Would that change with the new show? I hated the idea that it would. Because as much as I loved acting—and I always had—I loved my life, too. Loved being able to come up to Portland to spend time with my brother without people on the street noticing me. Loved that I could do this as a career and still beme.Of course, I was lucky. Lucky enough to even be pursing this path, that I had something to fall back on even if I failed.
I’d been working a waitressing gig part time ever since moving to California, but hopefully after the show was out, I wouldn’t need it anymore.
It was a reminder that my life was anywhere but here. Portland might have been my brother’s home, but it wasn’t mine.
Shaking my head, I walked back into the dressing room withthe girls. I definitely did not need to be focusing on Oliver—not today. Not when there was a bride to finish getting ready and a couple to get married.
And not when I was going to be leaving soon.
“How was it in there?” Noelle asked, running her hands through Snowball’s fur.
I gave her a small smile. “Good. Everyone’s dressed. No one forgot their corsage or tie.”
She let out a breath. “Thank god.”
“Oh, and my brother said to remind you not to worry, because hell still be the one meeting you at the end of the aisle.” Her best friends and my fellow bridesmaids—Charlotte, who was largely pregnant, Angelina, and Gabbi—all let out a chorus of awws. “And that he can’t wait for you to be his wife.”
Noelle dabbed at her eyes, looking up towards the ceiling.
“Don’t ruin your makeup, babe,” Charlotte practically cried, getting up and fanning her face, taking her matron of honor duties seriously.
“I can’t help it,” she laughed. “I’m just so happy. I love him so much.”
“I know, Noelle. I remember that feeling all too well.” Charlotte ran her hand over her bump. She’d married her best friend—Daniel, Angelina’s older brother—last year, and they were expecting their first baby this winter.
The two girls hugged, and then the door opened, the wedding planner stepping inside. “How are you feeling, bride to be?” She smiled. “Ready to go get married?”
Noelle nodded. “More than ready.” She grinned, all trace of tears from earlier quickly evaporated.
We all piled in, hugging her tight before heading downstairs, and I wasn’t thinking about Oliver Graham—not one bit. Not about how in just a few minutes, I’d be at his side, smelling his cologne. Definitely not thinking about what it would be like to kiss him, not at all.
At least, that was the lie I was telling myself.
CHAPTER 2
Oliver
Tessa Harper was here.
And damn, was she beautiful. The most beautiful girl I’d ever laid eyes on. That was unfair, right? No one should be that gorgeous. And don’t even get me started on those long legs that went on for miles.
The last two years had been torture. Ever since I’d first met her, I’d wanted to get to know her better. When she smiled, she lit up the entire room, like every light was pointed directly at her. And who was I to stand in her light?
But she’d been working in Hollywood, acting in small roles until she’d recently landed a new television series. Something I planned to watch just as eagerly as I had the rest of her stuff, even though she had no clue.
The door closed, Tessa taking her honeyed scent with her, and Matthew looked amused. I tried to hide the telltale sign of a blush on my cheeks, though that wasn’t easy, since my skin always showed what I was feeling. My ginger complexion didn’t hide anything.
Thankfully at some point, I’d gone from being a tall, lanky teenager teased for my freckles and the color of my hair to now twenty-nine and buff. All those hours working in the gym hadpaid off. Though I might not have been as muscular as Matthew, I was still confident in my looks.
I’d done alright. I had a good job. Yet, I was twenty nine and still single. Something that baffled my mom to this day. But I was waiting for the right person.
Or maybe she’d been right there all along, and I was too busy trying to ignore our attraction to consider it.
“Oliver?”
“Hm?” I looked up at my cousin’s soon-to-be husband. Tessa’sbrother,I tried to remind myself. That was one of the reasons I’d stayed away these last two years. Why all we’d ever been was friends. Even though I found her to be one of the most interesting people I’d ever met. She was smart and captivating and always made me laugh. I loved the person I was when I was around her. Even if I knew it could never be more.
“Besides Noelle, my sister’s the most important person in the world to me.”
