Page 66 of Resisting You
“I knew it!” Callie clapped her hands and laughed. “Man, if I wasn’t the only one who knew about it being fake in the first place, I would have placed some serious bets and won a shit ton of money!”
“Stop that,” I laughed and playfully smacked her arm.
She caught my hand before it came in contact and grew serious. “Just… don’t give up on him yet. He might be stuck working with those asshat coworkers of his on set, but he seems so at ease with you. I’ve never seen that before. The only other people I’ve seen him that comfortable around is Ronnie, Hazel, and me.”
Over near the edge of the lake, Birdie yelped as a duck nipped his tail and he came running toward me for comfort. He settled in my lap, curling up and licking my hand before yawning.
Callie gestured to Birdie. “See? Birdie may seem happy playing with the birds, but he’s not actually one of them. And he came running back to you, his family.”
I considered her words, scratching gently behind Birdie’s ears.
She was right—happiness on the surface doesn't always equate to what's actually best for you. Birdie deserves more than just mimicking the actions of birds. And Noah, too, deserves friends who bring out his kindness and thoughtfulness, not those who he had to posture for.
“I guess you’re right,” I said slowly. “I’m just not really interested in my husband being a project, you know?”
“I hear you,” Callie said, leaning back and turning her face toward the sun. “I don’t think you need to do anything except be you. Be you. And don’t give up on him just yet.”
I smiled at her. “I’m not giving up on him.” Yet. “I just wasn’t prepared for his ex being here.”
Callie went ramrod straight. “His ex?” she said. “You mean Morgan? She’s here?”
I blinked, surprised she knew about Morgan. “Yeah.”
“Forget everything I said,” Callie said, launching to her feet. Grabbing my hands, she pulled me up to. “Morgan has some weird magic power over him and we need to fight fire with fire.”
“What? How?” I cradled Birdie, still asleep as I stood up.
Callie smirked and planted her hand on her hip. “By making Noah jealous of course. At your bachelorette party tonight, we’re gonna have him groveling at your heels.”
Chapter 24
Noah
I rushed to the wedding gown shop, thinking I’d find Rosa there, only I came face to face with her mother and learned that she hadn’t returned after lunch.
Rosa’s mother grew concerned, her face dropping. “You don’t know where she is? I thought she was finishing lunch with you?”
“She was…” I wasn’t sure what else to add. Other than Morgan acting like a bitch, I wasn’t sure why she’d run away from lunch. “But the um, the dog needed a potty break.”
Francesca rolled her eyes dramatically. “That’s exactly why you need to weewee pad train your dog. Especially with your schedule filming, Noah. You’re going to be fifteen hours on set some days and what? Rosa will be left caring for that little creature alone? Walking him at all hours of the night alone in New York City?”
I hated to admit she had a point, but also there were much bigger fish to fry at the moment.
I gave her my best smile, hoping it looked more genuine than it felt. “You’re right, Francesca. I think we will train him on the wee pads.”
“Good,” she nodded, satisfied with herself.
“Okay, well, if Rosa’s not here, then I really have to be going.”
I backed out of the bridal shop, grateful that she didn’t try to stop me or convince me to stay.
As I turned the corner, hurrying back to our hotel, I replayed the events of lunch in my head. Would she be mad about my costars coming to town for the wedding? But… that’s on her parents. They’re the ones who invited people in my life without talking to me first.
I flung open the door to our suite, only to find it empty.
Fuck.
Well, not exactly empty.
