Should I go check on him? If something is wrong, Madison doesn’t have the number to my cell to get ahold of me.
I shook my head. As much as I was worried, Trent wasn’t my responsibility. Despite the pang in my chest that wished otherwise.
As much as I tried to tell myself that my concern was purely professional—that there was no show without Trent—I knew that wasn’t the case.
Then a thought made my blood turn cold.
What if he’s ignoring me after last night? Maybe he isn’t planning on coming to breakfast. He might not want anything to do with me except when absolutely necessary during filming. Or worse, maybe he won’t even want to work with me any longer.
Not that I thought our working relationship would be contingent on whether or not I was interested inmorewith Trent.
A firm hand gripped my shoulder, dragging me out of my head, and I jumped.
“Sorry we’re late,” Trent said with a grimace as he sat, taking the seat across from me.
As much as I tried, I couldn’t conceal the grin that spread across my face at seeing Trent. Although, as my eyes swept over him, I had to admit, he looked a bit worse for wear. His face was tight with discomfort as he squinted at the menu with a scowl.
“What?” he asked, growling at me without even looking up.
“Nothing,” I said, smirk still firmly in place.
“How the hell are you so…” His voice trailed off and he waved his hand at me.
I barked out a laugh, quickly quieting though when he grimaced and pinched at the bridge of his nose.
“Lots of water, coffee, and aspirin,” I said with a shrug.
Trent grunted and turned his attention back to the menu in his hand as the waiter came over, but I waived him off, letting him know we would need a few more minutes.
Part of me wanted to tell him I felt as bad as he looked, but another part of me also didn’t want to concede on the point.
I don’t know what it was that kept me bristling when it came to Trent. He hadn’t done anything but be welcoming. And from the way he kissed me last night, it was obvious there was some attraction on his end too.
As I stared at the menu in the hand, not seeing anything but the replay of the way Trent had leaned in and molded his lips to my own, I realized maybe that was my problem. It had been easy to pretend and dismiss when I didn’t have the proof of his attraction staring me in the face. Going about my day, tamping down my own desires had been easy.
And he had taken that away from me.
The waiter came back over, and I still didn’t know what I want, but I made no attempt to send him away again. I knew the kids, and Trent, would need to eat. No use in putting off breakfast any longer. Everyone’s order was drowned out by the thundering roar in my ears from my heart.
I was vaguely aware of the kids off on the other end of the table, away from Trent and me. They were whispering and from the looks they were glancing at our end of the table; it was obvious what they were talking about.
But I couldn’t bring myself to care.
When the waiter came over, I rattled off one of the special numbers, without any idea what would be brought out.
I’m itching to ask Trent about the kiss. But I’m also dreading the answer. For all I know, it was the alcohol and loneliness that drove him to kissing me rather than attraction. If it didn’t mean anything, I didn’t think I wanted to know.
On the other hand, I wasn’t sure why I even cared. I told myself I wasn’t going to be Allan’s replacement. If I started a relationship with Trent, that’s all I would be seen as. I’d be his new co-host who also became his new partner.
Just like Allan.
No thank you.
And there was no way that I could see where I got to be myself while fulfilling both of those roles in Trent’s life.
Without the menu to distract me, I could feel Trent’s eyes boring into me from across the table and I no longer had an excuse to ignore him.
“Gage…” Trent started but trailed off.
