Page 68 of Falling Like Stars

She sets her champagne flute on the concrete and lets me help her off the lounger. Her fingers twine with mine as we walk along the edge of the pool to…where? Her place? Mine? Are we both up for whatever comes next? I don’t know but I let out a slow breath on a prayer not to fuck this up again. Not to let anything—or anyone—get in the way of our second chance.

Chapter Nineteen

WE WALK THE edge of Bruckheimer’s huge pool. I’m wearing Zach’s jacket, and he’s holding my hand tight in his. I feel like I’ve reclaimed a piece of myself that’s been lost to grief and guilt. Zachary makes me feel safe, spoken for. Like I belong to someone. Not his property, but like I’m under the umbrella of his care and consideration when I’ve been out in the rain for so long.

Ahead of us, a young, auburn-haired starlet, hardly more than twenty, stands at the periphery of a group of big-time Hollywood hitters. I recognize her as one of the costars of a recent ensemble piece. She’s not a household name yet, but the film was a huge step, and now she’s starring in the big period drama, Avignon, that I’m currently sewing for.

According to Zach, that makes her my co-worker, I think with a smile.

She wears an emerald green dress and is standing close enough to the edge of the pool that if this were a movie, I’d call it foreshadowing.

The actress glances around, unsure and nervous. Her gaze lands on Zach and her eyes widen, starstruck. She takes a stumbling step back and her heel catches on the lip of the pool.

Sure enough, in the next instant, her arms are pinwheeling as she teeters backwards. Zach makes a lunge to catch her but he’s too far away. The girl falls in with a splash.

A ripple of surprise and tittered laughter makes its way around the partygoers. The actress surfaces, mortified, tears of mascara streaming down her cheeks.

“Shit,” Zach mutters. Without wasting a second, he strips out of his jacket, kicks off his shoes, and jumps in the water.

I know immediately what he’s doing, and my stupid heart feels like it grows ten sizes bigger for this man. The water is shallow—Zach’s not saving the starlet but he’s saving the starlet. If there’s going to be embarrassment, he’s going to take as much as he can off her shoulders. Most of the crowd doesn’t realize she fell in by accident. Thanks to Zach, they might believe it’s all part of the fun. The actress has caught on too and now looks like she’s going to cry with gratitude.

Zach glances at me for reinforcement. “Care for a swim?”

I’m already stripping out of his jacket and kicking off my black heels. I take the plunge. The pool feels like bathwater in the warm April air. The starlet, Zach, and I circle each other, laughing, as other guests—seeing that the Zachary Butler has jumped in the pool—decide that’s what they should do too. A few join in, keeping their hair and cocktails above the surface. Several Instagram influencers strip down to their thong-and-bra underwear and climb into the hot tub. A trio of comedic actors do cannonballs as the rest of the guests smile and shrug and carry on. Soon enough, it’s a mini pool party; household staff are bringing around towels.

“I cannot believe that happened,” the actress says sheepishly and brushes auburn hair out of her eyes. “Hi, I’m Tessa Carlyle.”

“Zach Butler,” Zach says, as if he isn’t the most famous actor alive.

Tessa smiles uncertainly. “Um, I know?”

“Don’t worry,” I tell her. “He does that to everybody.”

She laughs—a release of tension. “No one here was ever going to take me seriously again. I think you saved my career tonight.”

“Nah.” Zach smiles. “I was about to push Rowan in, actually.”

I roll my eyes and give him a splash.

Tessa looks to me. “Are you in this business, too?”

“Costumes,” I say, and holy shit, that feels good. “I’m actually working on your current project, Avignon.”

“Oh wow. That’s amazing. Avignon is a big break for me.” She crosses both fingers. “Will I be wearing your designs?”

“Oh no, I—”

“Tessa!”

A group of young actors are waving at her to join them. She turns back to us smiling shyly. “Thank you, both. I won’t forget your kindness.”

She makes her way to the other side of the pool, and Zach and I are alone at the edge.

“This wasn’t on my Bingo card,” Zach says, and then his eyes widen. “Oh, shit, your dress.”

“I’ll make another one. What you did for her…” I shake my head.

I want to throw my arms around him, but half of Hollywood is in this backyard. I lean in and kiss him softly on the cheek. When I pull back, his hazel eyes are dark, intent on mine, searching.

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