Page 33 of Off Script

“Are you not going to say hi?” Tristan asked, but his voice was a distant echo compared to the blood rushing in her ears.

She was over this.

She was over him.

But why was he here?

Whatever the reason, she wasn’t going to stick around long enough to find out. She saw him open his mouth to call her name. He started to walk toward her—and that, Jada simply couldn’t allow. With no regard for Tristan’s questions or anything else, Jada ran away. Turning abruptly, she hurried for the lounge’s outer door. Once she was outside, her breath returned to her. But not for long, because a hand on her shoulder startled her. Luckily, Tristan was the one who had come after her.

“Seriously, what’s wrong with you?” he asked.

“We need to leave. Now.”

“But why are you freaking out?”

“It doesn’t matter. Please, take me home, Tristan,” Jada pleaded. Hearing the desperation in her voice, Tristan raised his hands in defeat.

Several moments later, having dodged the remaining photographers out front, they were back in the car, cruising toward her apartment. Jada could feel Tristan throwing furtive glances her way but she ignored them. She didn’t want to talk about Daniel—especially not with Tristan, of all people. And yet . . .

“Are you sure you don’t want to talk about it?” Tristan asked.

“Does it look like I want to talk about it?” Jada said, tone somewhere between a snap and a sigh.

“I only wanted to make sure you’re okay,” he said, his voice gentle, like she was some wounded animal that could attack at any minute.

Hell, she probably was.

“Please, forget it,” Jada said, more resigned this time.

She didn’t want to be like how Tristan had been about his mom. Her issues with Daniel were just that: hers. She and Tristan had called a truce, so she wasn’t going to ruin it by yelling at him. At least, she would try not to.

“Okay, if you say so.” Tristan pulled up in front of Jada’s apartment. She couldn’t have been more relieved. Before she was able to escape from the car and this hellish night, Tristan rested his hand on her arm, stalling her.

“Aren’t you forgetting something?” he asked.

“Like what?”

“Like saying thank you. I didn’t show you a completely terrible time. It felt like things were going well up until the end,” Tristan alluded ominously. Jada had no intention of taking the bait.

“Yes, well, it was quite an adventure,” Jada consented.

“I’ll have Doug check the press tomorrow to see what people are saying, but one date probably won’t be enough. You realize that, right?” Tristan eyed her cautiously.

“I know. And we’ll have to post some social media pictures, too, right?”

“Yeah, that’d be a plus.” Tristan cocked an eyebrow in surprise. “Although I didn’t expect you to agree so easily.”

“You’re keeping your promise. If things work out with this Logan guy, then I’ll know you’re serious about helping me.” Jada reached for the car door’s handle again. Tristan stopped her, clasping her hand.

“I am serious about helping you, Jada. This is all going to work out. I can feel it.” Tristan spoke with more confidence than Jada could muster about the situation. His belief almost put her at ease.

“I hope so. Good night, Tristan,” Jada said. Unexpectedly, Tristan kissed her hand, similar to his affectionate gesture at the café. There seemed to be sincerity behind the move this time around. The way his lips gently touched her skin felt like a silent apology for how the night had ended.

“Good night, Jada. I’ll see you soon.” Tristan’s eyes pierced her own until Jada was forced to look away. Mumbling her final good-bye, Jada got out of the car and hustled to her apartment building’s lobby door. She refused to look back, although she did hear Tristan’s car start up as he drove away. When she slipped into her apartment, Jada’s heart swelled with gratitude at being back in her refuge. A place where she could be alone and not have to think about Daniel or Tristan or—

“How’d it go?” Mikayla asked, suddenly jumping out of the living room doorway as Jada stood in the front hall.

“Oh my gosh! Don’t scare me like that! My night has been rough enough.”

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