Page 74 of An Unexpected Kind of Love

“I don’t even know how you’re awake right now,” I say frankly. “Did you sleep on the plane?”

“I did,” Blake confirms. “Which is lucky because that’s a long flight to L.A. from London. And back.”

“I can’t even imagine.” I shake my head. “I’ve never been to America. To be honest, flying terrifies me.”

Blake gives me a wry look as we walk. “It’s not my favorite thing. I hear you, though.”

I smile back. “So, tell me. What’s the part? When do you find out if you got it?”

“I think I find out next week. They’ll call my agent. And it’s for another supporting actor role.”

“Another rom-com?”

“Drama. Something to do with being an adventurer.”

“Hmm. Sounds like you might be getting into rom-com territory there,” I tease. “Adventure’s hot. Unless you’re on a doomed expedition.”

He grins, kissing me as I stop in front of our destination. “I’m definitely rom-com adventurer hot for you. And I sure hope this isn’t a doomed expedition.”

“God, me too.” I give him another kiss for luck. Here’s hoping Eli can behave himself tonight.

Ryan’s birthday’s being held at a restaurant in a private room, at least sparing me the discomfort of returning to my old home with Eli and having to pretend even harder that things are normal when they’re anything but.

Outside the restaurant, we pause and I draw in a long breath. “Ready?” I ask.

The stomach butterflies are going overtime. It’s the first time Blake’s meeting any of my friends. Well, it’s bigger than that. The idea of introducing Blake to Eli again—this time as my boyfriend—might be the end of me. And my nerves are getting the better of reason.

Eli’s just a person, not some sort of specter coloring everything I do. Or am.

It’s one thing to think that—quite another to feel it.

“Ready. It’s gonna be fine.” He squeezes my hand, and we go in.

Inside, the lights are low, the restaurant intimate. We’re led to the private party room, where mercifully about a dozen people are already gathered. That means I can do the human shield thing from Eli for a while.

Ryan and Eli are at one end of the room. Ryan looks great, sleek dark hair, a pink shirt, happy. Holding on to Blake’s hand for strength with a rather vise-like grip, I approach tentatively. So much for using my body for protection in an authoritative way. Best laid plans and all of that.

Ryan notices me first and brightens at the sight of me. “Aubrey! So glad you could make it.”

“Thanks for the invite.” I gulp air. “Ryan, this is Blake.”

He’s obviously intrigued as he takes in the vision that is Blake, all good looks and ready smile. “Pleased to meet you,” Blake says as they shake hands. “Hope you don’t mind me tagging along as Aubrey’s plus-one.”

“Not at all. Glad you could make it.”

“We have a small something for your collection.” I offer the gift to Ryan, who accepts the package.

“You’re spoiling me. Cheers, both.” Ryan admires the package and wheels the short distance over to put it on the side table that holds a growing collection of gifts and cards. “Please, settle in and make yourselves comfortable. Lily’s running late but should be here soon.”

“I hadn’t heard from her, so I figured she had an intense day,” I acknowledge.

Eli’s engrossed with a couple of other guests who I don’t recognize, and I don’t quite feel ready to intrude and go over to say hi.

We circle back to our seats.

Barely seated, Lily arrives in a rush of adrenaline herself. “God, I’m so sorry I’m late,” she says to me, shaking her head. “Had a late art courier with a delivery that I needed to take care of, and then I needed to make my way over. Traffic was dreadful—”

Then she looks at Blake and does a double take. “Oh!”

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