Page 64 of #Starstruck

Another laugh, and she started wiping mascara with the backs of her hands. “Okay. Enough crying. How was the wedding?”

“Incredibledoesn’t seem like a strong enough word.” I stood up and grabbed some tissues for her. She cleaned up her face and followed me to our bedroom. She lay down in bed while I got changed.

“You didn’t tell me Noah has money.” Hearing her use the wrong name made me cringe, but I didn’t say anything.

“Why do you think he has money?”

“Because even with my stuffy nose, I can smell his cologne on you. And that did not come from a drugstore.”

For a moment I panicked and wondered if she would place the scent from the day she’d worked with Chase on the movie set.

“He does have money.”

“We should double-date sometime. And let him pay,” she teased, but I kept my back to her as I pulled out a soft T-shirt to wear to bed. “That is, if this thing is serious between you guys. Do you see a future?”

Oh, I saw a future all right. And it included a Labrador retriever, and blonde, blue-eyed babies, and me standing up to applaud him for winning another Academy Award while we crusaded to save the ocean in our free time.

But since it wasn’t normal to say that about someone you’d been out on only a few dates with, I settled for, “Right now we’re just living in the moment.”

I put on thin-cotton pajama bottoms and pulled the shirt over my head.

“Did he knock on the door of the Fortress of Solitude?”

“He knocked, but I didn’t answer.” Just thinking of the worddoormade me feel the phantom pressure of Chase against me, holding me and kissing me hotly. “And before you ask, yes, there was finally a pretty serious kiss.”

She sat straight up in bed. “How was it?”

How could I explain that he’d made me feel like I had molten lava pumping through my veins? “It was like my birthday, Christmas, frolicking puppies, and rainbow-colored unicorns had a baby.”

“I love magical kisses.”

So did I. “Let’s go have ice cream andJeopardy!” It was our go-to pick-me-up when we were sad. I didn’t think Lexi even liked the show that much, but she watched it because it always made me feel better.

“Okay.” She shuffled out of the room, and I leaned in to smell my dress. Lexi was right. I could smell his cologne. I wished I didn’t have to get it cleaned and give it back.

We opened some Ben & Jerry’s and sat on our couch. Lexi queued up the show. She settled in with her pint and smiled at me. “Just so you know, you’re the friend I’d feel the worst about killing in a postapocalyptic death match.”

“Right back at ya. I’m always here for you. Like a celebrity apology after a sexist comment,” I said, the guilt inundating me. She was my best friend. NDA or no NDA, I should tell her. My deception ate away at me, making me lose my appetite. I set the ice cream on the coffee table.

I would tell Lexi. Later. When she knew whether or not she loved Gavin and wouldn’t take Chase from me, accidentally or otherwise. When I knew whether or not what Chase and I had was serious. When I figured out where this was going and how he felt about me.

Soon. I would tell her soon.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

The next morning, I made lemon squares, inspired by Austin and Marisol’s wedding. I checked my laptop, and Chase had sent me an e-mail with an attachment. Pictures. Of me and him at Disneyland.

But not the ones the tabloids had used. These were all personal pictures of us throughout our day. Sitting close together, smiling at each other, laughing together. As I flipped through each one, I wondered how I could have ever questioned his feelings for me. They were all over his face.

And mine.

I liked that we were the only two people who had these pictures, and they weren’t splashed across some magazine cover.

My phone rang. It was Chase. Wanting both the lemon squares and for me to go with him to the Marabella aquarium.

The completely people-free aquarium. On one of their busiest days of the week, he had rented out the whole thing for just us. I brought the requested lemon squares, and he finished the entire plate before we’d even reached the first exhibit.

“I wish you’d mentioned beforehand that we’d be the only people. And I don’t think you’re supposed to eat in here,” I told him in a hushed voice. I probably shouldn’t have been complaining, as I preferred not having other people around so I wouldn’t have to make small talk, but it was strange being in this darkened place without anyone around but the fish. Beautiful, but odd.

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