Page 65 of Off Script

“I know! But I was doing the same thing. Trying to be on my best behavior because I wanted tonight to go well.”

Thinking back on the evening, Tristan started laughing.

“What’s so funny?”

“I’m just thinking, what does it say about us that we can only get along as friends when we’re both acting our asses off? Does that mean we’re just great at our chosen profession or giant assholes in real life?”

Reflecting on his words, Jada burst out laughing too. Her amusement came to a halt though when the ride reached the top and stopped.

“Oh my God, are we stuck?”

“No, Ferris wheels stop intermittently. You don’t know this?”

“WhywouldI if I hate heights, you ass?!” she shouted back at him, then gasped. “Oh my gosh, we really can’t stop fighting with each other.”

“Not if we’re being honest, no. But I’d rather fight with you, the real you, and be miserable, than be miserableandfake.”

“Yeah, me too. Even if it is a fake relationship, at least we can try and be truthful when it’s just us,” Jada confessed, then looked down. “And truthfully, I’m scared out of my mind right now, Tristan.”

He held on to the sides of her face, forcing her to look at him instead of at the very far away ground. “Don’t think about it. Focus on something else.”

“Like what?”

He wanted her to focus on them, on this moment when they were truly being themselves, being vulnerable and open. And in spite of their new Harry and Sally status, he also wanted her to feel the intimacy and passion he was experiencing right now.

So he kissed her. Better yet, she kissed him back. It wasn’t like their heated make-out session in her kitchen. This was softer, real, and perfect. Her warm lips against his, her hands wrapping around his neck to pull him closer, left him on a surreal high. So high that he didn’t notice when the ride ended and they were safely back on the ground.

“See? Everything’s okay. Are you feeling better?” he whispered to her as he unbuckled their seat belts.

“Much better,” Jada said.

Her admission thrilled him, but he had no idea what it would mean for the two of them. Like these damn carnival rides, their relationship was up, down, and all over the place. But there seemed to be an unspoken agreement not to examine it tonight, to let things be. Even after he dropped Jada off at home, he couldn’t get over it. Although he had no idea if they were headed into the friend zone or somewhere else, he was sure of one thing: Jada Berklee had a hold on him and wouldn’t let go any time soon.

20

The queasiness in Jada’s stomach meant she was going to throw up. That had to be the reason. It wasn’t butterflies. It couldn’t be butterflies. The lurch she kept getting in her gut every time she thought of Tristan absolutely, positively, couldnotbe butterflies. Jada repeated this mantra to herself as she got ready for Ren’s wrap party. She’d spent an embarrassing amount of time quibbling over what to wear—which also, of course, had nothing to do with Tristan. Friends don’t worry about what to wear around each other. They also didn’t kiss each other, but whatever! Eventually, she settled on a purple dress with a tulle skirt and a modest amount of complementary makeup. She finished sooner than Mikayla, who had gotten distracted tinkering around in the bathroom with her beauty products.

“Who are you getting all dressed up for?” Jada teased her.

“I could ask you the same thing.” Her cousin paid her back in kind with an added dog whistle. “I’m sure Tristan will go all googly-eyed the second he sees you.”

“Hurry up and get in the car,” Jada said. “You don’t want Ren to scold you for being late.”

“It’s a party!” Mikayla protested, then reconsidered. “Although if anyone was going to chastise a party guest, it’d be him. Let’s go!”

It turned out Ren’s house was something they didn’t want to miss. In the luxurious land of Beverly Hills, his estate sprawled across a perfectly manicured lawn with a sparkling clean exterior. From outside, Mikayla and Jada could see the windows glowing with revelry as the party had, indeed, already started. If Jada had any doubts about Ren’s wealth, they evaporated when a real, live butler greeted them at the front door.

“Good evening, ladies. May I have your names, please?” he said in the polished, sophisticated tone of someone who’d been in service for years.

“Jada Berklee and Mikayla Davis.” Jada had to answer for them as Mikayla was too busy trying to see farther into the house.

Once Jeeves checked them off on his guest list, he guided them into the spacious living room. The cast and crew ofLove Locketfilled the room, talking and laughing loudly as they swigged cocktails. The raucous gathering seemed like it would be on Ren’s list of the Top Worst Ways to Die, but he was the center of attention. Watching him entertaining guests with a smile on his face, Jada imagined the director was playing the social butterfly because he was delighted their disastrous film had ended. As Jada started to make her way toward him, Mikayla pulled on her arm.

“What are you doing?” she hissed.

“Saying hello. We have to at least thank Ren for inviting us,” Jada pointed out. Mikayla let out an anxious groan.

“But he hates me,” she insisted.

---