Page 55 of Secrets We Keep
“I thought you were the food I’d ordered.”
“We still can be,” Reid laughs.
I’ve been to her apartment a couple of times before, and I love what she’s done with the place. I know Adrien pays her well, but he doesn’t pay her this well. Her older sister obviously likes to still look after her.
“So much for you guys giving me some breathing room.” Her words might sound like she’s upset we’re not giving her some space, but her face tells a different story. “This is the real me, by the way, guys.”
“No, it’s not. The real you was the half-naked sexy as hell woman walking around with so much confidence she forgot she was walking around with barely anything on.” I mean every word.
“What he said,” Reid laughs, putting his phone in his back pocket. “I need to get something off my chest.”
Jenna and I pass a look between us. Both of us thought something was on his mind all weekend, but neither one of us knew Reid well enough to ask him about it.
“I’m going to say something, and both of you are going to panic, and I need you not to, okay?”
“Okay,” Jenna says as she curls up in what I know is her comfy reading chair.
There’s a knock at the door. Jenna is about to jump up when I stop her. I head to her door and take the food off the guy. It looks like she was planning on feeding an army of people.
“This was going to be tonight and tomorrow’s dinner.”
“As I was saying,” Reid runs his hands down his face, and he looks exhausted. Whatever is on his mind has been bothering him. “We need to tone this thing down between us, at least in public.”
“That’s fine by me. I have no interest at all in being in the public eye. You know this already.” Jenna says.
“I’m not ashamed. It’s just…” He pauses as if for dramatic effect. “I have this unbelievable job offer, and our unconventional relationship could jeopardize that.”
“You’ve been offered the lead in Tree-tops new superhero movie,” Jenna bursts out.
“How do you know?” Reid asks, looking confused.
“Adrien had a meeting with their CEO last week. Apparently, they know each other in some way. I’d never heard of them, to be honest.”
“They’re a big UK company, apparently.”
“Yeah, they’re trying to break into the US market in a big way.”
“Sounds like they might have been asking Adrien about you,” I say as I try to take one of the prawn crackers Jenna has open on the coffee table in front of her.
“Yeah, I think Adrien is looking at working with them on something next year,” Jenna says, her mouth half-full of noodles.
“Adrien told you that?” Reid asks, leaning forward.
“Adrien can’t take a shit without Jenna knowing about it. I’m sure Adrien loves and hates it in equal measures.”
“Oh, he loves it. I’ve saved his ass so many times with the stuff I pick up and remember from everyone.”
I don’t doubt that for a minute. The higher-ups at AB Enterprises now know Jenna is the one person nobody dares to cross or get on the bad side of. I wish I had the same effect on people for Josh’s company. “You have his respect, Jenna, and you know it.”
“I know.” Jenna smiles at me, giving me a knowing look. We’ve had various versions of this conversation over the years.
“So you guys are okay to keep this kind of on the down-low for now? I’m not sure, but we might be able to sneak into Hidden Secrets. I can chat with Mike about us using the private entrance some VIPs like to use who don’t like the public aspects of the club.”
“They really do cater to everyone, huh?” Jenna laughs, filling her mouth with more food. She looks so hot when she doesn’t think anyone is watching.
“Yeah, I guess.” Reid still sounds like he’s the one who needs convincing on all this. “My team has told me I need to be drama free while all this is going down…”
“I get it,” I say, slapping him on the shoulder. “I meant it the other day. We both did. You can trust us.”
