Page 60 of Solid Ground

“I gave him an out, you know. Told him he didn’t have to be involved at all. I didn’t need him. He chose to be with me.”

She gives me a tight nod. “I know. He told me. It just came at a time when I was trying to get his career back ontrack. He needs this, Zoe. He’ll be lost without the movies and these nights out.”

“He’s been perfectly happy for the past few months. I’m sure he’ll tell me if he wants something more.” My jaw tics in annoyance. She’s not being rude—I get that she cares about him in a different way than I do, but the implication that I’m holding him back isn’t lost on me. “I’d never stop Declan if he wanted to keep acting. It’s up to him.”

Her eyes widen. “Oh, I didn’t?—”

“He’s not obligated to cancel what he’s doing for me. I don’t even know what the future holds, but …”

“How are my girls doing?” Declan cups my hip and places a kiss on my temple.

“Good.” I smile at him, but his brows rise and I just know we’ll be discussing this later.

“Why don’t we go in?” he says.

He holds my hand the whole way, and all through the movie, squeezing tight when the love scenes appear on the screen. I can’t deny that it’s weird watching him on screen kissing and being in bed with another woman, but I know it’s not real—we’rereal.

And when it’s over, he joins Jessie Lane and the director on stage for a few questions before rejoining me and escorting me out a back door.

“Are you tired, or do you want to go for a drink somewhere?” Declan asks.

I raise an eyebrow at him. “A drink?”

“Nothing alcoholic. We just got invited to a private function after this.”

I nod. “I’m fine. What do you meanwe? Youmean you.”

He kisses me on the nose. “No, we. It’ll all make sense when we get there.”

“Where is it? I could do with putting my feet up.”

He chuckles. “A little down the street. We can walk if you’re up to it, or we can take the car. It’s just a couple of minutes from here.”

“Lead on, then.”

Holding my hand, he takes me down the road and around the corner to a quiet little bar. He talks to the doorman briefly, and then the door is opened and we walk in.

“I’ve got a surprise for you,” he says.

He steers me across the room until I see someone I definitely recognise.

Jessie Lane clasps her hands together and beams a bright smile at me. “You must be Zoe. I’ve heard nothing about you, but I hope we can change that.”

I laugh.

She loops her arm in mine. “I’ve got people for you to meet. Zoe, this is Josh Carter and his wife, Delaney.”

I say nothing—just stand there and blink. Declan nudges me with his elbow. After living with Declan for all these months, I thought I’d be better at this. But Josh Carter is huge—he’s one of the biggest movie stars on the planet.

“Hi, Zoe.” He holds out his hand, and I slide mine into his to shake it.

“I hear you’re one of us.” His wife claps her hands together.

“It’s so nice to meet you,” I croak. “One of us?”

She grins. “I’m from New Zealand too.” Turning, shewaves a hand in the air toward a group of people. “Pania, Lana, come and meet Zoe.”

“Your wife seems …” Declan says to Josh, “exuberant.”

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