Page 36 of Romance Is Dead

Craft services was bustling when I arrived. Our call time was too early to get breakfast at the hotel, so everyone was instead huddled around the long tables filled with bagels, cut fruit, and other breakfast essentials. I made a beeline for the coffee, intent on getting caffeine in my bloodstream ASAP. As I got closer, I noticed that Mara and Teddy were already there, which would have been fine if they hadn’t been bent close, whispering conspiratorially over their cheese Danishes near the coffee station.

My stomach plunged. I recognized that look on her face—it was the same expression she’d worn the time she tried to set up my dad with Jennifer Coolidge at a premiere once. I had to get out of here. Nothing good came from Mara being in matchmaker mode.

But before I could sneak away, she spotted me and waved enthusiastically, alerting Teddy to my presence. He shook hair damp from the shower out of his eyes as he glanced at me and smiled.

My face immediately tomato-ed.

Trying to pull myself together, I threw my shoulders back and walked over to them in a very poor attempt to look unbothered.

“Morning.” I gave a cursory wave to Teddy as I grabbed onto Mara’s arm like a life raft. “I just have to borrow her for a sec.”

“Wait, Teddy and I were—”

“Just for a minute!” Tightening my grip on her arm, I steered us to the other end of the breakfast tables.

“Ouch!” She pried my fingers off her wrist. “Good morning to you, too.”

“What were you guys talking about?” I grabbed a plate and studied the spread. To my dismay, it was missing my favorite item—a giant blueberry muffin with deliciously buttery streusel on top. I grabbed one of the banana nut muffins instead, which didn’t even compare. Trash.

“Just the type of makeup I’d be doing for his scene later.” Mara raised an eyebrow as she grabbed a yogurt container. “Why are you all flushed, by the way?”

“Don’t worry about it,” I muttered as I finally succeeded in getting some coffee. “Let’s go over there.”

Mara glanced at Teddy. “But—”

“I think we should sit over here.” I led us to a small table far away from where Teddy was now talking to Audrey. I’d never been able to get more than two words out of her, but she was already giggling at something Teddy had said, her hand pressed against his bicep.

“What’s going on?” Mara asked as we sat down. “You look like you’ve run a marathon, which is something you would never do, and you’re acting weird.” She looked at me pointedly. “Does this have to do with the fact that Teddy was outside your room last night, looking like he was about to devour you like a snack?”

“I—What do you mean?” I raised my mug to my lips, nearly burning myself as I took a long sip.

“Please. I went to your room earlier last night to gossip and drink wine, two of your favorite activities, but you weren’t there. Thank God Chloe was bored, too.” Mara dipped her spoon into her bowl of yogurt and berries. “And I don’t know what you and Teddy were up to when we found you in the hall, but nothing innocent happens at that hour.”

My mouth dried. The downside of having a best friend that knew you better than you knew yourself was that you couldn’t get anything past them. I used to consider this an asset, but now that I was hiding both a possible murder investigation and a crush on my co-star that I was desperately trying to squash, I wasn’t so sure.

“Um. Well.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see someone approaching our table, thankfully giving me an excuse not to respond. But my relief dissipated when I realized it was Teddy.

“Sorry to interrupt. I thought you might want this.” In his hand was a plate, holding one perfect blueberry muffin.

I couldn’t help it. My eyes lit up.

“Oh my gosh, thank you.” I took the muffin gratefully, narrowly avoiding an impression of Gollum inLord of the Rings. “How did you know?”

Teddy smirked. “Please. You almost grabbed one out of a PA’s hand the other day. Today there was only one left, so. . .”

“Thank you, that’s really thoughtful.” But inside, I was groaning. My fantasies were already out of control; I didn’t need him fetching my favorite foods and making them even worse.

“Anytime.” He winked. “Just wanted to give you that. I’ll leave you two alone.”

I watched as he crossed the room, a shimmering feeling in my chest.

Mara followed my gaze. “Teddy didn’t give me any details about what you two were up to last night, by the way.”

“Oh?” Relief poured through my body, although I wasn’t sure which I was happier about: that he hadn’t told her about us investigating Scott or that he hadn’t told her we’d almost slept together the night of the party.

“Nope. And I did ask.” She poked me with her foot, teasing.

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