Page 62 of The Bodyguard

My brows shot to the roof of my head.

“Respect? I gave her a job when she lost hers. She—” I pushed my chair back and zipped my lips.

I couldn’t tell them she wasn’t doing a very good job or had a crush on Nick that was bordering on inappropriate—not that he’d think so—and that I’d only intervened to save her from being hurt.

Perhaps I crossed the line and should have just let her live and learn.

I was trying to be a friend.

I like Nick as a fellow actor, but I wouldn’t want any of my friends sleeping with him. He goes through more women than I do tampons.

“She?” Ivy prompted.

“Forget it. I tried to do the right thing and now none of you are happy. Still.”

“Maybe she feels like she has to stay. You could have just helped her out financially. You could have helped a few people out, but you haven’t,” Ivy said.

Wow.

Every time we got together, it always ended the same way. On the topic of money. I’d had a lot of guilt to start with, but after some very good advice from Michelle and my costars, they all said the same thing: wait.

Wait until you give any of your money away.

Time has a way of showing people’s true colors.

The truth was the same people demanding money from me were the ones who’d told me growing up I was a daydreamer with no talent.

So fuck you was never far from the tip of my tongue. The more they expected it and asked for it, the more I dug my heels in.

“Fuck that, you owe nobody nothing,” Nick had said.

“But you bought your mom a house,” I said to him.

“Because she put me through acting school and every day encouraged me to follow my dreams,” he said. “Very different from your experience.”

“They’ll hate me.” I sighed.

“Then they don’t love you.” He’d wrapped his arm around me and let me cry on his shoulder that day during the filming of the second movie. “Love doesn’t require payment.”

For all his faults, Nick was a supportive friend.

“I’m leaving.” I’d said to my mom and sister that day, then grabbed my bag and walked out the door.

I haven’t spoken to my mom and sister since. Mom ignored my call earlier in the week when I rang to tell her about the Golden Globes nomination. But she’d know by now. The announcement came out this morning.

Surprise, surprise, no text or call to congratulate me.

“Do you want to join Dario, Melinda, and me for lunch tomorrow?” I ask Nick.

“I can’t. I’m catching up with a cousin in the Hamptons.” He tells me, then I hear him mumble yes on my way. “Got to go. See you in an hour at the Tonight Show.”

He hangs up as I turn to see Ryder step into the room. I catch myself before I let out some inappropriate sexual groan.

It’s just under my skin.

Good lord, he’s so handsome I can barely handle it.

He’s changed since I last saw him.

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