Page 63 of Crocodile Tears
“Oh, weallalready knew,” Finch replied with a laugh. “We were just waiting for you two to catch up.”
“Wonderful,” I bit out, my frustration only making Finch smile wider. “Well, I’ll be up for my shift in half an hour, so see you then.” I wheeled my hands, not-so-subtly trying to shoo her away.
Finch chuckled. “Alright, alright, we’re going. You two have fun.” She turned and added over her shoulder, “And make sure to draw the curtains before jumping each other, there are families around here.”
“Finch!”
“Toodles.” She waggled her fingers and she and Frankie started walking back to the boardwalk, whispering and laughing between themselves.
“What was that about us not getting interrupted here?” I asked quizzically as Deacon unlocked the front door. “You have clearly underestimated the Lachlans’ penchant for annoyance.”
“What was that about you having half an hour before your shift?” he countered, hooking his finger in my belt loop and tugging me across the threshold.
“Make it an hour.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him as he kicked the door closed behind us. “I can be a little late just this once.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Deacon
I stood at the top of the hill with my phone to my ear, trying to understand Cody’s string of unintelligible curses.
“I’m just taking a couple weeks off, Cody,” I assured him. “You need to chill.”
“Just a couple weeks withno notice, Deacon,” Cody argued. “I have no idea how I’m going to spin this. Rehab? Mental health, something about mental health.”
“I’m sorry I had to cancel a couple obligations, but the schedule was light,” I justified. “And I just finished filming. I should be able to get a couple weeks off.”
“Yeah, on aplannedvacation to Monaco or something where we get photos of you and Ivy sunbathing on a mega yacht. The team is completely freaking out over here,” Cody complained. “They think you’re completely in love with this bird girl and she’s going to Yoko your career.”
“I am in love with her.” Warmth bloomed in my chest at the proclamation, even as Cody muttered another string of curses under his breath. “And people really need to give Yoko a break already.”
“Oh god.” Cody groaned. “I really wish you hadn’t just said that to me. I’vejustfinalized the plan for next quarter. We can’t get this time back after this all ends terribly. Think with your head and not your dick, Deacon.”
“I am,” I replied tightly. “I’ve been in love with her forever and finally the stars aligned and she wants to be with me too. She’s the one, Cody.”
“The one?” Cody made a gagging sound. “But you’re still going to act like Ivy isthe onefor the promotion of this movie, right? I’ve worked to the point of exhaustion on this plan. You signed off on it just a few weeks ago!”
My gut clenched. Acting was one thing, but I didn’t want to leverage my personal life into letting people think I was in love with anyone other than Dove anymore. That was a step too far. I didn’t want to pretend. Not when everything finally made sense.
“Your silence is deafening,” Cody snapped. “Please, Deacon. I’m sorry I’m being harsh right now, but Ineedyou on board with this Ivy thing. Six years we’ve been working together. And now you’re one of the highest paid actors in Hollywood, and I know I’m not your agent, but I’d like to think I played a small part in that.”
“You did,” I admitted.
“So . . . we already have a whole promo tour planned based on you and Ivy being loved up. It’s what we agreed upon when you decided to produce aromantic comedyof all things. This was our compromise, remember?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I remember.”
“So we stick to the plan.”
“We can find a new plan,” I pleaded.
“Get serious, Deac?—”
“No,” I growled, finally having enough.
He always did this. He always lured me in with guilt to keep me in line. And in the end, I always conceded. But nothing was more important to me than protecting what I’d just found with Dove. If she wanted me, I was hers. Simple as that.
“I don’t work for you, Cody. You work for me,” I gritted out. “I’m in love with Dove and I’m not going to ruin the rest of my future in order to sell some B-grade movie we’re only making because I promised Dove I’d use this place as a filming location, understand?”
