Page 71 of Resisting You
I whipped around to look at my mother who snapped another picture of Hazel and me hugging. “You invited Hazel?”
Mama rolled her eyes. “She’s your best friend. Of course I invited her!”
“Thank God you came!” I said, hugging her once more. “You single-handedly just saved this whole night.”
"Girl, you have no idea. Now come on, let's get you off this stage," Hazel said, shooting a quick glare at my mother. She grabbed my hand and led me down the steps to safety.
My mother started to object but Hazel waved her off. "Rosa looks overwhelmed, wouldn’t you say, Francesca?”
Mama’s mouth opened, but quickly shut with her stammer. “Well, bachelorette parties are meant to be a little embarrassing for the bride. That’s the whole point!”
Hazel smiled in a way that I knew was lethal. “Well, I'm taking over bachelorette party duties now. We'll be back in a few minutes!" she said, taking my hand with a mischievous wink.
“Where are you going?” Mama called after us as Hazel tugged gently on my hand.
“To have a cigarette!”
“Rosa doesn’t smoke!”
“No, but I do!” Hazel yelled over the crowd.
Before my mother could argue anymore, Hazel had whisked me out the door into the cool night air. I took a deep breath, the pulsing music fading behind us.
“You don’t smoke,” I said, enjoying the peace.
Hazel shrugged. “No, but your mother doesn’t know that.”
"I can't believe you're actually here!" I said. "How did you even know where to find me? And where’s Reid?”
“He’s with Noah and West.”
“Oh.” Right. Well, at least someone I know and trust will have eyes on Noah and the whole Morgan situation.
“So… you and Noah decided to give this thing a go?” Hazel asked. “You really don’t mess around, do you? Wouldn’t give the guy a single date for almost two years and then BAM!Married.”
I rolled my eyes at her. “You know that’s not the situation. It’s… it’s a marriage of convenience. That’s all.” It was nice to say it aloud. To have someone other than Callie know the truth.
“So you two haven’t… consummated anything?”
My cheeks went hot and I looked down at my shoes as I scuffed them along the sidewalk. Even if I wanted to lie to Hazel, she’d see right through that. “That was a mistake,” I admitted. “The guy he is when he’s alone with me isn’t the real Noah.”
“How do you know that? How do you know whatyou’regetting isn’t the real Noah and everyone else is seeing the fake Noah?”
“You just have to trust me on this. I saw the real Noah today. And he cares way too much about what everyone else thinks.”
“I’ve known Noah a lot longer than you.” Hazel took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I get that he can be annoying, trust me, I do. So many of us actors are insecure and broken. But people make mistakes, even big ones. And Noah is genuinely sorry. He told me so earlier today.”
I shook my head slightly. Hazel had always been quick to forgive. But that just wasn’t me.
"He's beating himself up over this, Rosa. He wants to make it right. When you love someone, you have to be willing to give them another chance when they mess up."
“Who says I love him?”
Hazel rolled her eyes. “Girl, please. I’ve known Noah almost my whole life and you’re like the sister I never had. I know when you’re in love. And I definitely know whenhe’sin love.”
My eyes shot to hers. “He’s in love with me?”
“Are you joking? He’s crazy about you. I think he’s been in love with you for years. For God sake, you two got adogtogether within days of drunkenly eloping!”
