He smiles, it’s forced, but he remains quiet. Quickly, Noah excuses himself. He’s on the hunt for some real booze, disappearing to the bar in a flash.
“Crap! What was I supposed to say? He said not to tiptoe,” Adriana cries out apologetically, rubbing her stomach as she breathes in and out slowly to calm down.
“It’s not your fault. He’s got a lot on his mind… it’s a guy thing. I’m going to go find him.”
Julian cups Adriana’s face in his hands, kissing her lips gently. It appears to relax her, and just the simple gesture makes the slow burn inside of me crave precisely that. I want what they have, the whole package, and I want it with someone who will worship me the same way.
And that person will never be Noah.
The hurtful truth shifts my mood as Julian tells us he’s off to find Noah.
“I’ll come with you,” Lex calls out, following in tow.
I smile, forcefully, trying to hold myself together.
“So, Lex and Julian are besties now?” I ask Charlie, grabbing another champagne from a waiter drifting past.
Charlie sighs. “They have a truce. Basically, that truce involves taking Noah to strip joints… or something.”
The thought slightly pangs in my heart. Despite all his flaws, and an evident case of being unable to control himself with other women, it doesn’t erase my desire for him.
“What?” Adriana almost chokes on some puff she’s eating. “You never told me that?”
“Presley told me… speak of the devil…” Charlie mumbles, nodding toward her right.
Haden and Presley are walking side by side, barely acknowledging each other, the tension clearly visible on their faces as they inch closer to us.
Haden Cooper runs one of the top publications on the West Coast. He’s Noah’s boss, but the three of them, including Lex, are very close friends. They’re all business, ferocious with work, but they play hard. The strip joint comment doesn’t surprise me, though I never worked out who the instigator is.
Presley, Haden’s wife, is the editor-in-chief at Lantern Publishing, and is the reason my first book made the New York Times’ bestseller list. They are a crazy couple, forever arguing, but somehow jelled at the same time.
Haden leans in to kiss my cheek, adjusting his glasses as he pulls away. He looked sexy in his Men in Black costume, not that I would ever admit that to Presley.
Quickly excusing himself without a polite gesture toward Presley, she mutters ‘Jerk’ under her breath.
“Trouble in paradise?” Charlie smirks, handing Presley a glass of champagne which she downs in one go.
“Have you ever had your husband come inside you even though you clearly said no?”
“Yes,” Charlie and Adriana admit in unison.
I shrug my shoulders not sure what comment will satisfy Presley right now. The married talk makes me uncomfortable. The longest relationship I’ve had is six months which was with a fellow actor. Half the time we were traveling and on different sets, so I can’t relate to their relationship woes.
“Argh… fine. Whatever. I’m off to get drunk and find someone more mature than my asshole of a husband. Have more kids they said. Arrrggghhh!” She stomps her foot, making her way to a waiter and grabbing two champagnes off his tray.
“Okay, ladies, I’m off to do the rounds, but make yourself at home. Wolfgang’s in the kitchen cooking up a storm.”
I want to find Noah, see if he’s okay. Despite all the drama, we formed some sort of bond in this madness. Moving around the room, I say hello to people, make small talk before I spot him at the bar standing with his cell in hand. Julian, Lex, and Haden are nowhere to be seen.
Standing beside Noah, I wait for him to notice me. The lingering smell of his signature cologne is like a forbidden drug I’m warned never to touch. My fingers, desperate to reach out and caress his hand, remain on the bar top, twitching with the need to touch to him.
“Tequila shot, please. And don’t go easy,” I tell the bartender, then turn to face Noah. “I guess you got a head start.”
“Why didn’t you warn me she was going to be here?” he snaps, brutally.
“I found out only a few hours ago. Not even. You both weren’t meant to come. Okay? Plus, she’s not here, yet.”
“I’m sorry,” he mumbles, his tone turning weak and heavy laden with guilt. “It’s getting worse, Scarlett. She won’t let me see the kids. You need to help me, please. She’s playing real dirty, and I don’t know how to get her to reason with me.” He places his hand on mine, a tight grip that tugs at every emotion inside me and causes this meltdown, which I’m struggling to contain. If only he