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“I think Moonshadows is a great idea.” I reach across the console and bring her hand to my mouth then kiss her knuckles.
For most of the hour and a half ride, thanks to LA traffic, we listen to music. Adelaide stares out the window. We’re always able to have a comfortable silence, and it’s nice.
We pull into the parking lot and are seated within a few minutes.
We’re at one of the tables near the glass railing overlooking the ocean. The salt air blows Adelaide’s hair around, so she secures it in a ponytail. After we order our meals and drinks, I relax back into my chair, sipping on my beer. Adelaide is always trying to get me to become a wine connoisseur like her, but that’s not me.
“How are you feeling about the wedding?” I ask.
“Let’s talk about something else. There’s still so much to do. I can’t even think about it right now. It’s too stressful.” She shakes her head and waves.
“All right, does your agent have anything in the works for you?” I lift my beer to my lips and take a sip, relaxing more when the cold liquid hits the back of my throat.
“A couple things, but nothing I’m excited about.”
“Same,” I say, planning to expand on that, but my phone vibrates on the table in front of me. I pick it up and turn it over. The PI’s number flashes on the screen and I quickly send him to voicemail.
She leans forward for her wine glass. “Who’s that?”
“Tripp.” The lie falls from my mouth faster than I’d like. “I’ll call him later.”
She sips her wine. “How is America’s Rock God?”
“You know Tripp. Work hard. Play hard.”
Adelaide laughs. “Sounds about right.”
She sets down her wine glass and looks at me. There’s tension in her muscles that wasn’t there a second ago.
My heartrate skyrockets. Did she see it wasn’t Tripp? Or is she suspicious because I didn’t answer? Most of time I put him on speaker when Adelaide’s around. Fuck, this is exactly why I hate lying.
“Speaking of agents… mine mentioned that there’s a rumor Freelance Studios is courting you for a big upcoming production.”
Thank fuck. She saw nothing.
I lock eyes with her, and my fingers tighten around my beer. “I already told Keane to forget it.”
Adelaide knows full well where I stand on the matter of working for that studio again, and sheshouldknow this is a conversation I don’t want to have.
I told her what went down between Lilah and me, or as much as I know, since I don’t have the answers as towhyLilah would do what she did. I have no doubt she had her reasons, but I can’t get over the fact that whatever they were, she didn’t trust me to help her deal with them, and in the end, she shit all over our most sacred vow when she locked pinkie fingers with me earlier that day.
“I heard it’s an amazing script, the studio is going to pour money into marketing it…”
I down a healthy gulp of my beer, giving me a moment to collect myself so I don’t direct my anger at Adelaide. I set my beer on the table in front of me a little harder than necessary and the liquid sloshes in the glass. “You know I won’t work for that asshole again.”
Adelaide’s lips purse. “It’s been six years. I would’ve thought you’d have cooled off a bit by now.”
Lilah is a taboo topic. We don’t discuss her—ever. So I’m surprised she’s bringing the topic up now.
“You know how I feel, Adelaide. That’s the end of it.”
She looks at the ocean briefly then around the restaurant. I’m assuming to see if anyone is paying us attention. She leans in. “Is this abouther?”
I meet her narrowed gaze. “It’s about her, it’s about him, it’s about me not putting another dime in that asshat’s pocket. I did what I had to do to fulfill my contract whenThe Regulatorcame out, but I won’t willingly put myself in a position to help that man ever again. I don’t care how good the script is.”
She leans back in her chair and studies me for a moment. So much for our romantic memory-land dinner date. “Do you still love her?”
Fuck. I huff and lean forward. Taking her hand, I rub both sides and look into her eyes. “I love you. I’m going to marry you.”
