Page 58 of Speak of the Devil

I nudge her this time. “Thanks for coming over, Luna.”

“Everything is going to be exactly how it’s intended. I promise. Your soulmate awaits you.” Soulmate is nothing I’ve given much credence to before, but it feels hopeful to have it enter the conversation at this time.

Until I find my soulmate, why does it hurt so much in the meantime?

“How are you holding up?”Luna asks over the speaker in my car a week later.

“I’m fine.” My heart squeezes. “It’s nothing really. There’s nothing to negotiate, so the meeting should be quick. I’ll go in, sign, and get out. Easy peasy.”

“Cate? Talk to me.” Her voice is somber despite me trying my best to make it sound like today is any other day of my life. It’s not. I had it on my calendar—not just to remind me of the appointment but to prepare me for seeing Shane. Yet nothing could prepare me for walking into his storm again.

“What if he brings her with him?”

“It’s a divorce. I don’t think he’ll be that cruel. Would he? Do you want me to drive over and go in with you?”

“You’d never make it in time, but I appreciate the offer.” I honk, shaking my head at the jerk who just cut across two lanes for an exit he missed. “Asshole! Not you, Luna.”

“I say this with love for my best friend. You have some anger to get out.”

“I went to kickboxing last week. Yoga wasn’t cutting it anymore.”

She laughs softly this time. “It’s always best to face it head-on.”

“I’m assuming that’s why they’re demanding a face-to-face to review the details.”

She hums and then releases a heavy breath. “I’ve dealt with his type all my life. He’s a celebrity, Cate. I wouldn’t be surprised if they try to force an NDA on you. Just remember, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. He doesn’t hold all the cards. You both do equally.”

I nod as if she can see me. “Equals.”

“Exactly,” she says, “I’m wrapping up at the studio, and then I’ll see you at Margarita Cantina at five?”

“I’ll be there, hopefully on my second by the time you arrive.”

“That’s my girl. Hold your chin up, friend. And tonight, drinks are on me.”

“I’d prefer them in a glass, but okay. I’m up for anything as long as it has nothing to do with this divorce or my soon-to-be ex-husband.”

Her laughter fills my car, causing me to laugh at my own stupid joke. She says, “See you at the restaurant.”

“See you then.” I disconnect the call from my car as I pull into my attorney’s parking lot. I lock the doors, using the last few seconds of this sham of a married life to take a few deep breaths before heading inside. I can’t say they help, but they sure don’t hurt.

Heat hits as I enter the lobby. Great, now I’ll be sweaty when I see Shane for the first time in ten months. Plucking my shirt to cool down, I step into the elevator, praying the air isn’t broken in there, or I’m doomed to be a mess. Just as I punch the buttonfor the ninth floor, a hand stops the doors from closing. I want to roll my eyes, but I’ve been trying to break the habit. It’s been a daily struggle living in LA.

“Thanks,” a familiar voice zips inside the hot steel box. The butterflies that had been dormant for so long awaken in a flurry in my belly.

It’s too late to escape, but I go for it, running right into a chest of steel and arms of hard muscle catching me by the elbows. “Whoa,” Shane says, probably before he realizes who is trapped in his arms. The doors try to close, but he stops it with his shoulder and then backs in. “I think we’re going to the same place.”

“I left something in my car,” I lie, unable to look into his sea-blue eyes for fear of the loss I’ll drown in all over again.

Without a word, he moves to the side, holding the door for me to exit.Well, crap.What do I do? Get off and catch the next? Go rummage through my car and bring some random thing back to corroborate my story? I step off the elevator, hating to play games and letting lies be the decision-maker because he makes me feel insecure.

Did he do that? Or is that me putting it on him?

I stop and turn around, finally looking at his face that’s aged in all the right ways over the time I’ve not been around to notice. He’s even more handsome, if possible. Those eyes that I was afraid to dive into don’t hold anything but what they shouldn’t any longer—reverence. He smiles just enough to throw me off balance. “Want a ride?”

I roll my eyes out of sheer frustration because I can tell he knows I was lying. “Try that line on someone who will fall for it.” I add, “Twice,” since I was fooled into falling the first time.

“Figured since we’re going in the same direction?—”

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