Page 94 of Fire

Shaking her head, Gwen led her toward a table. “Well let’s sit down, order a drink, and you can tell me all about it.”

Once their drinks arrived, Allie didn’t mess around and cut straight to the chase. “The studio fired Dillan.”

“What!”

Allie was nodding so quickly Gwen feared she’d get whiplash. “That video of him assaulting you went viral. It’s all over the gossip sites. Haven’t you seen it?”

Gwen shook her head. “You know I don’t pay attention to stuff like that.” But she didn’t doubt for one second that Blake was behind it. “Fired. Wow. Didn’t he have a contract?”

“Sure, but it has a positive-public-image clause or some shit like that, and he breached it.”

Gwen took a sip of her drink, shocked. “He was the star of the show.”

Allie shrugged. “It’s a fickle industry. And everyone’s replaceable. Need to make room for the new up and comers.”

“I guess that’s true,” she mused. “So, what else? You said you had tons to tell me.”

Allie’s expression turned animated, and a blush hit her cheeks. Her friendneverblushed. “I met a guy.”

When she didn’t elaborate, Gwen prompted, “And…”

Allie laughed. “And he’s wonderful.”

“Allie!”

“Okay, okay. I won’t keep you in suspense. His name is Chris. He’s blond with blue eyes and has the cutest dimple in his right cheek. We met on set at the studio.” At Gwen’s frown, she assured, “Don’t worry, it’s not another Dillan situation. He’s not even an actor, he’s a cameraman. We went out for dinner Tuesday night, and the next day he brought me flowers. Flowers! Then asked me out again right away. No playing around. No dickish I’ll-wait-til-she-calls-me moves.” Her cheeks turned redder, and Gwen could swear she looked embarrassed. “He told me I was beautiful.”

Her friend was glowing. “You are beautiful, and he sounds wonderful. I can’t wait to meet him.”

“Well that’s good because he’ll be here in about an hour.” Allie grinned.

She picked up her drink, and Gwen waited until she downed that last of it before she announced. “I signed the contract. I leave in a little over two months at the end of October.”

Allie thunked her glass on the table, her eyes going wide. “Congratulations, I’m so happy for you! Wait a minute, what about Blake? I thought everything was finally okay with you two.”

“It is. He’s the one who encouraged me to take it.”

Allie made a funny face.

“What?” Gwen asked.

“I don’t know. It’s just that your relationship is so new and long-distance ones are so hard.”

Gwen frowned. “He’s positive we can make it work.”

“But are you?”

Gwen thought about that and was sure no matter how long apart, she would always want Blake. But could she say the same for him? She knew he loved her now, but would his feelings fade with time apart? She honestly didn’t know. And that’s what worried her.

Speak of the devil, she saw Blake enter the VIP section, strides purposeful, with one goal in mind.

Her.

Stopping at their table, he held out a hand, and she didn’t hesitate to take it.

Without saying a word, he walked her to the dance floor—to its very center—and the crowd parted around them.

She looked up at him, confused, and he leaned in close and whispered in her ear, “They’re playing our song.”

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