”
She pulls away, wiping her cheeks. “I need to work on myself. I’m not signing the contract for the next movie.”
“You’re not?”
She shakes her head, looking amused. “I’m going to rehab.”
My eyes widen with surprise. “Rehab? You don’t drink alcohol or use drugs.”
“You can pay fancy rehab places to treat you for literally anything, and they’ll take your twenty thousand a week. Can you believe that? So I’m going to narcissism rehab.”
My jaw drops. Farrah has become shockingly self-aware in the three weeks we’ve been apart.
“Farrah, that’s...” I stumble, unable to come up with a word for it.
She laughs. “It’s fucked. But I’m really looking forward to it. They’re going to teach me how to have ‘healthy, reciprocal relationships.’” She air quotes the words. “I’m hoping to practice on that with you.”
A wave of trepidation hits me. “I meant it about loving you, but the doctors have said my dad’s going to decline faster than before, and I need to be here with my parents right now.”
“I know. I get it. You should be here. Jackie is depositing two years’ worth of your salary into your account on your next payday.”
My stomach drops. “No, you don’t--”
She cuts me off mid-sentence. “Stop. It’s done, and if you or your family need anything else,anything at all, you call Jackie and she’ll take care of getting you more.”
I’m too overcome with emotion to respond to her for a few seconds. When I do manage, it’s through tears. “Thank you. That means the world to me.”
“I’ll be in rehab for sixteen weeks. I start on Monday.”
I picture Farrah in a plain room with no luxuries. No one bringing her lavender water. No one running to a local gas station to buy a Kit Kat just so she can sniff it.
“Well...at least the main topic of conversation will beyou,” I quip.
She laughs heartily at that. “That’s a fair point. Would it be okay if I call you when I’m allowed to?”
“Of course. Please call me. I’ve been sad about not having you in my life anymore. I never wanted that.”
She puts an arm around me. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily. Even though you aren’t my assistant anymore, I’m hoping that at some point, you’ll consider becoming my business manager. You know the business, you know me, and I trust you completely.”
“Really?”
“Yes. You can do it entirely remotely if you want. Or you can travel with me every now and then, but only if you want to. I’ll never ask you to do anything but business manager work. And if you don’t want to do that, I respect it and still want to keep you as my best friend.”
I don’t even have to think about it. “I’m interested. But not while my dad is...”
