I winced, the mental image turning the coffee in my stomach sour. Lily’s lips softened into a sympathetic smile, conveying her apology without needing words.
“It’s fine, it’s fine,” I assured her. “It just seemed more hassle than it was worth.”
“I get that, I do. I just wish you would stand up for yourself. You’re amazing and should demand that others treat you as such.”
“Blech, stop with the flattery.” I sat up and shuffled to the edge of the bed, straightening out the white sheet.
“Do you think Mark wants to get back together with you?”
I couldn’t control the laugh that burst from me. “Absolutely not. I think he just likes knowing he can push people around. He’s always been the same and gets off onit.”
“I’m not sure. He’s, like, obsessed with you.”
“He’s not, otherwise he wouldn’t have slept with Lauren.”
“True, I guess…”
I placed the moisturizer back on the vanity and shut the wardrobe door. Talking about Mark brought back the conversation with Luca about Mark’s behavior all those weeks ago. But I didn’twantto brush it off anymore; I just didn’t know how to confront the issue when I needed my job on the show. The whole thing made my temples throb, so I shoved the thought aside. “Enough about that idiot, anyway. What time are you coming to the studio later? I’ve saved you a seat next to Luca’s agent and away from my mother and sister.” Even if my father hadn’t been away on business, he wouldn’t have come.
“Ooooh, is the agent handsome?”
I grabbed some socks from the drawer, slipping them on my feet before turning with a knowing smirk.
She groaned and collapsed backward on to the bed. “On a scale of one to ten?”
“Oh, he’s a ten.”
“Holy Christ. Will I fall in love with him? Or is he as miserable as Luca?”
I flashed another grin. Lily squealed and kicked her legs on thebed, which made me laugh. “Don’t worry, though; he’s not your type. From what I’ve heard, he gets around. A lot.”
“Matilda, are you kidding? That’s exactly my type!”
She was still starfished across the middle of my bed, so I grabbed her hands and pulled her up to sitting. She begrudgingly letme.
“What’s wrong with us, Matilda?” She groaned self-deprecatingly, dangling her legs off the edge of mybed.
“Other than our choice in men?” I asked, slinging my bag over my shoulder and pulling her out of the apartment.
“How were your parents yesterday?”I asked Jack as we ordered our coffee and a snack.
Matilda had messaged saying she was running late, as she had to drop Taylor home. I didn’t mind, as it gave me time to gather my wits. Upon reaching our dressing room earlier that day, I’d found a small handwritten note on my vanity table informing me that my costume was ready to pick up from Wardrobe. Noticing a similar note on Matilda’s vanity, I’d grabbed both slips and headed to collect our costumes. After hanging them in our dressing room, I went to meet Jack in the café.
“They’re good. They were asking after you.” He tapped his card on the reader, thanking the barista, who motioned us to the waiting area. I usually saw Jack’s parents fairly often; they were almost like second parents. “They’re not used to you being so…busy.” He smirked over his shoulder, and I narrowed my eyes.
“What did you tell them?”
“Oh, nothing. Just that you were too busy to visit because you were drooling over your skating partner 24/7,” he replied in a sing-song voice.
“Are you kidding? You can’t say shit like that, Jack.”
“No denial, I see.”
Fuck.
“I am not drooling over Matilda,” I hissed as we collected our coffees and sandwiches. My stomach grumbled; I hadn’t eaten since the previous night.
“It doesn’t pack the same punch when you have to be reminded to deny it, buddy.” He patted me on the shoulder as we weaved through the tables toward the exit.
