Page 110 of Anyone But the Superstar

‘Don’t kill him!’

‘We’re here to help!’

Like a child whose playtime was interrupted by chores, Chase sighs and gestures me back.

Not asking twice, I retreat to the center of the room as two women push themselves through the bookcase door.

Thomas reaches out a hand to the smaller blonde. Chase pats the redhead’s butt.

‘Hi.’ The blonde steps forward but is held back by Thomas. Rolling her eyes in the face of his grimness, she smiles. ‘I’m Alice. Thomas’ wife.’

Looking between the two, I could not ask for a more prime example of the grump and sunshine trope popular in so many famous romantic comedies.

The redhead swats at Chase’s hand and waves. ‘And I’m Bell.’ She has a slight Southern accent that reminds me of Texas.

Raising my hand in answer, I feel like the odd man out. ‘I’m Felix.’ I glance behind them at the office that mirrors the one we’re all standing in. ‘Were you in there with Elizabeth during the meeting?’

‘Oh no,’ Alice answers. ‘We were listening from the bathroom.’

‘The Moores tend to eavesdrop a lot.’ Bell leans forward, giving my arm a playful punch. ‘You’ll get used to it.’

Ignoring Chase’s laser focus on where Bell just touched me, I replay what his wife just said. ‘I’ll get used to it?’

‘Yes.’ A genuine, bright smile lights up Alice’s brown eyes. She tilts her head up and back to stare at Thomas. ‘Because we all decided that we’re going to respect Elizabeth’s feelings and think about what she would want, right?’ She speaks slow and loud, making me think she’s talking more to Thomas than to me.

Amazingly, Thomas nods in answer. ‘As I was saying, we didn’tjustinvite you here to show you how much you don’t deserve Elizabeth.’

Alice’s smile wavers.

Avoiding his wife’s eyes, Thomas continues. ‘We also decided to aid you in coming up with an apology worthy of our sister.’

With a satisfied shimmy, Alice returns her attention to me.

‘Since apparently, you can’t do it yourself,’ Thomas mutters.

Either Alice doesn’t hear him or she’s has made the wise decision to ignore him.

‘My apology?’

Thomas glowers harder, if that’s possible. ‘Were you not going to apologize?’

‘I’ve beentryingto—’ I stop, pausing to take a breath and release my mounting frustration. ‘Of courseI’mgoing to apologize. I’ve been trying to call but she hasn’t been answering her phone.’

Rather than looking appeased, Thomas seems satisfied. ‘Yes. I had her change her phone number.’

‘Because of the press?’

He tilts his head, considering. ‘There’s that. But also because I didn’t want to make it so easy for you.’

I can tell Thomas and I are going to be fast friends.

I close my eyes for a moment, reminding myself that while right now, they are a huge pain in my ass, it’s great that Elizabeth has such caring brothers. ‘Listen, I flew here with the sole purpose of apologizing.’ I wave towards the secret door. ‘So while the thing with Camilla was great, I don’t need it. I just need Elizabeth.’ I focus on my hardest critics, Thomas and Chase. ‘Whoyoujust kept me from.’

Neither brother looks regretful.

‘Tell me something.’ Bell draws my attention. ‘Did you call her before or after she sent you that video of your co-star selling you out?’ She folds her arms across her chest, looking more formidable than her husband as he reaches down to pick up a thoroughly nut-clean Mike Hunt.

‘Before.’ I open my phone and bring up my call history. ‘I regretted what I said the moment I said it. I just… my mom…’