Page 40 of Until Then

Noah lifts a smug, almost irritated look at Jasper. “I’m Noah. Who are you? And why do you think you have the right to tell my girl how to dress?”

Thoughts speed through my mind faster than I can track them. The only reason I catch Noah’s subtle wink is because I can’t tear my eyes off him.

I’m too stunned he’s saying this.

In front of my ex.

He’s acting. Lying. And I can’t decide if I’m unnerved how easily he can slip into a role or how grateful I am to him for shutting Jasper’s cruel mouth.

Jasper’s face twists in both stun and anger. “Jasper Barnes. Writer for Lambast Studios.”

“Huh.” Noah leans back in the chair, his arm still around me, and his fingers gently trace the skin of my arm. “They write good thrillers. Didn’t answer my last question, though.”

“I’m sorry.” Jasper waves one hand. “You two are?—”

“Together. Going on, what is it, baby? Six months, now?”

“No.” Jasper cracks one knuckle. “I just saw you with Eden Vaugn.”

“Oh, you mean you saw a meeting with a potential guest star, who used the opportunity to gain some clout by raving about a made-up relationship?” Noah’s lip curled. “You work in this life, don’t you know by now not to believe everything you see online, Jasper?”

What was he doing?

The way Jasper’s face flushes, I no longer care. I ought to correct this entire charade. Instead, I sink into Noah’s side like he’s a shield against reality.

“You’re together?” Jasper shakes his head like it’s utterly unbelievable. Then he looks at me. “Hayley?”

Speak. Now, it’s my turn to speak. To lie. I nod and squeak out a simple, “Yep.”

Noah grins, using one knuckle to tilt my chin.

He kisses me. Slow, sweet, and deep.

I’m not certain if this is part of the game, but I wouldn’t mind playing it well into tomorrow.

Until the flash of a camera goes off and Noah yanks back.

By the time my eyes snap open, two security guards are already rushing the guy in a dark suit. He’s holding a camera andbeelining it toward the doors. Guests watch in stun as security calls him a paparazzi and Tempest joins in with her boss, ranting about watching windows and doors to keep the cameras out.

Jasper chuckles and sips from his glass. “Well, if you weren’t official before tonight, I’d say you will be in about thirty minutes after he sells that photo.”

Noah’s face is pale, but he hides it under an easy smile. “Had to happen eventually.”

I feel like the walls are too close, they’re spinning.

We glance at each other. I tug on his hand. “Excuse us, Jasper. I need to speak with myboyfriend.”

THIRTEEN

Noah

Maybe I shouldn’t have done it, pretended to be Hayley’s boyfriend. But it was better than the alternative—twenty years to life after I went to prison for murdering a man with his own necktie.

I’m still overheated, still twitchy with the urge to feel his stupid, synthetic jawline crack under my fist.

Rees was always the fighter between the two of us, but the way I went from cool and tranquil to practically volcanic for Hayley, I understand why Rees used his hands to shut people up more than once.

By the time Hayley shoves me into a small, empty room—I’m guessing a powder room or something—my skin feels as though someone keeps running a lit match over the surface.

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