“Um… remember my surgery? I’m not banging anyone.”
He nodded. “Okay then, are you going to be banging him when you’re better?”
Marley sighed. “What I am about to tell you is covered by the NDA. It stays here. In this room. Okay?”
Shayne crossed his heart in a leftover gesture from when he was Catholic. “Swear. What’s the dirt?”
“He’s not with Serena. They barely know each other. But he and I are… together.”
Shayne exhaled. “Phew. I go to France for three weeks and my BFF is caught in the biggest Hollywood scandal all year. Tell me everything, bestie.”
“I did! That’s everything!”
“I don’t believe you.”
She rolled her eyes. “Tell me about Paris.”
Shayne clapped his hands together. “It was fabulous, Marley, really… like,exceedinglyamazing. I met everyone. Like, I literally showed a picture of McQueen to the creative director of Alexander McQueen. I even met important Toronto people.Oh, and get this: I met this fashion influencer who’s having this big party here in the city this week, and she wants me to be the head photographer. You can come, too. You can make tons of contacts with big names.”
Marley frowned. “I… I really don’t think I’m up for a party…” Yeah, she was doing a lot better, but notthatmuch better.
“Nonsense. You look fabulous. By then you’ll be even better.”
Marley shrugged noncommittally. “So, what happened with that guy… the one you were about to have dinner with when I called you freaking out?”
“Ah… Gabriel… such a Paris cliché. All style and no substance. I saw him a few times, but I doubt he’s feeling any lovelorn heartbreak about me leaving.” Shayne shrugged. “And of course, I have no interest in long distance.”
Marley would normally agree with Shayne. But she also just started a relationship with someone who lived on the other side of the continent. Maybe he’d be here for a while, but Nikhillivedin LA and would be going back one day. What the hell was she doing?
“Anyway, enough about my non–love life. What is going on between you and the Bronze Shadow? How did that even happen? This is the biggest spill of tea since the American Revolution.”
Marley gave Shayne a warning glare. “NDA, Shayne. Seriously… this is not tea. This needs to stay private.”
Shayne raised one brow. “I know, girl. This tea is all for me only. Exclusivity is hot. Without leaving the house and without sex, what have you been doing?”
Marley exhaled. A lot—that was what. She and Nikhil were…caring about each other. Supporting each other. Watching TV, talking about their day, leaning on each other, and most of all, being the partner they both needed right now. But it was incredibly hard to explain this weird dynamic. “Just hanging out. We’re not really in a relationship, just trying things on for size. You don’t mind that he’s staying here, do you? The studio is putting him up in an apartment when they start filming. It’s only about three more weeks.”
Shayne shrugged. “Nah, I don’t mind. Go nuts… and enjoy yournot a relationshipwhile you can have it.”
Marley smiled. She spent the rest of the afternoon drinking delicious tea and catching up with her best friend.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Nikhil
On Tuesday, Nikhil had an early rehearsal with Reggie and Caroline. When he walked in, they were at the far side of the room. Caroline had her back to Nikhil and was wearing a workout tank.
But then Caroline turned around, and Nikhil almost dropped his bottle of water. It wasn’t Caroline. It was Serena Vox. They looked exactly alike from the back—which made sense because Caroline was Serena’s stunt double.
Reggie grinned and waved him over. “Come, Nik! Look who’s here!”
Nikhil took a deep breath before heading over to see them. Serena had a friendly smile. Fake, he assumed.
“Serena! When did you get in from LA?” She may not be fond of him, but he could pretend to be friends, too.
“Yesterday. Shall we get to it?” She glanced over to one of the changing room doors where Caroline had just come out wearing her normal hoodie. Then Serena reached out to hug Nikhil. He stiffened. Odd. Why was she being like this when there were no paparazzi around? Maybe he’d misjudged her and she didn’t actually dislike him?
Nikhil didn’t know what he was expecting when they started rehearsing, but Serena was nothing but professional. Asthe day went on, she grew friendlier and even made some small talk with Nikhil. He was so relieved that Serena had finally warmed up to him. Their rehearsals were physically brutal—it was way better to have a co-star who seemed to enjoy working with him.
