At least, that was Hope’s plan for the next four weeks.
Build up their support, figure out their lives as an out couple in television, and maybe get to know one another in an entirely different capacity. Florence, Logan, and Rex put their heads together, but Hope didn’t bother going over there.
“They’re probably trying to decide if we need to film that again,” Hope muttered under her breath to Angelica.
“Absolutely they are, and if they ask, I’ll refuse.” Angelica nodded firmly. “Unless there was a technical glitch. Like I told you the other night, I’m ready for this break. I think everyone is.”
“I agree.” Hope rolled her shoulders and her neck. “What are the plans when we get back, by the way?”
Angelica canted her head to the side, her golden curls pulling over her shoulder in one direction. Hope reached up to push them behind her back, because she just had to touch her in someway. She wanted that physical connection because it was the only thing she could have right now.
“What do you meanplans?” Angelica furrowed her brow in confusion.
“For us,” Hope said.
Angelica parted her lips, about to say something, when Rex interrupted her. “That’s a wrap, guys! Thank you, everyone!”
Hope stepped away from Angelica as the crew swarmed in to start breaking everything down. She almost couldn’t believe it. It didn’t quite feel like they were done, not yet anyway. The disconnect between filming and not was too sharp this time.
“Hope! Ange!” Logan stepped forward and clapped his hands. “Great job. You two and Eva have a plane to catch. We booked you on an earlier flight to get you out before the paparazzi would completely be aware of you leaving.”
“Oh.” Hope wasn’t entirely sure how she felt about that. Well, she was thankful, but it also was out of place—at least it would have been last season. But like she kept telling herself and everyone else, this season was different.
“Lyric will meet you in Los Angeles.” Logan reached for Hope’s shoulder and squeezed tightly. “Great job. Really. It’s been a tough schedule and with everything else going on, you two managed to keep everything together. Thank you.”
Hope nodded at him. “We did make a really good team this year, didn’t we? The whole of the crew.”
“Yes,” Logan agreed. “You did amazing! I’ll see you back in Los Angeles. Ange, you and I will have a meeting early next week to talk about the defamation suit.”
“Okay,” Angelica agreed. “I’ll look for the confirmation of date and time.”
Hope took Angelica’s hand and they walked toward the back door of the hotel. Eva stood by with her backpack over hershoulders and tablet in her fingertips. When she saw them, her eyes lit up brightly.
“Are we going home now?”
“Yeah,” Hope said, smiling and pulling Eva in for a side hug.
“Is Ange flying with us?” Eva popped her head around to look at Angelica.
“I am.” Angelica nodded at her. “Lyric will pick us up and bring us home.” Angelica looked directly at Hope. They hadn’t discussed that, not in full detail anyway. But Hope had mentioned so many times that she wanted Angelica to spend more time at the house when Eva was there, not just when she was gone. That she didn’t want to separate their worlds more than necessary.
This was that compromise. Warmth filled Hope instantly. She reached for Angelica’s hand and wrapped their fingers together tightly.
“Yeah, Lyric will take us home, and then tomorrow we can unpack and do laundry and figure out what’s next.” Hope dropped a kiss into Eva’s hair.
“Okay.” Eva smiled at the two of them, then she looked pointedly at Angelica before dragging her gaze down to Hope’s left hand and back again.
Hope’s stomach dropped. Angelica had mentioned the conversation with Eva, but that had been it. They hadn’t managed to dig any deeper into that one, and Hope hadn’t had a chance to talk to Eva about it either. That would definitely be happening as soon as they had a chance. Because she didn’t want Eva to be pushing Angelica into anything that she was uncomfortable with.
“Come on.” Angelica started toward the door, holding it open for Hope and Eva to walk through it in front of her.
Once they were all settled into the back of the Suburban, Hope relaxed. A few more hours, and they’d be home for four weeks. Exactly what they needed.
Midseason Break
Chapter
Forty-Two
