Unless you counted repeatedly watching the trailer for his newest release.
AJ had first encountered it while taking Emily to seeTed. She’d been searching her bag for their contraband Sour Patch Kids when Noah’s voice murmured over the speakers in a British accent.
“She walks in beauty, like the night, of cloudless climes and starry skies.”
AJ sat bolt upright. No wonder he’d looked so entertained when she’d floated a Lord Byron biopic; he was already doing one.
It was painful how good he looked onscreen. InThe Contracthe’d been emaciated, but this film had made a meal of his body. As AJ watched the trailer, she felt like she was submerging in ice.
Byronflashed across the screen, followed by Noah’s name and the names of a dozen other A-list actors…including Allison Seabring.
By AJ’s calculations, Allison was due for Noah’s three-month relationship cutoff, but a quick google revealed they were still an item. Knowing they were working together hurt almost as badly as knowing they were sleeping together. AJ’s only defense had been an aggressive offensive: that night, she’d all but tackled Brian.
Had that stopped AJ fromoccasionallyrewatching theByrontrailer andjudiciouslychecking the Blue Coats fan forums? It had not.
Blue Coats Society: Arho\\Summer Cons\\2012
BadRhomance33:That Byron trailer makes me so excited for the reboot.
MadameRho:Noah Drew is
CurvyArho122:It’s never as good as it is with AJ.
BadRhomance33:It’s true #Arho are #fatedmates.
Right now, though, Noah was the least of AJ’s concerns.
Em Tyner was approaching them, his eyes trained on Noah. AJ realized too late he hadn’t seen her—she veered out of his path just as he was about to step on her foot.
He blinked at her, surprised. “Age—sorry. Didn’t see you there. You’re looking well.”
“Em, hi,” said AJ, her voice shooting up an octave.
Em had already refocused on Noah. “Tough break last year onThe Contract,” he said, unable to keep the smugness from his voice. “I’m sure you’ll get another shot withByron.”
“Thanks,” said Noah, casually shifting his weight so that his left shoulder was now directly behind AJ’s back. “What’s next for you?”
“Oh, me? You know, this and that,” said Em with false modesty. “E—get over here, will you?”
Ian was currently employing a defense AJ knew well: chatting with Dave to shield oneself from Toni’s death glares. He looked unchanged, despite his recent move to L.A.—California had done nothing to diminish his trademark pastiness. As he shuffled over, AJ felt a strange mix of nostalgia and contempt.
Ian’s fawning over Em had eventually paid off; according to LinkedIn, he now worked for him full-time. AJ wondered if it had been worth it.
“Age,” Ian said with a small smile. “You look well.” He even spoke like Em now.
“Hey, E,” said AJ.
“I was just about to tell Noah about theHydraulicsfranchise,” Em prompted him.
Ian looked a little startled. “Oh sure, right on.”
Then, the two of them began to pitch Noah as if AJ weren’t there.
“It’s just a cameo in the first one, but he’ll have a much bigger part in the second,” said Em, his back now fully to AJ.
Noah was visibly uncomfortable. “I don’t know the property. Age, do you?”
As AJ responded, she watched Ian and Em tune her out, already thinking of their next remarks.
