"Babe, I'm so glad you actually came," Lance reached forward to hug me.
I kept him at arm's length and didn't return his hug. He didn't seem fazed by my withdrawal. My phone was buzzing almost constantly in my pocket, but I was too dazed to answer it.
"Do you want me to take you to your hotel?" I asked.
"Oh, I don't have a hotel," Lance said. "I thought I would just stay with you."
"Why on earth would you think that?" I asked.
"Because you and I are together," he replied.
He picked up his suitcase and backpack.
"The car's over here," I said, gesturing. "And Lance, I don't know how to make it more clear to you. You broke up with me. No take backs. Just because you're feeling regret over it doesn't mean that you just get to jump back into my life and go back to the way things were."
When we reached the car, Lance tossed his stuff in the back seat and climbed in. I sighed and rubbed my temples for a second before climbing into the driver's seat.
"I'll take you to the nearest hotel," I said firmly. "And tomorrow you can catch a flight back to L.A."
"Babe, I'm not going anywhere," he said.
He tried to reach over and stroke my cheek. I slapped his hand away and glared at him. I was feeling more and more strength the more he tried to initiate contact.
"I realize this is a free country and you can stay here if you like," I said, trying to keep calm. "But after I drop you off I will no longer be seeing you. I don't care what you came here for or what you want. Have I made myself clear?"
"You'll come around," Lance said confidently.
He leaned back the chair and put his hands behind his head. I was really irritated by his cockiness. My phone continued buzzing and I finally pulled it out and answered. Driving while talking on a cell phone might have been against the law. I didn't really know Hawaii's laws that well.
"Jen, where are you?"
"Josh? Why are you calling? I'm fine."
"Ginny is worried sick about you. She said you disappeared in one of the cars and haven't been answering your phone."
"I'm sorry. I was just distracted," I said lamely. "I'm sorry you were worried."
"You didn't answer my question, Jen. Where are you? Why did you rush off like that?" Josh was persistent.
"Look, Josh, I can't talk right now. I'll tell you everything later. And tell Ginny that I'll be back in half an hour."
"That's not going to satisfy her and you know it."
"Tell her that she can call the police and send out search and rescue if I'm not back by then," I said quickly. "Bye, Josh."
I could hear him start to protest but I hung up. Lance was smirking. I felt like smacking him. Maybe that would make the smug expression go away.
My phone rang again. This time it was Colin.
"Jen, what's going on?"
"Nothing's going on," I said firmly. "I don't know why everyone is so freaked out."
"You don't usually run off like that, Morrison," Colin retorted. "You know if you need my help with anything you can just ask, right?"
"I know, Colin," I said. "Tell Josh to stop freaking out. Everything will be fine."
"Will be?"
"I meant 'is'," I said quickly. "I'll see you tonight for our date."
"All right," Colin answered. "Please be safe."
"I will. Talk to you later."
"You're going on a date with Colin O'Donoghue?" Lance demanded. "Colin O'Donoghue?"
"Yes!" I snapped. "And you are not allowed to have a problem with that because we are no longer dating."
"Calm down, babe," Lance said. "That fact is still up for debate. I was just concerned that you're cavorting with a married man."
"Cavorting?" I laughed in disbelief. "That's probably the biggest word I've ever heard you use. And he's not married. Geez don't you read the tabloids?"
"How long did it take you after we broke up for you to start flirting it up with your costar?" he growled.
"Colin and I were really good friends before I even met you!" I yelled. "And it's none of your business anyway."
I pulled into the parking lot of a Motel 6 and tapped my fingers on the steering wheel, waiting for him to get out.
"So two years doesn't mean anything to you?" Lance asked. "We were together for two years and you treat me like some stranger."
"I could have left you at the airport," I said coldly. "Now get out before I make you."
"I'll be stuck here without a car," he protested.
"If you need a ride back to the airport tomorrow then I'll send Josh to drive you."
He sighed and slid out of the car, pausing only to collect his bags from the backseat. Then he stood and watched as I drove away without a backward glance. It wasn't until I was out of sight down the street when I broke down crying. I had to pull the car over because I couldn't see.
After nearly ten minutes of sniffling and wiping my eyes and trying to calm down enough to be able to make it home, I finally gave in and called Josh.
"Jen, what's wrong?" was his first question when he answered my call.
"Josh, I need you to come get me," I said, trying to sound as normal as possible.
"Okay, where are you?"
"Just down the street from Motel 6," I replied.
"Give me ten minutes and I'll be there," he promised. "Do I need to bring someone else to drive your car home?"
"Can you just have someone drop you off?" I begged. "I don't want anyone else to see me like this."
"I'll have Robert run me over. He won't ask any questions," Josh suggested. "Will you be okay until I get there?"
"I'll be fine," I said somewhat uncertainly. "Josh, just please don't tell Colin what's going on."
"I won't," Josh said. "I'll see you in a little bit."
"Thank you."
I sat frozen in the driver's seat, trying to stop the constant flow of tears. I didn't even realize that ten minutes had passed until Josh's light tap on my window startled me out of my pity party. I opened the door and got out, fully intending to walk around to the passenger side to let Josh drive.
Instead I found myself falling back against the car with a hand to my chest. There was an intense pain and my breathing was forced, each breath a strain.
"Jen, are you all right?" Josh demanded, grabbing me by my shoulders. "Jen?"
I attempted to speak a couple of times before just shaking my head and sinking to the ground. Josh had pulled out his phone and was talking frantically as I lay on the ground struggling to breathe.