Page 102 of One Time in Paris
Davy furrowed her brow. “Yeah.”
“Blair didn’t get angry. Didn’t threaten to punch Megan. She was happy—excited, even. Kept talking about how they were going to be sisters.”
“Okay, yeah, but what’s your point?”
Isla sighed and sat straighter. “My point is that women don’t do this crap to each other. If their friends date their siblings, they’re usually cheering for them. I just don’t get what the big deal is. Why are men such morons about this sort of thing? Why is it such a huge deal if you date your brother’s best friend?”
Davy leaned down and plucked a dandelion from the grass in front of them, blowing soft gusts of air at the globe of feathered seeds. The seeds took flight, dancing in front of them as Davy said, “Lots of reasons. To begin with, women think about the fairy tale of having a best friend that becomes a real sister, while men think about the fact that their best friend is now fucking their sister—and they don’t want to think aboutanyonedoing that. Or really think of that.”
“I guess that’s true.”
“It also depends on the brother. In your case, Callum is rather protective. He’s the definition of a protective older brother in the dictionary, actually.”
“You’re lucky you’re an only child.”
Davy shook her head and gripped her hand. “I have you. I haven’t thanked you enough for what you’re doing for me here, Isla. You gave me the idea, went to bat for me with Aiden over the financing, and rearranged your whole life to film with me.” She gave her a sad smile. “It’s almost like those days we spent in London eating curry takeaway and ramen are finally paying off. Especially given Antony is considering extending the series.” Davy’s eyes misted with tears.
Pressure tightened around Isla’s chest. “You know I can’t do any more of these, right? I have to return to my life, Davy. To the inn. This has been fun—the martini shot to my own career as an actress—but I’ve moved on to other things.”
“I know, but you don’t really want to run an inn for the rest of your life, do you?”
“I don’t know. I don’t hate it. I think I’ve just felt burned out.” Isla lifted her gaze at the towering structure in the distance. “And all these trips to Paris have been fun, but they don’t really fit with the life I committed to. I gave Callum my word.”
“Speaking of Callum—” Davy tilted her head. “Everything is all set for us to film in London at the party, right? Boyd already has the whole schedule laid out for the week, but I haven’t gotten back the release paperwork I sent you to give to Callum. I really need to get it back to Antony. We’re sort of flying by the seat of our pants with this segment.”
Oh...shit.
A deep, sinking feeling went through Isla.
Oh my God.How could she have forgotten? Davy had sent paperwork—the day Boyd had suggested the filming in London at the party—but Isla had procrastinated on it, not wanting to think of one more thing she needed to discuss with Callum. She’d seen the email in the hotel room in Arkansas, meant to forward it to Callum, and then Aiden had shown up...
And everything else had faded.
She’d totally,completelyforgotten.
“I forgot,” Isla whispered, barely able to move. She met Davy’s eyes, the terribleness of it all crushing the oxygen from her lungs.
Davy stared at her with a mixture of alarm and shock. “What do you mean you forgot?”
“I forgot to ask Callum if we could film there. Forgot to tell him what Boyd had requested.” She tried to steady herself, gripping the scarred wood of the bench. “I-I forgot about the whole damn segment in London.”
“What?” Davy stood, her eyes going wide.
“I didn’t mean to?—”
“Isla! Are you kidding me? This is all supposed to be happening in five days!”
“I-I . . . why hasn’t it come back up again?” Isla asked, brows lifting. “Why didn’t you ask me for the paperwork sooner? I’ve had a lot on my mind, Davy.”
“Are you joking right now? Your boyfriend problems shouldn’t prevent you from being a competent professional. I sent you all the paperwork. Detailed paperwork that I took hours to draw up. I emailed everything that we’d come up with for timeline and the types of footage we’d need. All you had to do was run it by Callum and get his signature. You agreed to it.”
Hurt enclosed around her heart, and she stood, not wanting to have to look up at her. “Yeah, well, maybe cut me a break for once, Davy. Because the last time I said yes to something for you, I was obliterated. Possibly drugged. And I still kept my word.”
Davy flinched. “Are you suggesting I took advantage?—”
“I’m suggesting I’m your friend. Which you know I am—because you just were thanking me two seconds ago. And I’m doing everything I can to help you. So maybe when I mess up, cut me a break for a fucking moment. I’m not just havingboyfriend problems, as you call them. My whole life is in absolute crisis. I didn’t just hook up with Aiden in Vegas—we got married. And the catastrophe to my life has been spreading ever since.”
Davy’s jaw dropped open. “You and Aiden aremarried?”
