Showmance - L.H. Cosway Page 0,57

passionate. It seems a little dysfunctional, if you ask me.”

“It is dysfunctional, but that’s what makes it so exhilarating,” said Iggy.

“Is that what you feel towards me these days, Rose, love-hate?” Blake enquired.

“Minus the love and you’re right on the money,” she threw back cuttingly.

Blake pouted at her in a way I was sure he thought was attractive. Then again, I wasn’t exactly his target audience. “That’s harsh.”

“It’s the truth.”

“I agree with Rose,” I said, coming to her defence. “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with two people being together based on attraction and mutual respect.”

“Yes, I get that there’s nothing wrong with it,” said Iggy. “But who’d want all that lovey-dovey stuff when you could be having passionate fights and mind-blowing make-up sex?”

“Sane people who aren’t deranged,” Rose answered, lifting her orange juice and taking a sip.

“And those who are confident enough in their bedroom skills that they don’t need to rely on emotional trauma to create desire,” I added quietly before realising I’d spoken so candidly. It suddenly felt like all eyes were on me, and I wished I hadn’t spoken at all.

Iggy grinned and clasped his hands around his mug. “Okay, now I’m interested. Perhaps a non-dysfunctional relationship can have its advantages.”

“Especially if it involves a tall, dark, and handsome Oscar winner with the dreamiest brown eyes you’ve ever seen,” said Farrah, shooting me a wink.

I shifted uncomfortably and looked away, a little embarrassed. Rose was quiet beside me, and I wondered if she agreed with Farrah’s summation. She glanced up at me from beneath her lashes for a second, but I couldn’t tell what she was thinking. We were locked in a moment, and I had this urge to tuck a fallen strand of hair behind her ear. Instead, I curled my fingers into a fist to keep my hands to myself.

When I looked out the window again, it seemed Julian had managed to calm Alicia down a little. They were still talking back and forth, but with fewer hand gestures than before. A taxi finally pulled up, and Alicia climbed inside. Julian returned to the café, not saying a word as he reclaimed his seat. He pressed his hand to his mug as though to check the temperature, then let out an irritated sigh. “Great, now my coffee’s gone cold.”

Rose shot him a look. “Serves you right.”

“Yeah,” Blake added, siding with Rose. “Didn’t your mother ever teach you how to respect women?”

“Oh, up yours, Manwhore McGee,” Julian threw back with casual bluntness.

It took everything in me not to spit the mouthful of tea I’d just drunk out all over the table.

Fourteen.

*Rose*

His lips had been so warm and intent, and I’d adored the way he’d ever so gently tugged on my hair, causing prickles of desire to trickle all the way down my spine.

My daydreams of the kiss I shared with Damon on Saturday night were taking over my Monday morning thoughts. We’d been practicing the dance routine for “Rhythm of the Night” when Jacob called for a fifteen-minute tea break. I took the opportunity to grab a coffee and listen to a few minutes of Outlander. It was getting closer to the sex scene, I could tell. Amid uncontrollable circumstances, Jamie and Claire had been married, and we all knew what happened on the wedding night. Winkety-wink. Perhaps during lunch I could cloister myself away somewhere to listen in private.

Shut up, I wasn’t a perv.

“Hi, Rosie,” I heard someone say, and pulled out my earphones to see Blake standing over me, a friendly smile on his face.

“Hello.”

He toed the edge of my dance shoe. “You look pretty today.”

“Thank you,” I answered stiffly.

I was still trying to get my head around everything he’d told me during Julian’s birthday party. If he was truly working to get over an addiction, then I didn’t want to be mean to him. In fact, I was all for him cleaning up his life. But the fact still remained that he’d carelessly brushed me off like a troublesome piece of lint. So yes, I’d be cordial towards him, but I wasn’t going to start reigniting our friendship, sharing tea and chats during rehearsal breaks like before.

Jacob called for Blake’s attention, and I was glad for the reprieve. On the other side of the studio, I saw Damon standing with Eddie. His eyes were on me, and he cast me a questioning look. I returned it with a tiny shrug and watched as he pulled out his phone and began tapping on the screen.