“Yeah.”Dan nodded slowly, forked up some salad, then chewed like he was thinking things through.“Suze, my agent, said she’d received a proposal for a project.”
“What kind of project?”
“She didn’t say.Everything’s closed for Christmas back home now.She said she’d email me the day after Boxing Day.”
Boxing Day.That’s what the British called the day after Christmas.Which also meant… “That’s the day we drop our first video,” she said.“Did you tell her that?”
“Nope.”
“Do you have any idea what this project she has for you might be?”
Dan shook his head.“No, but I suspect it’ll be something to do with the BBC if it’s got Suze’s attention on Christmas Eve.”
“That’ll be a pretty big deal,” she said, ignoring her sinking heart.No way could Libby compete with the BBC.And what if this agent advised him to hold off posting any more videos?
Pushing her food around her plate, Libby tried to remain calm.This was Dan’s life.His career.She had to remain neutral about his choices.“Whatever the offer is, it’s great that you’re getting it, and it’s another step closer to normality.”
“Maybe.”
Buying time to steady her thoughts, Libby helped Karim with his meal.He’d worked up an appetite at the beach, but so far, all he’d eaten was the coconut bread that Dan had bought, and he was avoiding anything green on his plate.
“Let’s try to eat something else, honey.”She coaxed him to try the rice and some salad.He made a mess as usual, but she had bigger things taking up her headspace right now.Like what she would do if Dan pulled out of their collaboration before their interviews went live.“Dan, how do you feel about continuing to work with me?”
“Are you asking because you think I’ll ditch you for a better offer?”
The hurt in his eyes made her feel a little ashamed for thinking it.Slowly, she nodded.“Let’s be real.Your agent could be offering you a lot of money.”
“She is.”
“Oh.”
“But she’s not my agent yet,” he said, then nudged his bare foot against her leg.“I’m sticking by our agreement, Libby, if that’s what you’re worried about.I want to post our interviews, just like we planned.All five parts.”
“Thanks, Cranky.”Her shoulders relaxed and she smiled.“We’ve still got to shoot Part Five, remember?”
Dan still hadn’t decided on the content for the final part.Any talk of his future had him clamming up.Clearly, he had no clue about it.
“We could record Part Five on New Year’s Day,” she offered.“At dawn.Like a brand-new chapter in your life.”
“Meh.”Dan carried on eating.“That sounds too…dramatic.”
“We’ll brainstorm, then.I’ll put together a list of questions that’ll give you something to think about.”Libby speared some salad.“So, a hundred percent, our collab deal is still what you want?”
“Well…I don’t actually want to put my personal life on social media,” he said, “but seeing as going back in time and not getting on a horse isn’t possible, our collab is what I need.I need to get those journalists out of my face, and when that side of my life is in control, I’ll work out Part Five.”
Relieved, she raised her glass of water.“Let’s add a toast to our handshake deal, then.To Libby and Dan’s collab.”
“I’ll drink to that.”Dan raised his, too.“To our collab.”
They clinked glasses.Karim raised his little drinking cup too, wanting to join in, and they clinked and toasted all sorts of things because it amused him so much.
Their easy laughter stayed with Libby for the rest of the evening, warming her heart as much as the humid night air warmed her skin.She bathed Karim, then read him a few stories on the couch while Dan took a shower.When he came out wearing just a towel around his hips, he announced he was going to bed early.
His gaze lingered on hers.“See you later?”
“Uh…maybe.Not sure.”Two consecutive nights in Dan’s bed wasn’t what she’d expected from their new kind of friendship.“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.”He turned and pushed his bedroom door open.His towel fell away, giving her a brief view of his impressive backside as he closed the door.
