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He pushes off the wall, which puts him closer to me. I crane my neck to look up at him, forcing me to swallow thickly.
“What about, ‘the roses are in bloom?’” SJ suggests thoughtfully.
“Oh, yeah! Because the creepy fuck always sends you dead roses!” Emily says, like we don’t all know how my stalker likes to torment me.
I ignore the anxious sensation that crawls up my throat from her reminder and think about SJ’s idea.
“Do you think it’s too long?” I ask, genuinely curious.
SJ has already said a million times over the past week that he doesn’t use a lot of code words. That we won’t need it because he’ll be watching me wherever I go, but I just can’t let the idea go. Maybe it’s a distraction, maybe it’s silly, but I think I’ll feel better having something.
“No, but if you want two, we can do that.” He shrugs his shoulders like this is no big deal. Like selecting code words to alert your bodyguard that your stalker has found you, is an everyday occurrence.
I scoff. “That’s too complicated.”
“What’s so complicated about it? If you need something quick and direct, parakeet works. If you don’t want to cause a scene or draw attention, the roses are in bloom works. I’ll be there either way. Having two options may ease your mind more,” SJ answers gently.
His brown eyes simmer with kindness, as a small encouraging smile spreads on his almost perfectly symmetrical face. It draws me to him even more.
What I’ve found over the past week is that SJ is one of the kindest, most respectful, smart, and caring men I have ever met. It’s hard to not like him, especially when he looks at you like that. My stomach has that warm, fuzzy feeling again. One I’ve felt more and more over the past week.
Geez, this man is dangerous.
“There you are!” Alex says as he comes around the corner, out of breath and flustered.
I wave my hands around in a gesture of ta-da. “You found us!” I give him a hard time because we’re exactly where he told us to meet him. It shouldn’t be a surprise to find us here. “What’s going on?”
“They offered you the part, Nora,” he says, still out of breath from I assume running here at the complex from his office.
His sentence has my full attention as I swing my gaze over to him. My heart beats out of my chest just at the thought of what his words mean. He better not be messing with me right now.
“Are you saying what I think you are?”
He almost bursts at the seams with excitement. “They want to make you the star!”
I’ve waited years to land this! Years of blood, sweat, and tears. I need him to say the words.
“Say it. Say the words, or I won’t believe it,” I whisper, barely able to keep myself in an upright position. This is literally my dream.
His smile grows, though I didn’t think it was possible. “The audience absolutely adores you, Nora. They’ve seen how much people have taken to you, and they think you’ll be perfect for it. It’s yours!” He whoops and jumps in the air before pulling me into a gigantic hug.
“Oh, I’m so happy for you!” Emily says as she joins in on our impromptu hug in the middle of a deserted hallway after a long and brutal practice.
I look over at SJ, who still stands off to the side as he watches us embrace. His smile is something I don’t think I’ll ever tire of.
“Wanna get in on this action, big guy?” I ask with a smirk.
His deep chuckle is music to my ears. He shakes his head, his tone nonchalant when he responds. “Maybe next time.”
I’ve never been happier in my life as I look at my two closest friends. I just got offered my dream part that I’ve been chasing and working towards my entire adult career. Tears steadily flow down my cheeks in disbelief.
This is the best damn day ever.
I run the towel through my hair as I open the door to the bathroom in the small hotel room. It felt good to take a nice long soak like I promised myself earlier. With how strenuous my workouts and performances can be, I made it a point years ago to take care of my body.
I like to do all the girly, pampering things. I get regular pedicures with polish in all kinds of fun shades of my favorite color, pink. I love facials, getting my hair done, and massages. Oh, that reminds me… I need to schedule a session with my masseuse once I get back home.
Home, I sigh.
