Page 119 of As They Are
I wanted to smack him upside the head.
“I’m done for the day.” That should have been the last thing we needed anyway, but I wasn’t fit to be on camera anymore. If Henry were in a better place, I would have found him, but instead, I stalked to my car.
Jade was waiting for me.
“Want me to tie him up?” she asked.
I blinked. “Wh-what? Why would you tie up Jude?”
“He’s being weird. To you and Henry. And I’m not liking it.”
“Is that why you were acting weird earlier?” I remembered what she’d been holding. “Wait, were you carrying nails?”
“They were so easy to swipe. He’s not very observant, is he?”
“Not at all, butyouare. You saw what happened with Henry, didn’t you?”
“I didn’t hear it all since I was inside my shop, but he was mad. It takes a lot to get him mad, so I figured I’d step in. You did better than me, though. He probably needed the break.”
“He’s doing a lot for me.” I blew out a breath. “The least I can do is make him take care of himself.”
“At your own expense?” Jade raised an eyebrow. “Madison seemed really happy to push you and Jude together.”
“Don’t remind me.”
“He’ll be gone once filming is done. We’re all doing our part in making sure he hates it here.”
“You are?” I asked.
“He cheated on you. Of course we are.” She said it like it was obvious, but I’d seen everyone else who watched the show treat me like a commodity. The center of the drama. Not a person.
God, I loved this town.
“Thanks,” I said. “You guys are nicer than the show’s fans.”
“That’s a low bar, but we’ll take it.” Jade leaned forward. “And if you find anything else for me to do to piss off Jude, let me know. Annoying men isverycathartic for me.”
I let out a laugh and thanked her once again before heading to the farmhouse. While I was worried about her and Mollie before, I saw now that Jade was a good friend. Even to me, and she barely knew me.
Mollie was home and more than likely working on dinner with Cain. I thought I was safe to let out the longest sigh known to man the second I walked inside. Jade had helped, but I was exhausted.
Then my best friend came around the corner. “Uh-oh. Bad day?”
“You could say that. Jude’s still acting weird. He put his arm around me in an interview.”
“What?” Her jaw dropped. “In front of Henry?”
“He wasn’t there for the filming today.”
“I thought he came by every day.”
Guilt hit me. He must have added that to his routine when we’d started. And then it all became too much. “Things were different, but it’s fine. He’s fine.”
“Is something going on between you two?” I opened my mouth to answer, but she cut me off. “And don’t even try to lie. You asked me for foundation to cover up one hell of a hickey this morning.”
Heat rose to my cheeks. “Yeah. Something happened.”
She was still, but then she pumped her fist so hard I thought she might fall over. “Yes!I knew there was a connection there.”
