Page 21 of Knotty, Nice, & Holiday Lights
“Why don’t you let me order pizza?” I offer, giving Will a pleading look. “You’ve been working hard all day.”
“I second that,” Asher chimes, giving me a wink. “I’ll hop on the Foo-D app and place an order now. My treat.” He pulls his cell phone out of his back pocket and starts tapping. “Give me your toppings of choice.”
“Can’t go wrong with pepperoni,” I say, the thought producing a bit of extra saliva in my mouth, which I swallow, then clear my throat.
“Pepperoni is great,” Will agrees, setting the timer for our next batch of chocolate chip cookies.
Asher doesn’t look up from his phone as he hums. “Two pepperoni, one ham and pineapple.” He does look up then. “We can freeze the leftovers in case of emergency.”
“Ham and pineapple, huh?” I huff a laugh before grinning.
“You’ll get used to it,” Will says with a laugh of his own.
“Do not knock it until you’ve tried it.” Asher wags the index finger of his free hand at us.
Once the pizza arrives about an hour later, it’s not a difficult decision to stick with good ol’ pepperoni.
Chapter Twelve
Cordelia Blaine Moving on from Asher Black’s Betrayal.
Blaine Cast in Latest Projected Blockbuster.
Asher Black Still in Hiding After Cheating Scandal.
Sources Say Cordelia Blaine Doesn’t Think About Ex Anymore.
Of course, she doesn’t. She plotted to ruin me when I ended our relationship, and now she reaps the benefits of pity, climbing a ladder of lies to the top.
Grumbling, I lean back on the couch and toss my phone to the cushion beside me, sighing as I rub my hands down my face.
I don’t even know what I’m so upset about anymore. I have no designs to return to Hollywood. At least, not in the capacity I had been.
Making movies had been my greatest love and accomplishment in life. Now, just thinking on it makes me despondent. Everything has been soured by one woman. Although I am aware I let this happen.
When she went to the paps with a story about me having several affairs while we were together, those parasites ate it up with a fervor, running with all her stories. When I’d finally been reached out to for comment, I lost all will to fight back.
That’s when I came here, to Crescent Lake.
I could have gone back to my mum in Leicestershire, but any time I return to visit, I feel as though I am just that: a visitor. I’ve been in America nearly all my life now, so staying here to escape felt natural.
And I’d never been so happy to until I met Will. More a brother than my own half-brother, eighteen years my younger, back in England.
When Will and I are together, it’s like we know what each other is thinking on a level I’d only made movies about. But this pack-brother connection is very real.
And the people here either respect my space or don’t even recognize me. Either way, I’m grateful for my privacy.
I haven’t seen a pap around for over a year now. Gods be praised.
Life here has been simpler, good.
I know finding Will had been fate. Izzy’s arrival here is also fate. I just need to find a way to get her to see it, too.
Izzy is obviously attracted to us both. It’s in the way she looks at us, a subtle leaning I don’t know she’s aware of. And when outside of the looming scent neutralizers in this B&B, it’s in how her blossom scent spikes when she’s near us.
But there are… concerns I have.
Izzy may have said that she didn’t believe the rumors about me, but I need to find a way to work the truth into the conversation. Tell her what really happened, and why.
