Rogue Beast (The Rourkes #12) - Kylie Gilmore Page 0,59

you’d think that Broadway would’ve called after our freshman production of Grease.” She sticks her tongue out at me. “Harper abandoned us for Hollywood after freshman year.”

“We’re so proud of her!” Jenna exclaims. Audrey nods vigorously.

“Wish I could’ve seen it,” Garrett says. “I’ve only had one line ever.”

I hitch a thumb at him. “Garrett just filmed his first commercial.”

My friends stop smiling. I know I’ve bitched about my exes using me, but Garrett’s different. The man did chores for my grandmother on his day off.

He cooked for me.

He’s the marrying type.

It hits me in a dizzying rush—I’m falling for him. It’s a too fast, scary, out-of-control feeling, but there it is. In that moment, my defenses completely crumble. I can’t fight this thing. It’s too powerful, unlike anything I’ve ever felt before.

“Oh, you’re in the business too?” Sydney asks him in a terse tone.

“Just got in, actually,” he says. “After the gala, I got an agent. I’m really in construction with some acting on the side. I had my first session with my personal acting coach, and there’s more to acting than I realized.” He squeezes my shoulder. “The more I learn, the more I admire Harper and what she does with a role.”

I smile what I’m sure is a dreamy smile. “Thanks.”

Sydney shoots me a questioning look, checking if I’m okay with the commercial thing.

I send back the all-clear signal with a small nod.

The guy behind the bar calls over to us, “Anything else I can get you?”

Sydney pops up. “I’ll get us some champagne to celebrate Harper’s new show.” She leans forward, smiling. “The good stuff.”

“I’ll chip in,” I say.

“Get out, lady! I own the damn place. It’s like, a write-off.”

“Tax-deductible champagne?” I ask in a teasing voice. “Who’s doing your books?”

“Ha!”

As soon as she’s out of hearing range, I turn to my friends and lower my voice. “How’s she doing here, really? Is she going to be able to keep the place open?”

Jenna and Audrey exchange a look.

Audrey speaks first in a whisper. “She’s working on a big New Year’s Eve party with a silent auction as a fundraiser. After that, I’m not sure if there will be enough to keep the place open.”

“Maybe it’s best if it closes,” Jenna whispers. “I know it’s a piece of history, but if she sells, someone with money could come in and turn it into something new. Like I turned the café into a bakery.”

“Weren’t you working in IT?” I ask Jenna. “That was a good-paying job.”

“My soul was dying,” she replies.

“Oh.”

She waves that away. “You don’t know anything about that since you followed your heart from the beginning. The rest of us are looking around, saying, is this all there is?”

“You too, Audrey?” I ask.

“I’m happy running the library, but even I sometimes wonder if the grass is greener doing something else. Something exciting.”

I stare at her. “Like what?” Audrey has always been about books, books, books.

“Pole dancing,” Sydney says with a laugh, returning with the champagne. “Our little Audrey on the pole.”

Audrey shakes her head, blushing and glancing at Garrett. He’s smiling. “That’s you, Syd.”

“I’d pay to see that,” I say.

Sydney holds her palm out for cash.

“Just Audrey,” I say.

Audrey shakes her head vigorously, waving her hands back and forth. “No, no.”

Everyone laughs.

Sydney pops the champagne, and we clap. Once everyone has a glass in hand, Sydney raises hers. “To Harper, our hometown girl gone big time!”

I lift my glass to them. “To you wonderful ladies. I’ve missed you. I swear I’m going to come back to visit more.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Sydney says.

We all clink glasses and drink.

“You should stop by on Thursday nights,” Sydney says. “We started a book club.”

“You mean Audrey started it, right?”

Sydney inclines her head. “True, but we have it here. I renamed it the Thursday Night Wine Club because who are we kidding? Audrey’s the only one who ever finishes the book. The rest of us just drink wine and gossip. Two birds, one stone this way—supporting The Horseman and feeling like we’re more intellectual. The group’s been growing and the wine’s been flowing.”

Audrey sighs and looks to the ceiling.

“I could get into a Thursday night wine club,” I say. “Too bad I can’t make it. Dress rehearsal is on Thursdays, and then I have to be fresh and ready to go for Friday’s taping. No late night wine drinking.”

Sydney tosses her hair and bats her lashes at me. “One day when you get off the Hollywood treadmill, you’ll have time for