Page 36 of One Last Time
Chapter Ten
Kristin
Dinner isnothing like the beginning of our night or the damn car ride where I felt like pretending to be auditioning forThe Voice. Thankfully, he hasn’t mentioned anything about either incident, and we’ve moved on to strictly interview conversation. Noah is in actor mode, and I’ve fallen into the reporter role. It is as if a switch has been flipped for both of us as soon as I pull out my notebook, which is fine byme.
“And what about any possible love interests?” I ask as I continue down my list. Noah is quiet long enough that I look up. “Noah?”
He wipes the ketchup off his chin and leans back. “I wasn’t prepared for thatone.”
“Oh?” I question. “I figured that’s probably the most common question you getasked.”
Noah is definitely one of the most eligible bachelors in Hollywood. He’s attractive, smart, sexy, rich . . . did I mentionsexy?
I’m surprised that isn’t the leading question on every reporter’s mind. I’ve left it for later because I felt like I’ve already done enough damage as it was. Might as well leave the juicy gossip questions until the end when I can run out and grab a cab if I haveto.
“It is,” he clarifies. “I guess I wasn’t sure we were going to go there. I don’t want to lie to you, but at the same time, I’m not sure I shouldanswer.”
“So, does that mean there is someone?” I try not to feel any sense of disappointment and fail miserably. A small part of me wants there to be no other woman. A larger part of me wants to not feel that way. I have no claim on him. I’m still married for fuck’s sake. Yet, I can’t helpit.
Noah’s hand glides across the table, coming to a rest close enough to me that I could touch him. “It means I shouldn’t tell you,Kristin.”
My heart flutters at the way he says my name. “But you’re going to anyway?” Ismile.
“I’ll say this part on the record, but only if you agree to go off the recordafter.”
Inod.
“I need you to say we’ll be off the record when I tap myfingers.”
“Okay, we’ll be off the record when you tap yourfingers.”
I’m going to have an exclusive for my first interview. Oh, my could-be-my-child boss will behappy.
“There’s someone I have feelings for.” Noahgrins.
“Care to comment more?” Iurge.
“No.” He taps his fingers and fallssilent.
Well, that sucks. I needed more to make it reallyjuicy.
“Okay, we’re off the record.” I turn my recorder off and put the pen down. I hate that he’s going to say something, and I can’t write aboutit.
“I’m looking at her.” Noah pulls his hand back, grabs his beer, and smiles before taking adrink.
My lips part and I don’t say a word. Me? He’s crazy. I’m the awkward friend of his friend’s girlfriend who got drunk and passed out. I’m the nut job who pulled him into a pool, and he got stuck dealing with. I’m the unprofessional crazy lady he had to go out of the way to have dinner with because I failed the first time wemet.
He must be joking. Maybe this is some kind of celebrity hazingexperiment.
Screw with the newjournalist.
That has to be it. Because I am a frumpy old housewife who couldn’t keep her husbandsatisfied.
“Did Heather put you up to this? Or Eli, because I called him old the otherday?”
“No.”
I lean back as the air pushes from my lungs. “You don’t even know me. Other than I’m clearly amess.”
