Page 110 of Falling Like Stars

“It’s funny because I don’t think of him in those terms.”

“I know you don’t. Which is why this is going to work.”

We clink our wine glasses to that, and then my phone rings with a number I don’t recognize. I shoot Jess an apprehensive look and answer. “Hello?”

“You can tell me I told you so every day for the rest of the shoot, but the director would like to have you back.”

I blink. “Dottie?”

“Sorry, yes, it’s me. So, what do you say?”

“Say about what, exactly?”

“Assisting the new costume designer. Vivienne Kyle has been tapped to replace Laurent Moreau.”

“Replace him?” I stare open-jawed at J.J.

“Tessa Carlyle demanded it,” Dottie says. “She threw her weight around with the director—all ninety-five pounds of it—about him stealing ideas, namely yours. And there was some talk of a recording? I don’t know the details—it’s all under NDA—but the upshot is, Laurent is out, and Vivienne wants to work with you to finish out the production.”

“Work with me?”

I’m conscious that I’m parroting the last thing Dottie says, but I’m too shocked for my brain to function.

“It’s your vision,” Dottie says, “Ms. Kyle would helm the project and steer it to completion. Share of credits. Does this work for you?”

“Um, yes, this works for me.”

“Great,” Dottie says. “And Rowan? I’m sorry. You were right. I should have believed you. It’s just…there’s so much at stake, you know? The idea of speaking out against someone established is daunting. Careers are made or broken by the word of powerful people.”

“I understand.”

“So…you forgive me?”

“Yeah, Dottie. I do.”

She breathes a sigh of relief. “You’re one of the good ones, Rowan. See you Monday?”

“Right. I’ll see you Monday.” I hang up my phone, set it on the counter, and stare at it for a second. “Sure. This is all perfectly normal,” I say, disbelieving.

J.J. raises an eyebrow. “Good news?”

“They’ve fired Laurent for stealing. They want me to work with Vivienne Kyle on Avignon. And they’re going to use my designs.”

My BFF nearly spews wine all over the counter. “Holy shit, Ro! Congratulations! Vivienne Kyle… Even I’ve heard of her, and I don’t follow movie stuff at all! She did that huge war epic with Zendaya, right? Girl, she’s the real deal.”

And now she’s my coworker, I think, and my heart fills with more love for Zach when I thought it was already full.

“I can’t believe it,” I say. “Zach did that. Tessa too, but whatever Zach did in Florida helped. I told him to leave it, but of course he couldn’t.”

“Because it was the right thing to do and because he loves you,” J.J. says. “You must love him; he’s completely domesticated you.”

She indicates the dinner prep, and I shrug. “It’s our first night in this house and I just wanted to do something special.”

“Mm, and what’s on the menu?”

“Spaghetti.”

J.J. leaves and I’m alone in the big house. I set the card table for two with my IKEA plates and mismatched silverware. I light the candle in the middle and set out the wine bottle and lone glass.

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