Page 32 of A Certain Step
“Thank you for being you,” she said. No other words came to her, but she needed him to know. She was grateful for him, fully in every way.
He pulled her tightly into his arms, holding her for a quick second. “I got you, Wills. Through everything. You know that.”
She smiled up at him when they parted. “And I’ve got you. You got lucky with decent exes. I don’t have to fight any of them for your honor.”
Ethan gave her a closed-mouth smile.Wait…was she wrong? Had any of his exes hurt him in any way?He had told her that distance had broken him and Michelle up, but a hint of sadness quickly emerged in his eyes and then vanished. Was she reading into it too much?
“Ready to go back in?” he asked.
“Lead the way.”
He held the door open, walking close behind her the entire time. She felt his hand settle along the small of her back again, signaling a comfortable warmth to spread through her.
So much for her feelings for Ethan taking a night off.
But seeing Alden again was proof that Sahar was right. Despite her rules—the ones she felt she had to stick to—Ethan Everett wasn’t like other men, let alone other actors.
He most certainly wasn’t like any of the men she’d dated. But no matter what else wasbubbling inside her, he was still her best friend, and she wanted that to remain unmarred.
They ambled back in, standing with their friends at the corner of the room. Naomi and her wife, Jeanie, were telling a story about a club in Nice where a bunch of people from the States met each other. “No, but I’dneverseen a crowd like that. I’m pretty sure we’re all bonded for life. The whole club went to get breakfast together the next morning,” she finished.
“We need to get that crowd to a show,” Sahar added.
Naomi gaped at her. “Oh my God, I so wish.” She turned to Jeanie. “Babe, don’t like three of them live here? We should text them. Give them an invite,” she said with a laugh.
“Oh, I’m so game; let’s do it,” Jeanie replied.
Christian chimed in with a drink in hand, pinky out dramatically. “Are we talking about the club in Nice again? How many times have I said we’re not allowed to discuss this near me because the FOMO levels have become uncontrollable? I’m but a mere mortal, you heathens.”
Naomi swung her arm around his neck. “We’re going to make a couples trip out of it next year when Dan comes back. You’ll experience the whole thing with us—and you three as well. All of us. We’ll make it a celebratoryMidnightsthing.”
“Okay, fine, proceed with the conversation,” he gestured artistically, his hand rolling thrice.
Willa chuckled, wanting to add a comment about already prepping outfits, but right as she was about to speak, someone touched her shoulder. She swung her head back to Alden standing behind her. “Willa! Hey, you.”
She conjured an ersatz smile, pretending she hadn’t just mentally prepared for this horrendous outcome. “Alden, hey,” she said, keeping her tone casual to contrast his overly cocky approach.
He leaned in for a hug, and she met him halfway courteously. She could feel Ethan’sbody tense next to her, could feel Sahar’s eyes burning a hole through her back. “How’ve you been?”
“Good, yeah, you?” she responded.
Willa was thankful that Naomi, Christian, and Jeanie were still talking about the club. She didn’t need all eyes on them.
“Oh, you know, same old. Working a ton.” She wanted to laugh. The bloke worked at his dad’s company and could take days off whenever he wanted to. He always made it seem like he was saving lives when he’d discuss his job.
“Aren’t we all?” she replied, pausing to muster another grin while attempting to cut the conversation short. “It was good seeing you,” she commented.
He poked Willa’s hand with a finger. It grossed her out. “Can I buy you a drink? Let’s catch up.”
She tried to sound as sincere as possible. “Thank you, but I’m good, though.” The thing about men like Alden was that they were so stupid, so far up their own asses, that they’d never realize the effect their actions had.
He clicked his tongue. “Well, all right. Take care; it was a friendly gesture anyway. No need to take it so seriously.”
Asshole,she wanted to say, “Take care” was what thankfully came out of her mouth.
She turned back right in time to catch Sahar’s eye roll. “Was he always that stupid?”
“Honestly? I have no freaking clue, and I don’t know what that says about me,” Willa questioned.
