Page 54 of Until Then

“You ride in the show, I thought.”

“Easy rides,” Noah tells me. “Unfortunately, I don’t get to do the epic battles. Turns out, they’d rather have Carter break his neck than me.”

I snort through a laugh. “From what I’ve seen of Carter, he lives for the thrill of it.”

“He does. Good thing, because he’s amazing at his job.”

“So are you,” I blurt out.

Noah gives me a bemused look. “Wildfire, you haven’t even watched the show.”

“I’ve seen clips,” I admit. “It was . . . strange to watch knowing . . . well, knowing I’d known you in reality.”

“My dad says he struggles to watch too.” Noah laughs softly. “Says it’s hard to see me cut off fingers and heads all the time.”

“You’re a little too humble about what you do,” I say. “Three nominations.”

“Well, hopefully one actually sticks.” Noah hesitates. “This doesn’t leave us, but there are a few rumors this season might be the last.”

My eyes go wide. “Really?”

“The book series releases its last book in a few months. I know the author pretty well, but haven’t dared ask if he’s been told.”

“What will you do?” I ask, voice soft.

Noah smirks. “You sound like I’ll be destitute.”

“No, it’s just . . . this show has been part of your life for a long time. I’m sure it’s hard to think of saying goodbye to everyone.”

For a breath, Noah pins me in a glance, deep and thoughtful. “You get it. Not seeing good friends on set will be hard, but . . .”

Noah trails off.

Winter loses interest in us and starts to graze, leaving nothing between us. I step closer to Noah’s side. “But you’re also ready, aren’t you? Like you told me in the car.”

He studies me for a drawn pause, then nods. “I’m ready to move on to the next chapter. But I feel guilty for even thinking it.”

I place a palm on his arm, afraid to touch him in one breath, and unable to stop myself in the next. “You shouldn’t. Everyone on the set, you included, deserves to take what you’ve all accomplished and put it into the next project. You’ll keep the friendships, it’s sort of like you’ll all move on together. I told you earlier, you deserve to do what you want.”

“Yeah, and what I want will be viewed as digression.” He lets out a sigh. “If I’m not in box office hits, I’ll be labeled a failed actor who only made it in one hit show.”

“Well . . . screw them, then.”

Noah’s eyes widen in surprise. “Watch out, Wildfire. It sounds like you’re getting defensive at hypothetical critics on my behalf.”

My skin flushes in heat. “Don’t let anyone else dictate what brings you happiness.”

Noah’s eyes smolder like dying embers. He closes the gap between us, one palm on my cheek.

I swallow—hard—uncertain how we got so close.

His eyes rove over my face, down, then back to my eyes. “I’ll do that, if you do the same. Don’t you let others’ stupidity make you think you are not worth . . . everything.”

“Noah.” His name is nothing more than a breathless plea on my tongue. Needy, terrified, desirous.

He groans, his lips drawing a hairsbreadth closer to mine. “You can’t say my name like that, or I’m going to cross a line here.”

Cross it! I want to scream at him, pull him close, forget all those boundaries I’ve been desperate to put in place.

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