Page 13 (1/2)

"So you and Eers through the snacks, choosing nothing "How long has this been going on?"

I shake rapher calls us for group shots, and I’ to Brooke has had a dual effect I’m less tense, but instantly worried by the jealousy accusation Alpha-male? Good God, no Mo Possessive s "A self-possessed ically healthy wouy who dispenses orders and punishment--whether physical or eht hoh codependent client stories, a few co--two of which turned criuys and scare irl The type ants--needs--the jealous boyfriend to prove she has worth My eyes are on Ehs with Jenna and MiShaun, and I know she’s not in that category Co, too, I think, watching as Reid moves near her and joins the conversation

Her response to being held too tightly would be a quick exit

Her eyes swing to s with pleasure A slow burn begins at my core and I knoill build until we’re alone in her rooain, the rest of the world shut out There’s a line at the edge of possessive, and she lance between us reinforces what I know I love her Everything else--the ins and outs of s and hers in conjunction hat it all means--can be deciphered in due time I love her That’s all that matters, and in this moment, that’s all I am

Brooke

Well, shit This is ht He may actually believe he’s in love with her

I’ve put far too many years into this relationship to lose him like this, to her I care about Graham deeply, but if he pairs up with Emma, e have will be over For so it athim I could be what he wants I could be sweeter and softer with hily hard all the tier forever off to the side as his friend and confidant, I could convince Emma that I’m not a threat I could hold onto his friendship, which means more to me than he’ll ever know

But, no Friendship isn’t enough I want hiuy I need, and all I have to do is get Emma out of the way and convince Graham that I can be what he needs Soh deviousness to pull this off And if this has to be an all-or-nothing battle, then so be it No time to be squea the perfect guy

Chapter 12

E out of that tiny dress and the five thousand pins they used to fit it to love took forever, so I’m the last one out of the studio Three black cars idle at the curb, waiting to transport the nine of us to the hotel Brooke climbs into the first car behind Tadd, and I’ relieved that Graham isn’t with her

Brooke is a force of nature The last thing any sane girl would want is to get into a tug-of-ith her over a guy Graham says they’re just friends, and I have to trust hi to work No matter how beautiful she is No matter how familiar her casual touches see at him like he’s on her roo near the last car, scanning for Graham as covertly as possible, someone says, "Pssst" I bite my lip to stifle a yelp when Grahaswith Jenna a few feet away, raises an eyebrow as I disappear into the back seat, backwards She bends to see who’s snatched me off of the sidewalk When she spots Graham, her wide eyes tell me I can expect to be quizzed about this later

"Graha "You just made me look like that hapless character in every horror filht next to the darkened basehis arm before anyone else sees Thank God for opaque s "So you’re the expendable cheerleader, and I’m the deuy with the chainsaw, yeah" Aware that I’ll have to sit up straight and keep ainst hi the top of his hand withif you’d want to check out Griffith Park in the " His question is a breath into MiShaun He flips his hand over and o early to get back in time to leave for the second shoot"

I nod "I’ve been to Griffith, but not for years My fa there"

MySoet sick To be honest, I’m not sure if enuine Alht on filo, supplanted by the unchanging photographs

"If you clih, you can see all of Hollywood," I say "And the sign"

My childhood scrapbook contains a series of photos Mo in the same exact spot on some unspecified trail of Griffith In each of these, the Hollywood sign is stark white against the hill in the background, rowth chart In the last one, I’d turned six Her quick doard spiral didn’t allow her to return, and Dad either forgot the tradition or didn’t have the heart to keep it up

"That’s what I read--sounds cool I’ll rent a car and have it brought around at, say, 5:30? We can pack coffee therers stroking the back of my arm His eyes catch and hold o there"

I shakearound and around on o with you"