Sugar and Spice_ An L.A. Candy Novel - Lauren Conrad [81]
“Yeah, well, every once in a while I do something that you didn’t write down in your little notebook,” Jane said drily.
“Funny. You know that Scarlett wants to leave, too?”
Jane nodded. Scarlett had told Jane her news last night, including the fact that she had decided to transfer to another college in the fall. Talk about mixed emotions; Jane couldn’t bear the idea of her best friend leaving L.A., but at the same time, she absolutely wanted Scar to follow her dreams.
“My decision has nothing to do with hers, though,” she explained to Trevor. “I have enough reasons of my own. I’ve been thinking about this for a while—ever since I found your notebook at Coco de Ville.”
“My notebook. God, I should burn the damned thing.”
“Yeah, you should. But you won’t.” Jane stood up to go.
Trevor stood up, too, and walked over to her. He put his hands on her shoulders and gazed into her eyes. “Jane, you’re at the top of your game,” he said, his voice full of fatherly concern. “You don’t want to quit now. Is it about the money? Because you know that the network will pay you more to stay. It’s a bit irregular mid-season, but I can pull some strings. I’ll talk to your agent.”
Jane met his gaze squarely. “No, it’s not about the money. R.J. already knows, and he supports my decision a hundred percent.” She added, “Don’t worry about the rest of the season. I’ll show up for all my shoots, as always, and I’ll fulfill my media obligations. After that, well . . .” She paused. “I’m going back to my real life.”
“Do you really want to go back to the way things were? Before I discovered you at Les Deux?”
“More than anything,” Jane said, meaning it. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m late for my dinner date.”
Trevor regarded her, his jaw clenching and unclenching. “You’re going to change your mind. You know that, right?”
Jane shrugged. And said nothing. She knew Trevor would not give up easily. She also knew there was nothing he could say or do to make her change her mind.
Jane blinked into the morning light and glanced over at her nightstand, expecting to see her goldfish, Penny, demanding breakfast. But instead of her fishbowl, there was a stack of scripts, a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf travel mug, and a framed, faded photo of a blond boy dressed in a SpongeBob T-shirt and holding a puppy.
Oh, right. Jane rolled over and smiled at Braden, who was curled up on his side, fast asleep. The photo must be Braden at age nine or ten. So cute. She inched closer to him and snuggled against his back. His T-shirt had a warm, beachy smell that she had always associated with him.
She couldn’t believe she was here, now, in his bed. They had met for dinner last night at a hole-in-the-wall Thai restaurant (to avoid paparazzi), after which Braden had suggested that they go back to his apartment for a Monopoly rematch, which had turned out to be code for something else, which had been just fine with Jane. As soon as they walked through his front door, they fell into each other’s arms and kissed. Their chemistry had been amazing—better than ever. Was it because they had come to realize their true feelings for each other during their time apart?
At dinner, Jane hadn’t said a word to Braden about Caleb (whose calls and texts she hadn’t returned—and had no plan to return). She hadn’t said a word about her conversation with Trevor, either. She was waiting for the perfect moment. Because among other things, quitting the show meant that she and Braden could finally try to have a real relationship. Away from the cameras, away from the spotlight, no more hiding in their apartments or meeting in dive bars and out-of-the-way restaurants. They could date openly, publicly, like a real couple. Finally.
“Morning.” Braden stretched, then sat up against the pillows. His dirty blond hair was tousled, and his hazel-green eyes looked sleepy.
“Hey. How are you?”
“Tired. What time did we go to bed?”
“Two or three?”
“God. Sorry. When do you have to be at work?”
“Not till this