I didn’t know why he was doing this, but it didn’t matter. I was grateful it was Luke standing there, offering me more than just a roof over my head. Somehow, of all people, he made me feel like maybe I wasn’t as alone as I thought.
28
LUKE
Anna had agreedto stay with me. A rare win, though the responsibility now felt heavier than I’d anticipated. As I watched Joan’s sons pack what remained of Anna’s belongings into soggy boxes, it hit me how much her life had been upended. It wasn’t just her roof that had been crushed; it was her sense of stability.
I glanced at my phone. Missed call from Topher. Great. When I called back, he answered almost immediately. “Luke, do you have a moment to discuss the neighborhood drama you’ve caused?”
I sighed. “Topher, a literal tree fell on the cottage where Anna was staying.”
“I know. Her aunt reached out, by the way. Lovely woman, but she wanted to know if you’re ‘a heartbreaker.’”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Her aunt calledyou? How does her aunt even have your number?”
“I went to high school with Anna’s cousin. Anyway, she asked if I thought you were ‘stable.’ Stable. As if you’re a stallion up for auction.”
“Fantastic,” I muttered. “Did you tell her I’m a paragon of emotional stability?”
“Not exactly. I said you’remostlyharmless, except when someone cheats on you and you punch their co-star in the jaw.”
“Topher—”
“Kidding. She has no idea who you are. Listen to me carefully. Do not, under any circumstances, mess this up. Her aunt already sounds like she’s ready to send a cousin with a baseball bat to ‘sort you out.’”
I groaned. “Anna’s staying here because her roof caved in. That’s it. I’m not exactly proposing marriage.”
“Good, because based on that shower incident, you can barely handle bathroom appliances,” Topher quipped.
“Wow, thanks for the support.”
“Anytime,” he said breezily. “Keep your head down. No unnecessary complications, no bad press.”
I rubbed my temples. “She’s a friend who needs help.”
“Sure, sure.” He was unconvinced. “But just in case, I told her aunt that if anything goes wrong, I’ll personally fly down to New Orleans and drag you back to LA.”
“Looking forward to it,” I muttered, hanging up before he could get in another dig.
I turned back to the house and saw Anna’s belongings being unceremoniously dumped into a box. Something in me twisted at the sight. This wasn’t how someone’s life should look: wet, crumpled, and shoved into a cardboard rectangle.
Before I could stop myself, I threw open the window and yelled, “Don’t toss anything. Bring it inside. Carefully.”
Joan’s sons looked startled but nodded, quickly adjusting their approach. I stepped back, shaking my head. Why was I getting so worked up over this?
Because Anna deserved better, that’s why.
An idea struck, and I grabbed my phone again. My stylist answered on the second ring. “Darling, tell me you’re finally ready to refresh your look.”
“Not me,” I said quickly. “I need a wardrobe for someone else. A woman. Casual, functional, but nice. And nothing with price tags that scream ‘Hollywood.’ Think casual and approachable. And fast.”
“Say no more. I’ll keep it chic but understated. This will be my priority. Give me the sizes for your friend, and I’ll call in the orders to stores down there.”
* * *
The next morning,after a restless night and one too many cups of coffee, I wandered into the kitchen, needing something to distract me.
My thoughts kept circling back to Anna. I couldn’t shake the image of her standing in the wreckage of her cottage, soaked to the bone, trying to salvage pieces of her life with that unshakable determination in her eyes. She hadn’t asked for help. Didn’t even hint at needing it. But it was obvious.
