up on my offer and move into this too-big-for-me home by the beach, I wouldn’t have to worry about you being on your own when you’re sick.”
I smiled sadly as I slumped on the bed. “I thought you didn’t need to hide behind me anymore?” Or was it the other way around?
“I don’t. But I like you close.”
I laughed. “I thought you wanted me to date?”
“I do. I do. I just don’t like the idea of you being sick by yourself.”
If I moved into Asher’s Malibu home, people would definitely assume we were together. However, the commute into LA—I couldn’t do that every day. “The commute would kill me.”
“Well, I could buy a place in the hills.”
“And be closer to dear old Dad?” He wasn’t buying a house just so I didn’t have to commute to the studio.
“Right.”
“Asher, I like my apartment. I’m fine. I’m going to get an early night and hopefully feel better in the morning.” I could feel my cheeks burning with my lie. “I’m off to bed. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
Guilt joined the kaleidoscope of butterflies in my belly as we hung up. I’d been avoiding my best friend because I didn’t want to lie to his face. Having Jamie in my life was tumultuous, and I knew I couldn’t hide the effect his presence had on me from Asher.
Still, I couldn’t avoid my friend forever. It wasn’t fair to him. Especially when he was going through so much upset with his parents’ divorce.
Determined to be a better friend in the morning, I reluctantly pushed aside thoughts of Asher and tried to focus on the night ahead.
As if on cue, the doorbell rang. My heels clicked against the hardwood floor as I walked down the hall and into the main living room toward the door. Palms a little clammy, I took in calming breaths to slow my racing heart. The attempt failed miserably.
Pulling open the door, I found Jamie slouched in the doorway, as if he was bored already. There was no change in his usual uniform of T-shirt, jeans, and boots. Why? Because he didn’t need to dress up for a club. He was sexy, and he knew it.
Bastard.
“Ready to go?” I asked, stepping outside and forcing him out of the doorway. I reluctantly gave him my back as I locked my apartment.
When I turned around, the boredom was suddenly absent from his expression. His eyes were on my shoes. Slowly, they traveled upward. By the time he made it to my face, my skin was hot and I was agitated.
Jamie stared resentfully at me.
Flustered, I brushed past him. “You said dress for a nightclub.”
His cold silence followed me downstairs.
I’d never been so glad in my life to escape a car.
When Jamie dropped me off a street over from the club, I practically threw myself out of the Porsche. At first, he wouldn’t even talk to me as we drove into the city. Then he started talking to me like I was an idiot.
“Don’t make it obvious you’re watching Wright.”
Well, of course not.
“Don’t come on strong with Gaines either. Wright might see and get paranoid.”
Commence eye rolling.
“This isn’t going to be over in one night. This could take weeks.”
No, really? I thought I’d just snap my fingers or wave my magic wand and find evidence against Wright in the first ten minutes.
There was no point responding to any of his “advice,” especially when he said it in that patronizing tone. Jamie was always a little impatient with people he deemed morons. I’d just never been one of them before.
The line to get into the club was long. Unfortunately, that cliché shallow attitude depicted in movies and television really existed and “pretty people” got to jump the line. Problem was, there were a lot of “pretty people” in LA. However, Asher had taught me a thing or two over the years. It wasn’t just about how you looked, but how you carried yourself. As an introvert, having attitude wasn’t easy for me. However, if I was to be successful at convincing Lincoln Gaines that I wanted to date him, then I needed to find the actor within.
I sashayed past the line of waiting clubbers, wearing a small smirk as I neared the doormen. Their eyes moved to me, drifting down my body. When they met my gaze, I smiled, showing my dimple.
“Don’t stop at the door, as if you know you need permission to enter,” Asher’s voice filled my head. “Smile, say hello to the doormen,