Page 9 of Under the Table

Hope breathed in deeply and let it out slowly. Finally she nodded her understanding.

“Good.” Angelica pursed her lips and clenched her jaw, then immediately relaxed her face because she knew that was what she was supposed to do per Wade.

“But we do need to talk,” Hope fired back, defiantly. She even pushed in a little closer as if to make her point.

Angelica steadied herself, looking up into Hope’s eyes because these heels weren’t quite tall enough to get them on the same level. “Not about this.”

“Yes, about this.”

“No.” Angelica shook her head. “Never about this.”

Hope scoffed and stepped back fully, breaking the pose. Wade didn’t say anything. And Angelica tuned in to everyone else around them again. Were they aware of the battle that was going on between them? Of the fight that they were having in whispered tones?

Hope shook out her hands and rolled her shoulders, rotating her neck in a circle. Was she preparing to go into a brawl?

“I need a minute with you.” Hope snagged Angelica’s wrist and started to pull.

Angelica went willingly, unable to stop her feet from moving. She glanced over her shoulder at Wade and nodded at him. “Give us five.”

Hope dragged her down the hall to the dressing room area and opened the door to one of them, stepping inside and shoving it closed.

“What the hell is going on?” Hope spat out the words.

“I can’t do this right now, Hope.” Angelica breathed heavily, her entire body tense. There wasn’t anyone around them to keep them in check this time, and she wasn’t sure that if put to the test she’d have the willpower to keep herself at bay.

“We need to talk about this.”

“Yes, we do. But not right now.” Angelica shook her head wildly, tears stinging her eyes again. She couldn’t let Hope see her cry. And fuck, she had to stop doing that. Bolstering herself, Angelica stayed close to the door. “I can’t do this right now.”

“But I need to do it now.” Hope flung her hand out wildly. “I can’t keep going on not knowing what’s happening.”

Angelica stepped forward and planted her foot down in front of her. She gave Hope a hard stare, cocking her head to the side to make this as clear as she possibly could. “Nothing’shappening, Hope. I told you that.”

“But—”

“No. Hear me.” Angelica breathed deeply. “I can’t do this right now. I…” Her voice broke. “You weren’t supposed to be here when I got here. I can’t have this conversation right now.”

“Then when? Because I can’t keep living in limbo.”

Fuck, there wasn’t a limbo. Hope was happily married, they all worked together, Angelica was their boss and producer. And she’d lose everything if they were found out, if anyone knew—she shook her head, stepping back and pulling herself together. “Come to my office on Sunday.”

“Sunday?” Hope spat the word out.

Angelica nodded. “It’s the only day I don’t have scheduled meetings.”

Hope breathed slowly, her body calming down enough that Angelica could see a glimpse that this might actually work in her favor. “Sunday.”

“Any time of the day. Just tell me when.”

“My nephew is being baptized Sunday, so four.”

“Then at four.” Angelica breathed deeply, the fresh air of dissipated tension filling her soul and her body. She very nearly leaned in to get a little closer to Hope, but she managed to stop herself. “Now, can we finish this photo shoot and get back to our lives?”

“If you say so,” Hope mumbled, but she didn’t move to walk away either.

Angelica tensed, straightening herself. She took another few seconds before she turned around and pulled open the door. Stepping out of the confined space wasn’t as freeing as she’d thought it’d be. Instead, all she could feel was Hope’s gaze on her back, the way that Hope followed her out into the studio area.

Wade eyed them suspiciously and curiously. “Everything good?”