“Right. That television show. But…I need to see you. It’s important—” She’s distracted. There’s a lot of chatter in the background, which for Becky Rogers, isn’t unusual, but I can barely make out what she’s saying. Her words are hushed but slurred, like she’s drunk, and needs to be discreet about it.
“Look, I’ll be back home in California soon, for about a week. I need to check on a few things with the salon, but when I have a free day, I’ll let you know,” I tell her, eager to hang up. Cole threads his fingers through my hand that he’s been holding this whole time, leading me out of Bridie’s and away from the noisy crowd.
Sure, I held his hand on the way back to our table, but this feels different. It almost feels as though I’m clinging to him so he can protect me—comfort me—let me know I’m safe, without truly knowing what I need saving from.
“It’s just that…wait, did you say you’re cominghome? When?”
That got her attention. Being back in California means I’ll be closer to her than I am currently in Grangewood, which means she can’t just utilize my home whenever she feels the need.
“Stop beating around the bush, Mom. Spit it out. I think I’m as excited to hear about this as you are to tell me, so spill.” I sigh, forgetting I’m with company, and he probably thinks I’m a bitch for speaking to my mom in any way that isn’t respectful. But if he thought worse of me, he doesn’t show it.
“When did you say you were coming home?” she asks again. Her voice calmer this time, and that’s how I know she’s desperate.
“I don’t know. Sometime next week. I haven’t figured it out, Mom. I’m really busy. Can I call you when I get there and we can organize whatever this is?” I ask. I’m tired. I haven’t slept, and my feet hurt because I’ve been on them all day, and now I’m frustrated that she can’t seem to get the hint.
“Can you come back the week after? I’m…a little busy.”
“Sure, Mom. I’ll tell the entire cast and crew to move everything around just because the mother of the onset hairstylist is busy.” I roll my eyes, pulling my phone away from the side of my face, put it on mute, and tap it against my forehead a few times.
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I force a deep breath and unmute the call, bringing it back to my ear. “If you could, that would be wonderful. Thanks, Jennifer.” She hangs up before I can tell her I was being sarcastic, and that under no circumstances would the shooting of a major film production be put on hold forthat.
God, that woman irks me in ways I never knew was possible.
I still, to this day, have no idea how I came out of her and lived to tell the tale.
“Where too?” Cole asks, and I realize I’m now sitting in the passenger seat of his car.
“My place.”
He doesn’t ask about the conversation with my mom, but I know he was able to hear both sides of it.
Even so, his hand rests in my lap the entire drive back to the apartments, his thumb gliding back and forth to remind me of his presence, and I am grateful for it.
Grateful because he seemed to just know I needed the distraction, and knew he could provide it.
We got back to my place not long after, and I dragged him to my bedroom, making sure to lock my front door behind us.
And while I craved him in all the ways I’d had him before, he gave me a part of him that I didn’t realize I needed so badly.
He was slow, gentle, and careful.
But it was intense.
Passionate.
Earth shattering.
And in that moment, we no longer felt like a friends with benefits type of situation at all.
Chapter twenty-seven
Jenna
“You packed light,” Tahneetells me as she and her husband, Gio, wait for their bags at baggage claim, while I have my single duffle bag slung over my shoulder.
“We’re only home for a few days.” I shrug. “A lot of my stuff is still here, so I didn’t feel the need to pack it all away, only to do it all again so soon.” I pull my vibrating phone out of the pocket in my dress to see my Uber app alerting me that my driver is here. “I have to go,” I say, flashing my phone screen toward her, and she nods. “I’m heading straight to the salon to see Margot, but you have absolutely zero work requirements while we’re here. You have a week off. Try to enjoy yourself.” I pull her in for a quick hug before smiling awkwardly at Gio, and heading out the door.
He’ll be staying in California for the remainder of shooting, but he and I don’t have the type of friendship that warrants a goodbye hug.
