Page 10 of Love Unexpected
“Ah. You’ve been talking to Bridget.”
“She’s so wrong for him, Greta.”
“I know. But if he doesn’t know the message is from you, why does it matter? Who cares if some faceless woman on the internet doesn’t think Red Renegadesounds like noise? We want him to knowyoufeel that way, right?”
I shook my head. “No. I mean, yes. Eventually. But not yet. I don’t want to seem like I’m trying to break him and Bridget up.”
She narrowed her eyes. “But thatiswhat you’re trying to do.”
I folded my arms across my chest and leaned back in my chair. “Not directly, though. I’m just trying to suggest the possibility of something...different. And a direct message conversation is way less threatening than doing that in person, right? I don’t want to look like a homewrecker.”
It was the one part of my plan I’d been struggling with. Ididn’tthink Bridget was right for Isaac, but that didn’t mean I had a right to meddle in his relationship.
She rolled her eyes. “They aren’t married, Rosie. And all you did was send him an album cover. You’re not a homewrecker. And you wouldn’t have been if you’d done this in person, either.”
“I know I’m ridiculous, okay? I should have the courage to just go after what I want, to trust I’m good enough, and everything else I know comes so naturally to you. But this is what I’ve got right now. Can you please just help me?”
She sighed. “Of course I’ll help you. But I’m still not sure this is a good idea. Because he might not respond. He gets a lot of messages. I don’t want that to disappoint you.”
Greta had a point. But something in my gut told me Isaacwouldrespond. Red Renegadehad a pretty devoted cult following, but even among their most dedicated fans, the limited-edition album didn’t get much love. That Isaac had a t-shirt featuring the album cover had to mean he loved it too. Those shirts were not easy to come by.
But then, hehadgiven the shirt away.
I sank back into my chair. “Maybe this was dumb.”
Greta’s face softened. She leaned back into her chair, mirroring my position, and studied me for a long moment. “Let’s go talk to Jade,” she said, as if having finally decided to be on my team. “You’ll never know unless you try, right? If this is the way you want to try, I support you.”
She stood and extended a hand. “But then we have to get back to work. I swear, you’re the worst at getting me talking and then my to-do list just goes out the window.”
“But I’m twice as productive as everyone else when Iamworking, so you love me anyway, right?” I said as I followed her to Jade’s end of the warehouse.
“And you’re lucky you are,” she said. “It’s the only thing that saves you.”
***
Jade was in a meeting.
With Isaac, no less, which only made me feel more twitchy and nervous. Two agonizing hours later, she dropped into Greta’s desk chair and swiveled to face me. “Fine. I’m here. What on earth has you so worked up?” she said, crossing one pin-striped leg over the other.
My eyes darted to Greta, who stood cautiously behind her. “What? I texted her. You’ve been so preoccupied, I just told her to escape the meeting as soon as she could.”
“I was happy to escape,” Jade said. “Nobody’s happy in there right now.”
My brow furrowed in concern. “Is everything okay?”
“Things are fine. Just...creative differences on the team.”
“The Drake Martinson interview?” Greta asked.
Jade nodded. “Isaac still doesn’t want to do it.”
“That makes sense,” I said. “He’s never interviewed celebrities before.”
“He’s also never dealt with tanking numbers before,” Jade said. “Celebrities bring new viewers, and Isaac could use an infusion of those.” She clapped her hands. “Anyway. I didn’t make up an excuse to leave the meeting just to keep talking about the same thing. What can I do foryou?”
My eyes darted to Greta as if she could give me the strength I needed to tell Jade my plan.
“Um, I—” I what? I had no idea where to even begin.
