Page 75 of Resisting You
And there at the end was a movie deal. An actual offer for a tumultuous film about the heartache of two rockstars that ends in an overdose.
My lips parted, jaw dropping as I read through the offer. We’d start filming immediately. Then six months after filming, the timeline shows a public divorce with Rosa that would pin it all on her. Staged infidelity. And there, at the climax—after all the created buzz public relations would fuel that mine and Morgan’s chemistry was off the charts, our whirlwind affair culminating would end with an engagement announcement at the Golden Globes, the crescendo to coincide with the buzz of our new movie.
My heart hammered at the thought; this movie deal was the opportunity I'd been sweating blood for. But I didn’t want it likethis.
"Six months, Noah. Six months, and then you and I take center stage. Think about it—your name in lights, the roles you've always wanted," she pressed. “No more crappy teen dramas.”
I shook my head. “This isn’t real. There isn’t an actual movie offer on the table?—”
“There is,” Morgan said. “Call your agent. The offer came in right before your party. They want you and me… but only if we’re together.”
I stared at the phone screen, feeling a dangerous pull towards the glitz painted in pixels before me. The promise of what I'd worked for so long, dangled just within reach. But Rosa's laughter echoed in my mind, a soothing balm against the siren call of fame.
"There will be other offers," I muttered, locking my phone and shoving it back into my pocket. As painful as it was to turn down my first big movie role, nothing would be more painful than losing Rosa.
"Don’t make a decision now,” Morgan said. “Just think about it, Noah. Your future is one little divorce away," she whispered,her voice a velvet caress that somehow made the stale air of the seedy bar feel charged.
Reid appeared at my side, a reminder of where my loyalties lie. “Is everything okay over here?” he asked.
“Everything’s fine.” I answered tightly.
"Yep, everything’s just fine," Morgan conceded, a tight smile playing on her lips. Morgan slid the drink she'd been holding into my hand, her touch lingering just a second too long. "For the road," she said, her tone light but eyes sharp. "And just remember. Offers like mine don't come around every day."
"Thanks," I mumbled, more out of reflex than gratitude. The cold glass felt heavy, weighted with implications I couldn't afford to entertain. But despite the weight, I lifted the drink to my lips and took a long pull of bitter liquor.
As Reid clamped a hand on my shoulder, he and West steered me into the back room and the cheers and catcalls of my friends filled the space. A dancer moved towards me, her smile practiced, her moves smooth as silk. I tried to focus, to push away the fog of confusion and the unexpected weight of temptation Morgan had left me with. But the room began to tilt, the edges blurring, and the faces of my friends started to merge with the pulsating lights.
I looked over my shoulder one last time, holding onto Reid and West, steadying myself on my best friends. But the last thing I saw was Morgan's smile, promising and dangerous, like the glint of a knife in the dark.
Chapter 28
Rosa
I stepped off the sidewalk to cross the street, wincing as the sudden movement sent a pounding reminder of last night’s tequila shots straight to my skull. I didn’t even havethatmuch to drink, but just like my mother, I’m a lightweight.
At least I had the good sense to crash in Hazel’s airbnb with her. Being the best friend she is, she kicked Reid to sleep on the couch in the other room after he promised me Noah had been safely deposited back at our hotel room and she and I shared the bed, like we were two thirteen year olds on a sleepover.
Now I was walking the two blocks back to the Maple Grove Inn to check on my husband.
Husband.
The word still felt foreign, like it belonged to someone else. Someone responsible. Someone who didn’t wake up this morning wearing a tiara that read “Drunk in Love.”
As I rounded the corner toward our inn, I nearly collided with Noah’s mom. She was holding Birdie, in her arms, her expression tight with concern.
“Oh, thank goodness,” she sighed. “Rosa, do you know where Noah is?”
I blinked, trying to process the question through the fog of my hangover. “Uh… in our room?”
She shook her head. “He was supposed to pick up Birdie an hour ago, but he’s not answering his phone.”
A sinking feeling settled in my stomach. “That’s… weird.”
Even though we had only just eloped recently, I had known Noah for years. And he was never the guy who slept through alarms or ignored calls—especially not from his mother.
“I was just heading back to the room,” I said. “I can take Birdie and check on him.”
“Thank you, sweetie!” Marty said. “I’m supposed to meet your mother and father for lunch soon and I’d hate to be late for them. They seem like they, er, really value punctuality.”
