“That was amazing!” Florence’s voice reached Angelica’s ears, but she wasn’t talking to Angelica. She was talking to Hope. “I’ve only seen the one other short you two filmed, and this one was even better.”
“Yeah, I think so too.” Hope’s lips didn’t falter in their smile. She leaned in, getting so close to Florence.
It was probably just to hear her better. Right?
Except Angelica had noticed this behavior all week, and it had irked her. There was nothing outrageous about it. Hope was simply being herself, and Angelica had seen Hope do this with other people throughout the years. But something about Florence set Angelica off when moments like this happened.
“That was a good one.” Cadence said, touching Angelica’s arm lightly to get her attention before backing off.
“Thanks,” Angelica replied, trying to steel herself against whatever nasty emotions were working their way into her body. She wanted the warmth and teasing and comfort she had minutes ago. But she was left with this cold wake now.
“I can see why Hope and FloRo get along so well,” Cadence said as she nodded toward them. “You and FloRo are a lot alike. It helps me to think about it like that when I’m dealing with her.” Chuckling, Cadence walked away.
Angelica’s stomach dropped.
Rex had made the same comment.
And that’s exactly what her problem was. Florence Delarosa was too much like Angelica. The crew chattered loudly as they dug in to the dish like fiends, just forkful after forkful, no one taking a plate of their own. Angelica swallowed her grimace and stepped away from the crowd, heading back to her room.
She needed the escape and the quiet.
“Angel!” Hope’s voice reached her ears as she got to the elevator.
Angelica turned around and held her breath as Hope walked toward her.
“You’re leaving so early.”
“I’m tired,” Angelica said. It was only a half lie. She was exhausted from the week, but she really just wanted the escape.
“Are you sure that’s everything?” Concern furrowed Hope’s brow. “You weren’t exactly yourself when we were filming just now.”
Angelica shook her head slowly. She met Hope’s gaze and frowned. “Do you want an open relationship?”
“W-what?” Hope stumbled a step back, her face paling instantly. “Why would you say that?”
“I’m not…” Angelica bit her lip and finally looked around the room to see who else was nearby. She closed her eyes and steadied herself. “I know how we started.” Angelica’s heart raced so fast she worried it’d burst out of her chest. “I know… Look, I’m not opposed to an open relationship, but I’m not going to be five years into this and have it thrown at me thatthat’s something you want.”
“Angel…” Hope’s jaw dropped. “What are you talking about?”
“You and Rex. You and whoever. I don’t know. But I don’t want to start thinking that we’re in this together, just you and me, and then have you say you want someone else as well. I want honesty in our relationship, on all levels.”
Hope bit her lip, a frown forming where her beautiful smile had been only moments before. “Why are you bringing this up now?”
“I meant to bring it up before, I just…”Was scared. Chickened out. Didn’t want to end a good thing by accident.There were so many answers she could give for that one sentence, and she wasn’t sure that she could even find one that was more right than the others.
“Is this because of Josef?”
“No.” Then Angelica paused. “Maybe a bit.” She winced. “I just want to know what we’re doing.”
“I love you, Angel.”
Angelica’s heart sank. That wasn’t what she was after. She didn’t doubt Hope’s love for her. She doubted that Hope’s love wasonlyfor her. But how could she even begin to explain that? “Just think about it, will you?”
“Yeah. Sure.” Hope still looked just as confused as before.
Angelica winced. “Like I said, I’m not opposed to an open relationship—well, open on your side, not mine. I just want to know…”
“Angel—”
