undo any of it because I adore him, but it is hard. Especially at first when you’re not used to it. It felt like we came from two completely different worlds. There’s fans and then there’s groupies, which are at another level, and then you have stalkers. We’ve had to hire a lot of security. This isn’t what I would have chosen for my life, but he’s so good at what he does, I’d never want him to give it up.”
“I know this is personal, and you don’t have to answer,” I said, “but do you worry about him cheating on you?”
“Never. I mean, when we started dating, yes, but that was because I was so insecure. And it’s very common in Hollywood for that to happen. There are so many actors who cheat on their spouses while they’re filming and think it’s normal and then just go back to their regular lives. Chase doesn’t do that because he knows I would murder him in his sleep. And I do trust him. There are trade-offs in any relationship, and this is what we have to deal with.”
“What do we have to deal with?” Chase asked, handing his wife a cardboard box full of six cheeseburgers.
“People who think they’re in love with you and all the other nonsense that comes with fame. But never mind that because I so love you right now. Thank you for all this protein,” she responded, taking a burger out. “This is Juliet. From the ceremony?”
“Congratulations!” I told him.
He beamed at me. “Thank you!” He settled in beside her, and his demeanor changed. “Wait. Aren’t you the one who is here with Douglas?”
“I’m not. Here with him. We’re not dating.”
Chase muttered “Noah Douglas” under his breath. I looked at Zoe questioningly.
She leaned in. “There’s this guy I used to work with named Noah, and Chase never liked him, but I think this is more about the fact that Chase is jealous of your Noah’s talent.”
He wasn’t my Noah, but I didn’t correct her. “Why? Chase just won for Best Actor.”
“Which he’s obviously thrilled about. But he feels like this is more of a popularity / which studio paid the most money / which actor did the best press tour kind of award. Noah is the one winning all the film critics’ awards at the festivals.” She held the box of burgers toward me. “Would you like one?”
I’d been sitting here for a long time, which had allowed my appetite to return. I also didn’t know how much longer I’d be waiting, so I thanked her and took one. It was a bit cold but still delicious. An entire multitude of people had apparently been waiting to talk to Chase, as they kept coming up to him and preventing him from eating. I felt bad for him, watching him smile and shake hands instead of getting to consume this deliciousness. I did note that Chase was holding Zoe’s hand the entire time, which I thought was too sweet. Right when I finished my burger, I felt my phone buzzing. When I opened my clutch to check it, I spilled the contents all over the floor. Grumbling, I picked everything up and shoved it back in my purse except for my phone. I had a text from Morgan.
Like some sort of spy operation. I texted back okay and put away my phone.
I wondered if we’d be leaving soon.
Zoe saw him before I did. She nudged me with her arm. “Your not-a-date is coming over.”
Again, he was easy to spot, as he seemed to be a literal head and shoulders above everyone else around him. His gaze caught mine, and I swallowed hard at his expression.
“There’s nothing going on between us.” But whether that was for her benefit or mine, I wasn’t sure. I felt like I’d said those words so often that they were starting to lose their meaning.
Or maybe it was that they weren’t actually true.
Zoe gave me a knowing look and then patted me on my arm. “If anyone knows how you’re feeling, it’s me. Because I’ve been there, done that, and given the way he is staring at you right now, you are in very deep trouble.”
CHAPTER TEN
Noah had nearly reached us when he was stopped by an older man who had his arm around a much younger, beautiful woman. At the man’s request, Noah agreed to take a picture with the woman, who looked like she was in danger of spilling out of the