Page 58 of An Ex Affair

Colson sucked in a deep breath and then let it out, resting his forehead against mine. It couldn’t have been comfortable tohunch down that much, but he did it. “I know. It’s like a knee-jerk reaction.”

“Can I suggest something?” I asked softly.

His eyes flew open. “Anything.”

“Let’s go to counseling.” I hurried on before he could object. “I know it’s the last thing you want to do, but I think it might help us work out some of these issues.”

Colson straightened. I held on to his neck tighter to keep him from pulling away from me and my suggestion, but he just put his hand over my mouth. “Shh. I’m in. Of course I’ll go. If it makes things better between us, I’m all in.”

“Really?” My voice was muffled from behind his hand. I kissed his palm and he dropped it.

Colson smirked. “I’m offended. You think I’m some kind of Neanderthal male who won’t go to therapy? Please. How do you think I survived after you left the first time around?”

“Theonlytime around,” I reminded him, beyond pleased to have fallen in love with a man who wasn’t too prideful to go to therapy.

“Damn right, woman.” Colson slapped me on the ass and I dashed away, then dashed back for my coffee. He slapped me again, even as I shrieked at him to leave me alone.

“Never! I love that ass too much.”

His cocky smirk and smoldering eyes were the last thing I saw as I shut the door and hurried to my car to make it to the jobsite out by the cliffs with Em and the crew. I hadn’t stopped smiling the whole time I drove out there. Funny how I’d never driven into the studio with a smile on my face. I was proud of what I accomplished in Hollywood, but it never put this feeling in my chest. This warm glow that vacillated between giddy and so content I could have fallen asleep standing up.

“What’s that look for?” Savannah hooted as I climbed out of the car. She and Pip were already arguing over the back end of Em’s pickup truck right there in the long driveway.

“She got good nookie. You can tell by da’ red cheeks,” Pip answered, the word nookie sounding funny with her thick German accent.

I grinned harder. “Hell yes, I did.”

Savannah whooped and swiveled her hips. Pip smacked her on the ass, making her whoop louder. What was with all the ass smacking today?

“Are we working or dancing like street workers?” Em’s bark echoed off the pavement. She really did have a voice that could make you shake in your boots. Thankfully, I knew she was all bark and no bite.

Pip and Savannah got busy moving the large vanity out of the back of the truck, but Savannah made sure to keep jiggling her booty just to piss off Em as she supervised from the front door of the grand house. We ended up having to help to get it up the stairs and into the house without scratching the new floors. The granite top on that thing was heavy. When we got it in place in one of the six bathrooms in this house, we all stood with hands on our tool belts, catching our breath.

Savannah hip-checked me. “Hey, did you hear the news about Twatapotomus?” The girls all knew about the young girl who’d taken my spot on the show. In solidarity, they disliked her too.

I tilted my head. “No. What happened? Did she flash her vagina one too many times in that tiny skirt?”

Pip guffawed. “I have headbands longer than those skirts.”

We all snickered, but my attention was on Savannah. “So?” I nudged her boot with my own.

“Oh. So, she got fired. Apparently…” Savannah dragged out the word and leaned in to whisper, like there was anyone elsearound to hear her. “She was having an affair with the producer and the wife caught them. Big, messy scandal.”

I gasped. The producer for the show had always seemed like a decent guy to me. Just goes to show you never truly know what’s going on in Hollywood behind closed doors.

Em grabbed my arm. “Is that why your agent keeps calling your phone?”

She glanced to my back pocket where the thing had been vibrating the entire time we were muscling the vanity in here. I pulled it out and checked the screen. Sure enough. Four texts and three voicemails. All from Joselyn.

“They must want you back!” Savannah said on a squeal.

Em and I shared a look, clearly not joining in on her excitement. Em’s entire demeanor changed, like she was guarding herself. From me. From what this would mean to Colson, and ultimately to the entire Wolfe family. My phone buzzed again and I jumped.

“I better take this,” I said quietly, brushing past the girls to get outside where I could speak to Joselyn privately.

I knew what Em was thinking. She was thinking I’d bolt out of Blueball and break Colson’s heart all over again. That finding love again and being near my mama and building true friendships didn’t mean anything to me. Maybe they hadn’t to younger me, but forty-two-year-old me knew a few more things about the world. Those types of relationships were rare and treasured. I’d be an idiot to turn my back on all that now.

“Hello?”

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