Page 55 of Give Me a Reason

“Well, you’re back in the US now, so you’re going to let us treat you ,” Frederick said firmly. “Let us celebrate you , Anne. It’ll be our privilege.”

Anne’s eyes widened, then softened. “Thank you. I would like that.”

“Good.” Katie rubbed her hands together. “Now that’s decided, we can finally order. I’m starving .”

“Will I do my Korean heritage dirty if I choose mild for my spice level?” Frederick raised an eyebrow at Anne, hoping to make her smile.

“Hmm, I don’t know.” She offered him a mischievous smile, and he felt like he’d plucked a star from the sky. “But it might be a wise choice since a Korean toddler can tolerate spice better than you.”

Frederick burst out laughing—because it was true—but he rearranged his expression to look appropriately insulted. “Harsh.”

“But he’s a firefighter, Anne.” Katie wiggled her eyebrows. “He can take other kinds of heat.”

“She’s married to a firefighter.” Pete joined in the eyebrow wiggling. “She knows what she’s talking about.”

Katie snorted and high-fived her husband. Frederick pretended to gag. And Anne laughed, a shy blush staining her cheeks. God, she was adorable.

“You guys are pretty nauseating,” he said to stop himself from grabbing Anne and demonstrating how well he could tolerate other kinds of heat.

“Hey, stop that.” She crinkled her nose, but her eyes still smiled at him, and his stomach swooped. “They’re the best.”

“If you say so,” Frederick managed to croak.

He hardly noticed how delicious his mild-but-flavorful lunch tasted, busy as he was sneaking glances at Anne.

On the upside, he was too distracted to panic about what to say to her.

On the downside, he still didn’t know what to say to her.

He had a feeling when he opened his mouth, his words would spill out in an incoherent mess.

If worse came to worst, he would fall on his knees and grovel.

After lunch, they decided to go for a walk in Culver City’s vibrant downtown. The lunch crowd congested the sidewalk as they cleared out of the many restaurants lining the streets, and they proceeded to fill up the numerous coffee shops, heading for their after-lunch caffeine fix.

Not for the first time, Frederick wondered what kinds of jobs these people had to take such leisurely lunches in the middle of the week. As a firefighter, he had a unique schedule where he had entire days off. What about these folks? He shrugged. That’s LA for you.

Arm in arm, Katie and Pete strolled a few steps ahead, ensconced in a cocoon of love. Or they might be giving Frederick privacy to talk with Anne. He couldn’t tell which, but he would take either gladly.

“How are you?” Anne beat him to the question while he took a bracing breath. He thought a shadow crossed over her lovely features, but she turned to him with a smile that had his eyes dropping to her lips. “Are you… happy?”

Was he happy ? In that moment, he was exquisitely happy in a way he could only feel when he was with Anne. She made him happy like no one else could. He could admit that now, so he answered with soft sincerity, “I am.”

“I’m glad.” But that shadow rippled across her face again. “It’s such a relief that Bethany is recovering nicely. The doctor said she would, but I think we were all still a little worried.”

His brows furrowed. Was Anne still worried?

Was that what the tinge of sadness was about?

Joe assured him that Bethany was back to herself.

She had only extended her leave of absence to appease her parents.

Frederick deliberately turned his thoughts away from Mrs. Hong and focused on reassuring Anne.

“Bethany will be fine.” He couldn’t help reaching out to take her hand in his. Her fingers felt as cold as ice. His eyes snapped up to scan her pale face. “She’s in good hands.”

“Y-yes.” Anne lowered her gaze, then nodded quickly. “I know she is.”

“Anne.” Why did he get the feeling that they were having two different conversations?

Maybe what happened between them in Bosque Verde had affected her more than she let on.

He hoped she was angry with him for letting her leave his room like that, not upset about them making love.

Time to tell her everything, Nam. His heart fluttered with fear and hope. “About what happened in—”

“Anne? Is that you?” an obviously delighted voice called from behind them. Both she and Frederick turned around at the same time. “It is you.”

“Andrew?” Anne’s eyes widened. “What are—”

Andrew cut off her question by pulling her into his arms for a tight hug. Frederick felt a growl build in his chest. Who the fuck was this guy? He looked familiar, but Frederick couldn’t place him.

“We need to stop running into each other like this.” The man grinned down at her, one hand lingering on her arm. Frederick wanted to wrench his hand off. “But I can’t say I mind. It seems providence is on my side.”

The smarmy smile and the “charming” inflection in the stranger’s voice finally clicked in Frederick’s head. The breadstick guy. How did Anne and the man know each other’s names? Had they run into each other again after the winery? And how the fuck were they on hugging terms?

Frederick glanced at Anne, and his stomach sank. She seemed flustered but not displeased to see the other man. Was she relieved by the interruption because she knew what Frederick had been working up to tell her? Or was she just glad to see the breadstick guy? Neither possibility appealed to him.

“Anne?” Frederick arched an eyebrow at her.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Anne fluttered her hands. “Let me introduce you—”

“I think we remember each other,” Andrew interjected smoothly.

“I think you should stop interrupting her,” Frederick gritted out. “But yes, I do remember you.”

“Well, you haven’t met officially. Frederick, this is Andrew Cha.” Anne looked between the two men with a chagrined expression. “He’s the director of the Pride and Prejudice adaptation.”

“The one you’re starring in?” Frederick drew back in surprise. He’d heard of the hotshot director and even enjoyed some of his recent films. He felt betrayed by his past self.

“Yes, the very one,” Andrew answered, even though the question was directed at Anne, and shifted to stand much too close to her. “I am beyond thrilled to be working with such a captivating and talented actress.”

Frederick curled his hands into fists, fighting the urge to pull her to his side, then watched incredulously as a blush stole into Anne’s cheeks. How could she not see that Andrew Cha was an asshole? He refused to entertain the possibility that he might be blinded by jealousy.

“And, Andrew, this is Frederick Nam.” Anne continued with the introductions. “My… friend.”

Frederick flinched, even though he had been the one to insist they be friends.

When the other man stuck out his hand, he reluctantly accepted it after a stony second.

Seemingly oblivious to the tension emanating off Frederick, Andrew Cha shook his hand enthusiastically.

He didn’t seem the least bit threatened by Frederick, his posture loose and relaxed.

Maybe the hotshot director didn’t see him as competition.

“It’s nice to meet you.” The man flashed a toothpaste commercial smile.

“Likewise,” Frederick lied stiffly.

“It’s a good thing I took your advice about not holding my breath.

” Andrew spoke to Anne in a low, intimate voice, and Frederick’s jaw clenched hard enough to crack his molars.

“But maybe I should warn you that I will be holding my breath from this point forward. It must mean something for us to keep running into each other, don’t you think? ”

“It’s a small world, for sure,” Anne said with an indulgent half smile.

They didn’t seem to be talking about something film related, and Frederick nearly roared with frustration. He had no claims on Anne to react this way—and that was no one’s fault but his—but fuck it all, he wanted to bodily shove the man away from her. She was his .

“Where did you guys go?” Pete walked up to them with his wife tucked into his side. “We thought we lost you.”

“Sorry, guys.” Anne cringed. “We ran into someone I know. This is Andrew Cha, the director of my upcoming film.”

“How funny that you two ran into each other like this.” Katie glanced between Anne and the director. “Hello, Andrew. I’m Katie, and this is my husband, Pete. We’re Anne and Frederick’s friends.”

“Delighted to meet you both,” Andrew said with another charming grin. Frederick wanted to punch him in the mouth. “We might actually have passed each other in Bosque Verde last month.”

“No way.” Pete chuckled, not picking up on Frederick’s barely contained antagonism.

“What brings you to Culver City, Andrew?” Katie asked with a suspicious squint. Good. At least she noticed something was off with the guy. Or she might be going into Mama Bear mode because of Frederick. She couldn’t have missed his lovesick glances at Anne all through lunch.

“Oh, something tedious involving a roomful of people in expensive suits.” Andrew tugged his tie loose with a rueful smile. His suit fit him like a fucking glove. It was obviously tailor-made and expensive. “At least I got some good news out of it.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Anne said kindly. She is kind to everyone , Frederick reminded himself.

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” Andrew rocked back on his heels, his gaze lingering on Anne.

Frederick unclenched his teeth long enough to snap, “We came out to celebrate Anne’s new role.”

“That’s fantastic.” Andrew seemed to miss Frederick’s hint that he was very much interrupting their celebration. “Where were you guys headed?”

“Well, we just finished lunch,” Pete offered ever so helpfully.

Frederick glared at him, and his friend squinted, thoroughly perplexed. He mouthed, What? When Frederick looked away with a frustrated huff, Pete continued hesitantly, “My wife and I were actually… going to head home?”

Goddammit. Pete failed spectacularly at reading Frederick’s expression. His best friend could see right through him except at this crucial moment?

“Oh?” Andrew’s smile widened like a cat with a canary in his mouth. “Does that mean I can steal Anne away?”

Anne glanced at Frederick. “I don’t think—”

“Actually, the good news from the meeting pertains to our film,” the man said, interrupting Anne yet again. This time, a small frown flickered at her brows before she swiftly smoothed it out.

Frederick admired her professionalism, but if Andrew Cha spoke over her one more time, the man and his too-white teeth would become intimately acquainted with Frederick’s fist.

Anne glanced at Frederick, then back at the director, curious about the news but too conscientious to abandon her friends. All the fight drained out of Frederick. He couldn’t watch her twist herself into a knot when he could easily put her mind at ease.

“I should head back as well.” He pretended to check his phone.

“You should?” Was that disappointment he saw in her eyes? Had he read the situation all wrong?

“Yeah.” He forced himself to nod and gave her arm a lingering squeeze. “Will you be okay here?”

“I will personally make sure that Anne is well taken care of,” Andrew answered for her. Again. A muscle ticked in Frederick’s jaw, but he didn’t look away from Anne.

“Yes, of course.” She finally nodded, but her smile seemed forced. Damn it. What was going on? “I’ll be fine.”

“Congratulations once more.” Katie hugged Anne and shook her around a bit.

Anne hugged her back with equal enthusiasm. “Thank you, friend.”

“See you soon, Anne. You’re a rock star. Well, you’re actually a film star, but you know what I mean.” Pete draped an arm around his wife and gave Anne a cheesy wink, making her laugh. “And it was nice meeting you, Andrew.”

“Likewise.” The director bowed with a small tilt of his head.

Pete lowered his voice and said to Frederick, “Why do I get the feeling I failed you? Text me.”

Frederick watched his friends make their way to their car, then turned back to find Andrew sidling up even closer to Anne. What next? Was he going to climb onto her back? Frederick breathed in and out through his nose and determinedly ignored the other man.

“It was good seeing you, Anne. I have to… We need to talk,” Frederick said before he lost his nerve. He didn’t know what was going on between Andrew Cha and her, but he wasn’t ready to give up. “I’ll call you.”

“I’d like that.” She nodded quickly. “Very much.”

“You would?” He gaped at her.

Anne was just being kind, but Frederick couldn’t make himself say goodbye. He couldn’t walk away from her or even take his eyes off her. He opened his mouth to ask her to stay with him.

“Shall we?” Andrew held his arm out to Anne, drawing her attention. “I know a delightful coffee shop just around the corner.”

“Yes, of course.” After a brief hesitation, she linked her arm through the crook of the other man’s elbow. “We’ll talk soon, Frederick?”

“Yes,” he rasped. “Soon.”

“Have a good afternoon.” Andrew turned away without waiting for Frederick to respond. It was just as well because he couldn’t force himself to wish the same for him.

He watched her walk away with the director, his dark mood casting a shadow over the sunny day.

The pompous ass had too much swagger for his own good, but Frederick couldn’t sense anything predatory about him.

Andrew Cha’s interest in Anne seemed genuine, and if she were also interested in him—Frederick struggled to swallow—a relationship with an acclaimed director might be good for her.

Anne had more than enough talent to succeed on her own, but she might enjoy being with someone who understood the industry.

And she was new to Hollywood, so Andrew Cha might be able to offer her some guidance to smooth the way for her.

Being with the director might be the best path for Anne and her future.

If that were true, what she and Frederick shared might be best left in the past.

His eyes followed her down the street, even as his heart cracked inside him.

But when Anne glanced over her shoulder and caught his gaze, Frederick thought he saw his longing reflected in her eyes.

Come home to me, Anne. For a moment, it seemed as though there might still be a chance for them.

Then she turned the corner, and… she was gone.