Page 73 of Until Then

Briar allows her husband to help her with a jacket, but pins me in a look while I wait for Hayley and Greer to return from the restroom.

“So, this thing with Haze, it’s solid?”

“You sound accusatory, Bry.” I lean one shoulder against the wall. “You’ve dated me, if you recall, and know what I’m like. What do you think?”

“I think you always saw me as a friend.”

I smiled. Briar and I were always destined to be friends, not lovers. A few kisses in the past, but nothing more. We’re friends, but she’s Hayley’s friend too.

I know what she wants to hear.

“I never want to go on a first date again, Bry. That’s how serious I am.”

Her expression softens and there’s a subtle tremble to her lip.

“I love it.” She squeezes my bicep. “You both deserve it, Noah. Seriously. I can’t believe I never put you together before. You’re basically perfect for each other.”

Hayley slides by my side, wrapping her hand around my arm. “You didn’t think of us probably because I wasn’t open to anyone in film after Jasper.”

“True.”

Tyrell frowns. I’ve come to learn he’s strongly, strongly dissuaded his niece from dating Hayley’s ex after the wedding.

Last I heard, she was finally thinking twice about getting involved with the man.

“Let’s do this again before filming starts,” Briar says.

“And late nights on set,” I add.

Once we’re back to filming, it’ll be long days for me and Tyrell. Truth be told, Tyrell’s job is even more time consuming. He’s the backbone, brain, and heart of the entire show. Doubtless, he knows it’s the final season.

I haven’t let on that I know, but I imagine the man’s likely looking forward to continuing and ending, all at once.

Hayley waves to everyone, waits for Greer to accept a ride with Carter and two of the other guys from the studio, then slips her fingers through mine.

“I really am sorry Greer shoved an NDA in your face.”

“Don’t be,” I tell her, lifting her knuckles to my lips. “There isn’t a reason for one, but if it helped prove I’m not playing here, I was happy to do it. No matter what, I had no plans to drag your name through the press.”

“I’ll sign one. If you want.” She hesitates, then looks at me. “To be fair.”

I pin her back to the wall, cup one palm to her face, then bring my lips close. “I don’t need you to sign an NDA, Wildfire. This”—I wave my finger between us—“it’s not ending.”

“You seem so sure.”

“The only way this ends is if you get tired of me, and honestly, if that happens, I’ll tell you to take a quick nap.”

She laughs and curls her hand around the back of my neck until our mouths collide.

I’ll never get bored with kissing this woman.

When we come up for air, we make our way to my car parked in the back.

“Hey, are you good?” Hayley asks before she gets into the car. “You seemed a little . . . down tonight.”

Great. I’m slipping. I smile and press a kiss to the side of her neck. “I am down. My girl is leaving me.”

She scoffs and takes her place in the passenger seat. “I’m going to be gone for four days, Pretty Boy.”

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