need to get back. I have a lot of studying to do.”
“Okay, I’ll drive you.”
“No.” She shook her head, retrieving the tent from his arms. “You stay, hang out with the guys. I’ll ask Staci.”
Troy rubbed his hand against his forehead. “I don’t understand what’s happening. I mean, last night—”
“It was nothing. We’re fine, just like always.” She shrugged.
She hated herself for being so dismissive. Troy’s pained expression made her heart ache, but she was on autopilot, running away in a complete panic. Running away from the only guy she’d ever really wanted.
What in the hell is the matter with me?
Troy didn’t speak to her for two weeks. She’d almost given up on their friendship completely when she found out he’d gone back to dating Amanda. He’d done that to spite her; she was fully aware of that. Troy never shied away from making a point.
But in the strangest of ways, his dating the woman who’d grated so terribly on Elle’s nerves became their truce. He dated Amanda for another year, and slowly Elle eased her way back into a friendship with the man she secretly desired, but knew she couldn’t quite handle. She knew if she fell for Troy, he could break her heart. She couldn’t control their relationship. She couldn’t avoid heartbreak or disappointment.
She told herself that Troy was better off with someone like Amanda. Someone who hung on his every word, who never said anything contrary to his beliefs or opinions. Someone the opposite of her. Someone who wasn’t so afraid of falling in love.
And after a while, she believed the lie that when it came to Troy Saladino, she was friend material and nothing more. The self-saboteur inside her had won.
Elle awoke to the soft pads of Luke’s fingertips making circles on her skin. It was an ordinary Tuesday morning, and Luke had spent the night, just as he had several nights before over the past few weeks. The difference about this morning was he was needed in a makeup chair by 7:00 a.m. Elle glanced at the clock, relieved they had plenty of time to arrive at the studio.
It was Luke’s first episode as David McKenzie. Episode seven. Elle would, officially, be overseeing his acting. She hoped he’d nail his scenes—the last thing she wanted to do was correct him in front of the cast. She had no desire to emasculate him like that in front of his peers. But this character and the coming episodes were pivotal—absolutely crucial to the success of the show.
“Morning.” His voice was raspy. “Time for breakfast?”
“Sure. What’d you have in mind?”
“I’m easy, you know that. Whatever my lady wants is fine.” He planted soft kisses on her shoulder and goose bumps rose to meet his lips.
“I’m fine with coffee . . . and you have to be on set in just over an hour. Rain check?” Elle rolled over to face him. He’d spent the night often enough that she no longer worried about bed head or morning breath. Luke didn’t seem to mind either anyway . . . at least not on her.
“I have an idea. How about dinner . . . tonight? We can celebrate my first day on set.” His grin was infectious and Elle found herself smiling right back at the handsome actor in her bed.
“Deal. Ooh, I’ll ask Gina for the name of that place.”
Luke hopped out of bed; his tan pecs flexed as he threw his shirt back on. “What place?”
“A restaurant that serves Chicago-style pizza.”
Luke shrugged. “Never had it.”
“Seriously?” Elle threw the back of her hand over her forehead, dramatically sighing for Luke’s benefit. “Oh, the horror!”
“Don’t quit your day job. You’re a terrible actress.”
Elle smirked, knowing he was right. “You have to try this pizza, Luke, I’m serious. It’s . . . well, for me it’s home.”
He leaned down, digging his hands into the mattress, his face only inches from hers. “Well, then I can’t wait to try it.”
He placed a delicate kiss on her forehead before retreating to the guest bathroom to shower and prepare for the day. Elle appreciated that he gave her the space she required in the morning. Her bathroom, her closet—he knew it was off-limits to him between the hours of six and eight a.m. He was such an easygoing guy—things like that just didn’t bother Luke. And Elle loved that about him.
In fact, their relationship was full of sex, laughter, and not much else. He relaxed her, helped her mind drift away from the stresses