“I texted you,” Charlie said dryly.
“Hello, Miss Dubois,” Harrison said, oozing out the charm and leaning to hug me.
I awkwardly made my way to stand. “Call me Kate,” I said, dumbfounded.
Emma leaned to Charlie and whispered, “You’re growling,” in his ear.
He unclenched his fists. “How was the rest of filming?” Charlie asked his two friends.
I crossed my arms before dropping them a second later. I was completely incapable of remembering how “natural” looked.
“It was lovely,” Emma said, her gaze moving between Charlie and me. “You two are the buzz of the set.”
I tucked my hair behind her ear.
“Quite the little tabloid scandal. You work fast, Charlie,” Harrison said then winced when Emma elbowed him.
We chatted for a bit about the rest of their day, and I tried to hide a massive yawn behind my hand. “Sorry,” I said when I felt all three of them looking at me. “I didn’t sleep well and had a bit too much to drink. I broke up with my boyfriend.” I frowned. “Sorry. Overshare. I mentioned the drinking too much?”
I sucked in my lips to keep from talking.
Emma’s smile grew. “It’s been a long few days for everyone.” She looked to Charlie before asking, “Ready to head back to Harrison’s?”
Charlie shifted from foot to foot, looking at me and then the other two. “Um.”
“You always did have a way with words,” Harrison said.
Emma rolled her eyes. “Unless?”
Was he hesitating because of me? “I’ll be fine,” I insisted, hoping I was understanding his hesitation. “I’m really fine. I promise.”
Charlie looked down the street and glared. Seeming to make a decision, he looked to the others. “Kate got some concerning messages from her ex. I don’t want to leave her.”
Pretty sure my jaw dropped to the ground. Based on Harrison and Emma’s shared glance, I wasn’t the only one surprised.
“Really, the hotel is only a block away,” I said.
“But he might have a key still, no?” Charlie sounded firm.
“I—”
“No worries, mate. Lord knows Chateau de Evans has more than enough rooms. She could have a whole wing to herself,” Harrison offered cheerfully.
“Good idea,” Emma agreed.
“Is this really happening?” I whispered.
I stared at them all in wide-eyed disbelief.
“Kate?” Charlie tilted his head in question. “Would you be comfortable with that?”
“Would I be okay spending the night at Harrison Evan’s house?” I asked.
“Well, to be fair it’s more like a mansion,” Harrison interjected.
“Mansion,” I mumbled.
“Only if you feel comfortable,” Charlie said. “There are plenty of rooms.”
