“Yeah. Because Tessa Hale did me a favor.” I shook my head as I stared out the window again. “If she hadn’t been a fan of my movies, I wouldn’t have been able to give my sister the one thing she really wanted. And you know how much I hate to trade on my name.”
“I get that you’re upset. But Maddie doesn’t even get how badly she messed up because one fancy bakery is the same as another to her. Back home, the best birthday cake you can get is the one someone baked for you to show how much they care.”
I pressed my lips together hard enough to hurt so I didn’t say something I’d regret. That would only give Maddie exactly what she wanted—a bigger wedge between Hudson and me.
“I don’t want to fight,” he murmured. “I miss you. Come over when you get back. We’ll eat whatever takeout you want and open a bottle of that Pinot you like.”
It would be so easy to let him wrap his strong arms around me, his devilish smile chasing away the knot in my chest. But I’d been up since before sunrise and just spent the past three hours replaying every excuse he'd made for her. “I’m tired, Hudson.”
“Then I’ll come to you instead.”
At least if he was at my place, I didn’t need to worry about Maddie walking in on us unannounced, since there was zero chance of me ever giving her a key to my home. Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said for my boyfriend, who hadn’t removed her code from his security system when she finally moved into an apartment. “Sure, but Avery is expecting me to bring home something for dinner.”
“I can take care of that so the food is waiting when you get there. Sushi, pasta, or that burger she likes from Craig’s?”
His kindness was one of the reasons I’d fallen so hard for Hudson, and it hurt like hell that Maddie kept turning it against me.
“Craig’s is perfect. Thank you.”
“You don’t need to thank me for doing something that benefits me as much as you, baby. Bringing dinner over is a small price to pay to get to hold you tonight.”
I blinked back the tears that welled in my eyes. We'd survived the tabloid gossip, separations for shoots, and the constant eyes on us. I'd thought we were the kind of couple who could weather anything. Until he turned a blind eye to the stunts Maddie was pulling.
If I wasn’t so in love with Hudson and he wasn’t such a good boyfriend, this whole mess would be much simpler because I would just walk away. But moments like this gave me hope that Maddie’s interference would stop, and then we’d get back on solid ground again.
“I’ll text you the order.”
He laughed. “As if I don’t already know. The cheeseburger with extra onion jam for Avery, salmon for you, parmesan truffle fries, chopped salad, and pigs in a blanket. Unless you want the honey truffle chicken?”
I normally didn’t indulge in fried foods while filming, but I felt like I deserved it with everything going on lately. And mycall time wasn’t until later in the afternoon anyway. “The chicken please. And the chocolate bread pudding.”
“If you’re asking for dessert, then today must’ve taken more out of you than I thought,” he murmured. “I’ll bring a bottle of Pinot, too.”
Some of the tension left my body. “I’d tell the pilot to fly faster if I could.”
“Just be safe, baby. I’ll be there waiting for you.”
My phone buzzed again, but it was a text from my sister this time.
Avery
I can’t believe I couldn’t skip school today because of a chemistry test while you got to meet Tessa Hale!
I smiled despite everything.
Me
At least the cake is secured and perfect. Tessa killed it.
Avery
OMG YESSS. You're the best.
Me
And Hudson is bringing over your favorites from Craig’s for dinner tonight.
Avery
