Hot drink in hand, I settled back into my seat and tried to focus on the costumes. They were my favorite part of these films. So much incredible detail and hard work went into every piece. I loved studying them and working out the techniques that had been used.
I couldn’t focus on it tonight, though. The fight with Grayson and Jax kept charging back into my thoughts.
I wanted to see their perspective. Tried picturing myself with both of them. It already hurt to for them to take a position against me. Tonight was devouring me. How much worse would that be if we tried to be together romantically?
What happened if I got closer to Grayson than Jax?
My mind revolted on that thought too, because the notion of breaking them up shredded my heart.
I didn’t see any solutions. Only an endless loop of questions.
Chapter Sixteen
“You want coffee?”
Three of the sexiest words ever dragged me from sleep. I opened one eye to find Anne perched in the chair next to mine. She held out a mug with Ms. Pac Man on it.
I forced myself the rest of the way to consciousness, and took the offering. Near-scalding liquid slid down my throat. “You really do love me.”
“Always.”
“What time is it?” Sunlight streamed through the cracks in the heavy curtains.
“Almost noon,” Anne said. “You looked too cute sleeping. I didn’t want to wake you up, but Lyn texted—someone called in sick and she needs help with the Christmas rush.”
Great excuse to immerse myself in socializing and ignore a problem I didn’t have an answer for. “I’m in. Wait. Why are you in?”
Anne wasn’t as fond of people as I was. She stood with a shrug. “I’m not going to turn down a plea for help. And she said I can mostly stick to kitchen and barista duty.”
“That’s fair.”
I took a few more minutes to wake up, and we were on our way. A brief glance at my phone fractured my creeping good mood. A few missed calls, and an ass-ton of emails, none of them from Grayson or Jax. What did I expect, though?
I apologized to Anne for tuning her out while I dialed into my voicemail.
“Ms. Hughes, this is Gregory London, Esquire.” An unfamiliar man’s voice greeted me. “I represent Ms. G and her associates. You’ve failed to respond to our cease and desist, and have posted further inflammatory slander since. If you don’t comply with our request, there will be dire consequences.”