Everyone loves Rowan Cole. His movies are the perfect balance of funny and romantic with just the right amount of steam. Not to mention, the guy is one of the sexiest actors I’ve ever seen.
She shifts uncomfortably in her seat and shrugs, suddenly very interested in rearranging her pile of kisses. “Nothing I care to talk about.”
“Oh, no you don’t. You can’t just drop a bomb like that and leave us hanging,” Noia presses as she folds her arms and rests them on the table, leaning in.
“Spill it,” Claire cuts in. “Did you meet him at a tattoo convention or something? Was he a jerk?”
I carefully suss out Lizzy’s body language. She’s definitely hiding something. But judging by the look on her face, it’s a story she’s hesitant to tell.
“Come on, Liz,” I coax. “You can’t hate on the king of rom-coms without giving us alittlecontext.”
Her green eyes flash with what looks like annoyance, then maybe even a hint of pain before she shakes her head firmly.
As the opening credits start to roll, I catch Claire and Noia exchanging curious glances. Something tells me they’re just as determined as I am to figure out what Lizzy’s deal is with the famous actor.
“Okay. How about I grab some snacks and we take this to the living room and get comfy?”
Leaving everything but the chocolate and booze on the table we grab a couple of blankets and settle in.
Two hours later, the movie ends with your typical over-the-top declaration of love and make-out sesh in the rain. I’m not the only one wiping away a few tears.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” I grin at Lizzy from my place next to her on the couch.
“It was... tolerable,” she admits with a small smile.
“Comeon. Just give us a little hint of your connection to Rowan Cole.Pleeaasse?”
Shifting in her seat to face me, Lizzy tilts her head and gives me an evil grin. “How about you tell me what went down between you and Jax a few months ago instead?”
I glance at Noia, looking for backup, but all she does is hidea smirk behind her glass. Which makes me seriously consider the need to be in the market for a new best friend.
“From what I understand, you two had a moment in the alley outside The Brew at our tenth anniversary party,” Lizzy finishes.
My gaze shifts back to my best friend, and I gasp, “Traitor! You told her about that?”
“What? They already suspected. And Jax isn’t very subtle about how he reacts when someone brings you up. Ryder tells me he talks about you.A lot.”
Confusion riots in my chest. I thought Jax and I were on the same page. We both agreed—neither of us was interested in anything more than just one night of fun, and that would be it. So how is it that he’s still dwelling on the past? I mean, yeah, it was one of the hottest fucks I’ve ever had, but I figured he’d be over it. One and done, just like we discussed.
“You know he lives next door, right?”
My head whips around. Lizzy’s eyes are dancing with mischief, and somewhere in the background Noia starts choking on her drink.
“You’re fucking kidding me.”
“Nope.” Her grin widens. “All that broody sexiness, right there waiting for you just fifty feet away.”
Shoving the blanket off of her lap, Claire scoots forward on the couch to set her glass down on the coffee table. “I figured you knew already, so I didn’t bring it up.”
“No. I didn’t. I’ve managed to avoid him just fine for this long. There’s no way in hell I would’ve moved next door to him on purpose!” I glare at Noia. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t know either. I’ve never been to his house. The only times I see him are when Ryder and I go hang out with him at The Brew, or if I stop by the shop. He’s been over to our house for dinner a few times, but that’s it.”
Lizzy tosses back the rest of her drink and sets it down next to Claire’s. “How ‘bout you confirm what went down with you and Jax, and I’ll tell you something about my connection to Ro.”
I shift my gaze over to Noia, and she nods, giving me a small, sympathetic smile.
Normally I like to keep my private life private, telling all of my secrets only to Noia. So, when I actually feel the urge to spill my guts to my two newest friends, it stuns me. But with my best friend’s encouragement, I find my lady balls in record time and the words just tumble out.
