Page 10 of The Stars Over Hollywood

Kerri appeared next, wearing an emerald green jumpsuit, her dark hair straight, coming around the corner where the shrubbery and trees kept Ada out of sight.

“All good?” Sydney asked Kerri, and Tracy couldn’t miss the way Sydney shifted her weight from one foot to the other, the light breeze moving through her hair.

“Yes. We’re on schedule.”

Hayden leaned in as they sat down again. “I see you don’t have a bag. I have tissues if you need some.”

“I’ll be fine.” Tracy breathed in the fresh sea air, the sun fading behind the mountains in the distance. “But thank you.”

When Ada did walk down the short aisle the smile on both Sydney and Ada’s faces alone had her blinking back tears never mind the hauntingly beautiful music the lone violinist provided throughout the brief ceremony.

“Here,” Hayden whispered at one point, handing her a tissue.

Tracy silently accepted it, too caught up in listening to Ada’s heartfelt vows to be embarrassed that she somehow thought she wouldn’t need one.

As the sun set behind the happy couple, the photographer captured every single moment, and Tracy leaned in as Hayden wrapped her arm around Tracy’s waist, both of them caught up in the moment, delighted to see their friends so in love.

6

Hayden clinked her glass of champagne against Sydney’s, their dresses swapped for something more casual, both of them wearing black jeans as they watched the logs in the fire pit catch and spark, the popping and hissing of the timber mixing with the sounds of laughter coming from the kitchen behind them as everyone came back outside after having a buffet dinner and getting changed out of their formal wear.

“That was such a lovely, laid back way to commit to someone,” Hayden said by way of a toast. “I know I kind of came as Lara’s plus one, but thank you, for allowing me to be here and share such a special day with you and Ada. I feel really honored.”

Sydney smiled. “I’m glad you came, and please don’t make it sound like you don’t belong here. Well, other than being the only straight woman among us. But other than that? I’m so glad we’ve gotten to know you in the last year, and I hope we can work together soon. Charlotte has nothing but great things to say about you and your acting abilities.”

Hayden bit her lip. She didn’t even know what to say to any of that.

“Who’s straight?” Ada asked as she joined them with her own glass of champagne, dressed in white capris and a halter top. “And who let them in?”

Hayden could feel her cheeks heating up, but then Charlotte and Lara came outside, followed by Tracy, and not for the first timetoday, Hayden found her eyes focusing on Tracy and forgetting about everything else around her.

Tracy raked a hand through her hair as she took a seat on the outdoor couch, dressed in army green skinny pants that clung to her hips, and a black tank top highlighting her bronze skin and toned arms.

The conversation moved to Charlotte who took over DJing duties, placing a Bluetooth speaker on the table beside her, smooth jazz notes surrounding them.

“Because these two didn’t want a traditional reception,” Charlotte said lifting her own glass. “And I feel like dancing, I’m putting on some music. Feel free to add to the playlist. But I think Sydney and Ada should show us how it’s done.”

Sydney held out her hand and led Ada away from the fire pit and couches to the more open area of the patio. Charlotte ducked inside to switch off some of the lights, leaving just the fire and the decorative white lights strung through the trees around them to illuminate the space.

Hayden sipped her beer, watching them sway to the music, the soft brass weaving its way through the night air, and it wasn’t long before Charlotte and Lara joined them with Lara taking the lead, resting her hand in the middle of Charlotte’s back.

Hayden was still standing and she took a sip of beer before making eye contact with Tracy as the rest of the guests got up to dance. Her first thought was that it was awkward that they were the only ones not dancing, but it didn’t take her long to realize that she actually wanted to dance with Tracy, and she was afraid that if she asked, Tracy would say no.

Tracy stood up and crossed the space, silently holding out her hand, and Hayden left her beer down, her hand moving across Tracy’s shoulder, gently brushing her hair out of the way as Tracy’s hand settled in the middle of her back.

Hayden inhaled a shaky breath as they started to move slowly to the music. It was such a soulful, relaxing piece of music that anything more than swaying wasn’t possible, and Hayden hadn’t accounted for the fact that being this close to Tracy could make her feel things, things she had no idea what to do with.

A chill chased up Hayden’s spine despite the mild night and the fire pit just a few feet away. The feeling of Tracy’s hand holding hers, her thumb occasionally moving lazily over her skin made her stomach somersault.

And when Hayden dared to turn her head to look at Tracy, her eyes were closed, her lips parted slightly, lost in the music, a streak of golden brown hair falling across her eye, and Hayden almost reached out to tuck it behind her ear, but in her peripheral vision she saw Lara looking in their direction, her eyes wide with surprise although she might have been trying to keep herself from smiling.

That sent Hayden’s heart racing.

Because Lara knew what she’d just seen.

And Hayden’s feet slowed, her mind jumping from one thought to the next.

She hadn’t just looked up to Charlotte when she was filming with her. She’d had an actual real-life crush on her.

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