Page 60 of Under the Table

“No! You don’t.” Hope put her hands on her hips. She almost asked what she’d done wrong this time, but without even asking, she knew. She’d been so wrapped up in her marriage and Rex and how they were working through her one night with Angelica that she hadn’t paid any attention to Angelica in the last few days. She’d completely pushed her out of the conversation.

Sighing, Hope clenched her jaw tightly and turned around toward the door and then stopped herself. This wasn’t her area of expertise. Not navigating people’s emotions, not figuring out where filming was and wasn’t happening, not knowing where she could quietly talk without any interruptions. That was Angelica’s area.

“How many cameras are in this room?”

“What?” Angelica frowned, a line forming between her brows.

“You film in here. How many cameras are still in here?”

“Three.”

“And your mic?” Hope asked.

Angelica reached behind her back and pulled the pack out, turning it off and detaching the wire from the pack. “Off.”

Hope clenched her jaw tightly. “Where can we go?”

“I don’t understand.”

“Angel, where can we go to talk where no one will hear us?” Hope crossed her arms, her entire body tense. She couldn’t even explain to Angelica what she wanted to talk to her about or why because that couldn’t be on camera, could it? Angelica had made that very clear.

Angelica gave her a hard look before sighing heavily and starting out of the room. Hope followed her closely, not exactly sure where they were headed. It wasn’t until Hope saw Angelica head toward the elevator that she realized they were probably going to her room, but Hope didn’t want to wait that long. She snagged Angelica’s hand and looked around quickly, dragging her toward the nearest supply closet that she saw.

She flashed the keycard that she always had on her onto the door and popped it open. Pulling Angelica inside, Hope shut the door firmly and pocketed the keycard. “I’m sorry.”

“What?” Angelica said, taken aback.

“I’m sorry that I haven’t really talked to you in the last few days. I should have.” Hope shoved her hands in her pockets and rolled up on her toes.

Angelica’s lips parted, the shock evident on her face.

“It’s not been an easy week, as I’m sure you can imagine, but that doesn’t excuse the fact that I’ve ignored you in many ways I shouldn’t have.” Hope cocked her head to the side. “So I’m sorry.”

“I…I don’t know what to say.” Angelica’s shoulders dropped, and that mask she’d had in place moments before faded away.

Hope could finally see the real her standing there, the one she’d fallen in love with. “You don’t have to say anything.”

Hope’s heart hammered. She took a step forward, closing the space between them, and this time, Angelica seemed far more receptive to that. She reached forward and touched the tips of Angelica’s fingers lightly before curling her fingers into Angelica’s palm.

“I told you that I was falling in love with you, and then I barely talked to you for the next week despite being in the same room for more than half the time.” Hope gave her a wry smile.

“We were working.”

“That doesn’t excuse what I did.” Hope softened her voice. “I’m sorry.”

“Hope…” Angelica’s lower lip quivered, and she finally raised her gaze to look directly into Hope’s eyes. “What are we doing?”

Hope shook her head and then swallowed when she didn’t have words. She honestly had no idea what she was doing. She was still tossed in the chaos that she created, riding the waves one way and then the next. She threaded her fingers into Angelica’s, squeezing her hand tightly before taking another step forward. She breathed slowly, her heart hammering, and she didn’t look away from Angelica the entire time.

“I don’t have any answers,” Hope whispered.

They were so close. Noses nearly touching. Angelica’s breath hit Hope’s cheeks and neck. She closed her eyes, pressing her forehead against Angelica’s. She pressed her palm against Angelica’s waist, holding her lightly.

“Why did you do it?” Angelica asked, her voice barely over a whisper. “Why did you have sex with me?”

Hope sighed, pulling back enough that she could look into Angelica’s baby blue eyes—eyes that held so much worry and concern right now. Hope had to choose her words carefully. She couldn’t leave Angelica in the dark like she had the rest of this week.

“Because it was something I thought we both wanted, something I thought I wanted with you.”