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“You could always just try being honest right away,” says Price.
Nathan hisses in through his teeth. “That’s risky. Not only do they have a whole honeymoon together full of potential awkwardness if she doesn’t return his feelings, but when they get back home, she’s still his agent. I’d rather have at least a little assurance things are tipping in that direction before jumping all in.”
“Okay, so that’s what you’re looking for, then,” adds Lawrence. “Really listen to her. Study her mannerisms. And if you start to suspect she still has feelings, woo her.”
“Woo her? What are you, an eighty-year-old grandma?”
“Woois a good word. You’re not trying to seduce her. Wooing insinuates you’re trying to get to her heart, not just her body.”
It checks out. Still, this makes me think of the other reason I called them. “Do you guys think I’m being ignorant to consider pursuing her again? Since she was the one who broke up with me and it nearly killed me the first time?”
“Bree cut me out too, right before college,” says Nathan. “And although I don’t know all the particulars between you and Nora, I know that if I had let myself stay hung up on a choice she made when we were young, I would have missed out on a beautiful life with her.”
Lawrence nods. “I agree with Nathan. You’ve got the perfect week to see what’s what. Give it a shot. And although I don’t think you have to go all in with her—Ithink it’s brave of you to be open to connection again and see what happens.”What the hell kind of self-help books does this guy read?
Nathan sits forward. “You know, I still have my old cheat sheet that helped me win over Bree. I can text it to you.”
I roll my eyes. “I don’t need help in that department, thank you very much. I gave you the ideas for that damn thing.”
“You told me to wink. And it did not work out, might I add.”
“Not my fault you don’t have game.”
Jamal is literally standing and yelling god knows what at the screen. I smile pleasantly and flip him a little birdie. Just for fun I use my other hand to give it wings and let it flap all around the screen.
“Whatare you doing?” says Nora, standing just outside the bathroom door I never heard open wearing a big sun hat and swimsuit cover-up.
All I see is a glimpse of the guys’ wide eyes (and Jamal howling with laughter) before I slam my laptop shut. “Oh, uh—nothing. I was just…doing a hand stretch thing. It’s for football.” I pause and shedoesn’t rush to fill the silence. “It’s just…sports people do it. Athletes. It’s an athlete”—Ipause painfully again—“hand thing.”
She smiles. “That seems like a very suspicious lie, but I’ll allow it because we’re going to be late for our meeting if we stand here chitchatting about your interpretive hand dancing any longer.”
“We are just so excited to be sitting here with you two!” says Kamaya, the sweet journalist fromCelebrity Sparkbeaming at Derek and me from across the table. We’re seated in the little outdoor resort café, and if you typedparadiseinto Google Maps the pin would drop here. Warm air, baby blue skies, palm trees around the patio, and an ocean that’s so beautiful it must be fake in the background.
Sitting next to Kamaya is Alec, the photographer who will be following us around through the week. They both have beautiful smiles and the kind of personalities that make me feel immediately cozy. I like them.
And I like that our meeting with them gave Derek and me an excuse to avoid talking after waking up in each other’s arms (for the second time for me) and instead, rush to get ready and sprint downstairs to make this breakfast meeting on time.
Because avoidance is healthy, right?
“Thanks again for allowing us to cover your love story and honeymoon,” says Kamaya. “Nicole and I go way back, and so when shecalled and told me she had an inside scoop for me, I knew it was going to be good. That woman never misses.”
I laugh. “No one rejects a call from Nicole.”
“Exactly!” She readjusts in her seat to cross her long golden-tan legs, looking down at her notes with a soft smile. The lady is gorgeous. Could be a runway model if she wanted—not unlike the women Derek used to date actually. I can’t help but wonder if he’s attracted to her now. If he’s looking at her across the table and thinkingJeez, I wish this woman didn’t think I was married.A sudden stab of jealousy hits me that I have no right to.
But then, as if Derek could sense my thoughts, his knee settles against mine under the table and I glance up at him. He’s not looking at the beautiful woman across the table, he’s staring at me—with a questioning look. Was I frowning at Kamaya? I probably looked like I wanted to rip her lovely hair from her head and Derek witnessed it.
Not very feminist of you, Nora.
“Okay, so first I thought we could discuss the schedule for the week and then move on to the interview. Sound good?” Kamaya asks, and I try to push all my jealous thoughts aside. It’s hard, though, when she looks so lovely and polished and I’m wearing an opaque swimsuit cover-up and a straw hat, because like I told Derek before, the sun and my skin are not friends.
“Ready Freddy. Lay it on us,” I say, a little too chipper.
She wrinkles her nose at me with a smile. “You’re as adorable as Nicole said you are.”
“Wasadorablethe word she really used?” I’m skeptical.
Kamaya shrugs. “Give or take.”
