Read Get There: (Originally Published in the Print Anthology a RED HOT VALENTINE'S DAY) for Free Online Page B

“smarter” lines. That had been back in the beginning of season two. Edie had just come on board and taken over some of the secondary story lines, most requiring him to come out of the bathroom in a towel or have a short-lived, angsty romance with a guest star. Edie, new to the gig, had been stuck between the senior writers and wanting to prove she could really write. She’d come up with one of the show’s most popular story lines, given Justin something meaty to work with, and earned the position of senior writer for the next season.
    “I was wondering if you wanted to have lunch with me? Today? Erm . . . now? To talk about the finale. I had some thoughts.”
    Normally he just shot her an e-mail or had his agent bring up points at the beginning of the season, but this was the last season. There’d been changes all over the place, more than in any other season. Suggested arcs had been dropped to concentrate on tying up the long-term threads and new ones devised with wiggle room for the inevitable movie follow-ups. Aside from that, Edie was one of the few writers who’d made it clear from the start she valued actor input, if for no other reason than she believed if someone were going to give life to the people in her head, she wanted it to be done right.
    Edie looked at the keyboard. This wasn’t going anywhere, and the next writers’ meeting wasn’t until tomorrow. She needed lunch, preferably something chocolate.
    “Sure. Okay. I can do that.”
    As she got up from her desk, another figure loomed in the doorway. Shaggy-haired Runner newcomer Tristan Winsam had only been on the show one season, but his pre-built fan base had followed him from his previous show. There’d been some trepidation about how he’d get along with Justin, but the pair, though they played rivals on the show, akin to The X-Files’ Mulder and Krycek, got along famously in real life.
    “Hey, Edie. Ready to go?”
    She’d been half out of her seat but now stood slowly, looking from one to the other. Neither was smiling. “Hey, Tristan. What’s up?”
    “Not much.” He clapped Justin on the shoulder. “We’ve got some things to talk about with you, that’s all.”
    This didn’t bode well, especially when Edie caught the glance Justin shot the other man. Trouble brewing? They’d better hope neither one of them pulled a diva, she thought as she grabbed her bag and followed them out into the hall. She wasn’t in the mood.
    Her mood changed five minutes later when they took her down the hall to the conference room instead of out the door to the parking lot. Justin and Tristan parted in front of her so she could enter first, but Edie already knew what she’d find inside by the way they both were grinning. She didn’t need to worry about anyone playing diva. They’d been trying to surprise her.
    “Surpriiiiiise!” The word rang out in the small room, and Edie turned in a slow half circle to take it all in. All her cowriters, the production staff, the director . . . several of the show’s stars, and even the head Foley guy, all there with grins as bright as the California sunshine.
    “Hey, sweetie.” Billy help up one end of the banner reading “Good Luck, Edie and Ty!” in huge red letters. “Surprise!”
    Edie shook her finger at him. “You can never keep a secret!”
    “That’s why we didn’t tell him until fifteen minutes ago.” Tristan gestured at the sign. “It wasn’t easy keeping it from him, but we managed.”
    Billy made a face and handed off the banner so he could enfold Edie into a crushing hug. “Thank those boys. They had a lot to do with this.”
    Edie squeezed and kissed Billy and looked toward Justin and Tristan, who’d already moved to the table laden with food. “They did?”
    Billy nodded. “Yep. They’re going to miss you, too, hon. Not just us. Imagine that.”
    Edie managed a smile. “Don’t start with me, Billy. You know I’ll cry, and I hate that.”
    He started to reply but then held