The Hating Season (Seasons #2) - K.A.Linde Page 0,79

ago!”

I laughed. “You did. I give you credit.”

“Are you going to do it?”

“I’m looking into it at least. I have to talk to Leslie first. My contract for Court was through Poise. So, technically… we don’t work together anymore.”

Lark clapped her hands together in excitement. “Does this mean what I think it means?”

I shook my head and then nodded and then shrugged. “I don’t know what you think it means.”

“That you and Court are an item.”

“Well… he said we were together. But I didn’t say anything back. I don’t know exactly.”

“Oh my god,” Lark gasped and jumped up. She dragged me into a hug. “I’m so happy for you. I know, after Josh, things were so bad, but Court seems to make you happy.”

“You don’t think it’s too soon?” I whispered my fear out loud.

“Does it feel too soon?”

“Sometimes,” I admitted. “It’s only been three months, and Josh and I were together for five years. But… I like being with him.”

“Then, I don’t think it’s too soon. Someone else might say that because they don’t know you. But I know that you wouldn’t rush into anything unless it felt right. I’m surprised it’s Court,” she said with another laugh, “but also glad it is. He’s changed because of you. And you seem so much happier.”

I flushed at the words. I’d always thought I was happy with Josh, that things were perfect. But maybe I’d just had such fucked up expectations that I’d dismissed his behavior too easily. I’d thought he was perfect when really he just wasn’t quite as douchey as the guys I was used to. Until he was.

“It’s kind of a relief to say it out loud. And to not have to hide it anymore. I didn’t like lying.”

“I know what you mean,” Lark said seriously. “It only gets easier from here.”

I held up my hand. “Fingers crossed.”

“Let’s get dinner after your meeting. Or coffee!”

“Do you need more coffee?” I asked, gesturing to her desk.

“What kind of question is that? Everyone needs more coffee.”

I shook my head. “All right. Coffee Grounds after!”

I smiled at my friend and then headed back into the main office space. Leslie’s office was at the very end of the hall. I’d met her there when I came out to interview for the position. We’d mostly communicated through email about Court’s progress since then. For some reason, it felt even more daunting, walking toward her office now than it had before.

I knocked twice and heard someone inside say, “Come in.”

I turned the knob and entered. Leslie was seated at a large desk. It was immaculate in comparison to Lark’s mayhem. This was her second office, but I knew her main office at City Hall was equally perfect.

“Ah, Anna. Good. Right on time,” Leslie said. “Shut the door and take a seat.”

I shut the door behind me, closing me in with Court’s mother. I hadn’t felt this anxious about a meeting in a long time. But this wasn’t a normal meet-the-parents endeavor. And I didn’t know how it was going to go.

I knew that Leslie Kensington was volatile with her sons. I’d seen it firsthand. But I also knew that she loved them and prized them even if she was a total hard-ass. I still didn’t know how she’d react when she found out about me and Court.

Still, I took a deep breath and sat.

Leslie finished typing out what appeared to be an email and then turned to face me again. “So, I just had a call from your PR firm. Apparently, you quit?”

“Yes,” I said softly. Then, I cleared my throat and reached for my publicist vote. “Yes. I received some disturbing news about the firm and made the decision to sever ties.”

“Care to share the news? Margery made it seem like…” Leslie waved her hand about. “Well, that you weren’t entirely with it.”

I gritted my teeth. So, it had begun. The slander against my good name.

“Well, I found out from my ex-husband that she’d convinced him to sleep with his costar to help promote the movie. And instead of telling me or talking to me about it, she went behind my back. I just found out about it, and when she finally admitted to it, I decided I didn’t need that kind of person in my life. Let alone as a role model.”

Leslie steepled her fingers in front of her mouth. “Hmm.”

“I understand that I probably should have come to talk to you about it right away. I know that it impacts our