Page 22 of Now or Never

“I don’t think—”

Adam drew all the attention of the group by clearing his throat, and Chelsea had to wonder once again who the hell he actually was.

Lilian glanced at him, and he gave her a half smile and a quirked brow.

Lilian looked back at Chelsea. “Sure,” she said. “We’ll find something for you.”

“She can shadow me,” Vincent said.

Chelsea snapped her head in his direction. “Really?” she asked.

Vincent nodded. “Absolutely.”

“I’m not sure if that can work,” Lilian said. She turned to Adam, ignoring Vincent and Chelsea. “See, our director is young. This is his first feature film. I need Vincent’s attention on him.”

“I can do both.”

Lilian looked as if she wanted to protest, but Adam was still looking at her, waiting. “Fine,” she reluctantly said, giving Vincent a pointed look. “But you know how Jasper can be.”

A loud clashing sound rushed through Chelsea’s ears.

Ja—

She must have misheard.

“I can handle Jasper,” Vincent said, his voice barely registering as the blood drained from Chelsea’s face.

No.

“I’m sorry,” Chelsea said, forcing the words out. “Did you say Jasper?”

Lilian smiled widely. “Yes, Jasper Fenton. You’ve heard ofhim, I’m sure.”

Chelsea was at a loss for words. She moved her head up and down in a dazed nod.

Adam’s voice, clear and deep, with a touch of hesitation, broke through. “Who’s Jasper Fenton?”

Chelsea gave her head a little shake, unable to form words, let alone thoughts.

“He’s a brilliant young up-and-coming director,” Lilian said, pride clear in her voice. “He was just featured inCUTmagazine.”

Chelsea rolled her eyes, but the crunching of tires on gravel behind her replaced her sarcasm with nausea.

“Ah, here he is now,” Lilian said, then added in a conspiratorial whisper, “I gave him a later time so we could agree on the place before he saw it. He’s rejected every other location. We’re getting desperate.”

Chelsea swallowed. Then swallowed again. Her eyes darted around the space, looking for a solution before landing on Adam’s truck. Would it be too bizarre if she jumped in and drove off? Where would she go? Would Vincent think she was a weirdo? She could feel the tension rolling from her head down her arms and pooling at her feet like lava, hardening, cementing her in place.

Adam moved in closer and placed his big hand on her shoulder. The warmth seeped through the thin white cotton into her skin.

“Who’s Jasper?” he asked, leaning toward her ear with a low voice, only for her.

She had just opened her mouth to answer when Jasper appeared on the path, his long stride eating up the ground between them at warp speed, and every word died in her throat. She had seen him a handful of times since they’d split, but it was only ever through a car window as she dropped Ben off. She avoided speaking to Jasper. Every time she saw him, she remembered all the times they’d shared. The late nights talking, watching films and laughing, that would so naturally lead to making love.

Their eyes connected, and Chelsea dropped her gaze to the ground in a last-ditch effort to avoid him, but it was useless.Adam moved in closer behind her and kept his big hand on her shoulder.

“Jasper,” Lilian said once he was within earshot. “Allow me to introduce Adam V—”

“Chelsea?” Jasper’s deep voice cut her off.

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