Page 60 of Secrets We Keep
“She’s special like that. Why do you think I kept her close as a friend all these years? I couldn’t imagine a scenario without her in my life. I was willing to have her any way I could, even if that meant I was going to be in the friend zone forever.
“We love her, don’t we?” I say.
“Yeah, and neither of us has ever said it to her.”
“And now we’re going to have to break her heart publicly and loudly,” I say as I slump back in my chair, and I really want to not go ahead with this plan. But if there’s one thing I know about Jenna, it’s that if we don’t go ahead with it. She will break up with both of us, and it will be for real.
“She’s worth turning down this job for,” I say, meaning every single word.
“She’d have your balls.” Dominic laughs.
“You need to look pissed when you leave here if we’re going to start selling this. Today is phase one.”
“It’ll be worth it in the end.”
“Just think, neither of us gets to fuck her for the next couple of months,” I remind him, mainly because I need him to leave my office pissed and moody. Just the way most people in these two buildings see him.
“You’re a dick, Reid.”
“I know, been told it on multiple occasions,” mainly from my dad. I don’t add. I don’t need his sympathy at the moment.
Iknow Jenna works until six most nights, but I don’t know the new assistant's schedule, so here I am at a quarter to five, ready to cause a scene. This should be easy for me. I’m an actor, for crying out loud. I make a living making people believe the lie I’m trying to sell.
The new assistant sees me as I get off the elevator.
“Hi,” she smiles, following me with her eyes.
I close my eyes and try to drown her out as I walk toward Jenna’s desk. Her eyes widen while she talks on the phone. She corrects herself quickly as we both hear heels on the tile follow me slowly as if she’s trying to sneak forward so we don’t notice. She must think we’re fucking stupid.
I sit on the chair in front of her desk until she gets off the phone. Her eyes are on me the whole time. This is the last time we’re going to be so close to each other, and it kills me. She takes longer to end the call. She knows like I do that when this call ends, we have to start sowing these seeds, especially with the assistant still here. I know her name. I’m just not wasting my time dignifying her with her name.
“Okay, we’ll see you in the office tomorrow. Adrien said to get in touch once you’re all checked into the hotel, and he’ll meet you in the rooftop bar for drinks. Yeah, you too… Thanks, you too.” She hangs up the phone and looks behind me, and I know she sees her.
“I’m fucking pissed,” I groan, my eyes on hers.
“Yeah, I’m not happy about it either.” She screws up her face. I know she can do better than this. So does she.
“Jenna, I don’t want to do this. I really don’t.”
“Reid, we can get through this together. Whoever sold that story better hope I don’t ever meet them, though. Nobody messes with people I care about and gets away with it.” She’s gone off script, but I like it. She stands up and busies herself with stuff on her desk. “Reid, it’s a job of a lifetime. I just hope that whoever this person is who went to press doesn’t tank your career.”
“You and me both, babe.”
I watch as her bottom lip quivers ever so slightly. But just as quickly, she shuts it down, and a weak and not all-real smile comes from her lips.
“I have stuff on tonight I can’t get out of, so I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” It’s not a lie. If I could get out of this night shoot, I would. I’d much rather be spending the night with Jenna in my arms.
“Okay, see you tomorrow.” She walks around the desk, grabs my face, and kisses me. I can tell by the way she keeps me in a tight grip that she doesn’t want to let go. I don’t, either. I’ve not given her many choices about all this, so she can hold on to me for as long as she feels she needs to. I’m hers just as much as she’s mine. She opens her mouth and rests her forehead on mine, and we both take in each for a second longer than we probably should. “You need to get back to work,” she whispers, and I can see the tears in her eyes. I’m not moving my head, though, until she can regroup herself. No way am I going to give that woman across the way any satisfaction in seeing Jenna cry.
“Jenna Michaels, I love you. We’re going to ride this storm, I promise.” I whisper so quietly I’m not a hundred percent sure she’s heard me.
34
DOMINIC
LIE: HALSEY, QUAVO
Driving Jenna home last night was pure torture. I wanted to push through her apartment door. I can’t believe I just blurted out that I loved her as she was getting out of the car. She looked horrified. For all of ten seconds, then I knew being spontaneous was the right thing to do, even if I knew I was on borrowed time when her face brightened up like it did. It was the first time she’d smiled the whole drive home.
