Page 45 of Hollywood Fairytale

“Some do,” I said sadly. I couldn’t expect everyone to like me though.

“They hate you because they want your man and if they had any idea how great he is and how sweet, they’d be a hell of a lot worse.”

Side-eyeing Luke, I knew he could hear me and wasn’t sure how he’d feel about what I had to say next. “I know, and I definitely don’t want them crazier than they already are. Jenner suggested that I don’t wear my engagement ring until after we’re married, but I hate the idea of not being able to wear it.”

“He’s right. They’ll spot it, but you do what you have to do. Talk to Luke about it.”

“I will. I’m sorry I told Jenner before you. I wanted you to be the first I told, but I did call you with the news first. He just happened to call me now that he’s done with his movie.”

“How’s he doing?” Taylor asked. She had grown fond of Jenner from our conversations and what a good friend he’d been after the accident.

“Not good. He got served divorce papers yesterday and Poppy cleared out the house before he got back.”

“What a bitch. I hope he finds a sweet girl someday that’s nothing like her.”

“He will. I know, because he deserves it. He’s too much of a good guy to have her stain his life.”

“Speaking of stains. How do you think Decker is going to take your news?”

“Amazingly I haven’t thought about it, but I’m sure he’ll be an asshole. Maybe I won’t tell him. He can find out once he and Mason get back from their vacation.”

“I’m still surprised he didn’t throw more of a fit when you asked if you could take Mason to Hawaii for two months.”

I coughed out a bitter laugh. “Me too,” I frowned. “It was a little too easy if you ask me. I’m afraid of what he’s planning.”

“He doesn’t have the code to your gate or anything does he?”

“Oh hell no, and that’s never going to happen. I don’t want him to be able to get in anytime he wants. Dealing with him is so annoying. Luke thinks we can get full custody since he said he wouldn’t pay child support anymore.”

“It’s a possibility, but don’t get your hopes up until you’ve talked to a lawyer and even then.”

Looking out at the pool and away from Luke, I shifted in my seat. “I know. It’s weird, I was thinking the other day about how different I am, like I’d lost a part of myself.”

“What do you mean?”

“I used to be so independent and now… I don’t know how I’d describe myself. I’m lost when Luke’s not around. I missed him so badly I ached these last few months, and now I feel like I’m relying so much on him. I’ve never been this way before and, in some ways, it scares me.”

“How does it scare you?” She asked in a quiet concerned voice.

I hadn’t noticed Luke get up, so I was startled when he slipped in behind me and wrapped his arms around me, resting his chin on the top of my head.

“I can’t imagine my life without him in it. If something happened…”

Interrupting, Taylor vehemently stopped my line of thinking as Luke held me tighter. “You can’t think that way. It will only drive you crazy. Are you different? Yes, you are, but in a good way. You’re still independent, but you are also in love with a man that will never ask you to be anything other than who you are. It’s okay to want him around. That’s how you’re supposed to feel about the man you’re with. You still have your job and that may change or evolve in time, but I don’t think you’ll ever get lost again. I won’t let that happen and I know for damn sure that Luke won’t let that happen either.”

Leaning down until his lips brushed my ear, Luke spoke so that only I could hear. “You have nothing to worry about.”

I turned to look over my shoulder to my now fiancé. What I said next was for the both of them. “Thank you, I really needed that.”

“That’s what friends are for. How many times have you talked me off the ledge from leaving Jack because I’m so miserable here? You remind me that it’s only temporary and when we’re back in Fairlane everything will be back to the way it was or even better.”

“Monthly,” I joked. It wasn’t even close to that much, but the further along she got into her pregnancy the more she hated to be stuck there with Jack rarely around.

“See, I owed you one.” She laughed, breaking the tension. “I wish school was over, so I could see you before you left. I won’t even see you for your birthday.”

“I know, but they need all the time they can get to film this movie. It’s going to be tight. They’ve already started without him, doing all the scenes that they can before he arrives.”

“What are you going to do while he’s filming?”

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