Hope slid out from under Angelica and stood at the edge of the bed. She pulled down the blankets and gave Angelica a hard look. “Come on. You need actual rest.”
Angelica narrowed her gaze. “And you would know that how?”
“When’s the last time you slept all night?”
Angelica pursed her lips, refusing to answer.
“Exactly. And when’s the last time you slept for six hours minimum?”
“Fine.” Angelica shifted, sliding under the blankets and turning on her side before tossing a look over her shoulder. “But you’re holding me.”
“Of course.” Hope climbed in behind Angelica, scooting up against her. She kissed Angelica’s shoulder and settled in.
Angelica sighed, staring at the wall as her brain spun wildly. She might not get any sleep tonight. But at least Hope would be there with her through it.
Chapter
Twenty-Five
Ansel brushedthe rouge against Hope’s cheeks, tutting at her. As if she was doing something wrong, but she knew she wasn’t. Biting her lip, Hope looked around the small hotel room that they’d converted into a press release room. She hadn’t anticipated she’d be stuck in here, that the bed and other furniture would be shoved into a corner, and that she’d be sitting in a chair with Ansel fussing and Cadence narrowing her gaze, and Florence judging from the corner.
Angelica had whisked herself away early in the morning to make phone calls and get some work done before filming started for the day, and as soon as Hope had stepped into the staging area, dressed for the day and with her makeup done, Florence had told her to turn around and head straight here.
With very little explanation.
“There, I think that should do it.” Ansel straightened his back. “I wish they’d told me to prep you for a press release instead of filming this morning.”
“You’re not the only one,” Hope mumbled under her breath.
Had they even told Angelica what was happening? Because something in the pit of her stomach told her they hadn’t. Florence pushed up onto her toes and rolled her shoulders.
“Ansel, hurry up.”
“I’m done!” Ansel said, but he dipped his hand forward to brush something else over Hope’s cheek. He always had one more thing he wanted to do. The normalcy of that made her smile.
“What exactly is this press release for?” Hope asked, tilting to the side to make eye contact with Florence.
“Oh, um...” Florence’s brow wrinkled. She looked to Cadence and then back to Hope. “Logan didn’t talk to you?”
“No. I was a bit busy last night.” Hope had seen his missed phone calls, but she hadn’t called him back or even bothered to listen to the messages yet.
“Can I have you all clear the room?” Florence made her voice loud enough that everyone could hear her. It took about two minutes, but eventually, the door shut and it was just the two of them staring at each other, Hope in the chair and Florence with her arms crossed. “We thought it’d be a good idea to put out a press release.”
Hope furrowed her brow. “Sure, but what’s it about?”
“Angelica and you.” Florence’s face pulled tight, and it was the first time Hope honestly thought she might be nervous. “There’s been a lot of questions, and we hoped you could clear them up through a release.”
“That I could?” Hope’s heart hammered. “I’m not… Ange would be much better at this than me.”
“No, I don’t think she would.” Florence put her hands to her sides and flexed her fingers. “They need to see the love between the two of you.”
“And you don’t think they’ll see that with her?” Hope frowned. Because surely it was the opposite. Everyone couldsee how enamored Angelica was, couldn’t they? Cadence told them that every time they filmed one of the shorts together. Or was she just being nice? Fuck. Now Hope was second guessing everything.
“No, we don’t.” Florence sighed heavily. “You know as well as anyone that Ange isn’t exactly personable. Now, the goal is for you to talk about your relationship at whatever level you’re comfortable. Don’t go into any details you don’t want to. Just confirm that the two of you are in a relationship, that you’rein love, and that it’s not affecting filming.”
Hope frowned. This felt so impersonal. And her relationship with Angelica was anything but that. Rolling her shoulders, she looked directly at Florence. “Ange really should be here with me.”
“This was a decision made by production.”
