Josie scooted closer and placed her hand on Chloe’s thigh, her expression grave. “Shit, this is bad, isn’t it?”
Chloe laughed without humor, rolling her eyes to the ceiling as she wiped her cheeks. “I did exactly what I said I wouldn’t. What I knew I shouldn’t. I fell for him. I fell for a guy who belongs to someone else.”
“Oh, Chloe. You didn’t . . . act . . . on those feelings, did you? No judgment if you did. I can’t imagine being in your situation, but well, you know how I feel about things like that.”
Chloe looked at her hands. “I didn’t, but . . . he kissed me.”
“The fuck?” Josie spat, her eyes wide. “He did what?”
Chloe nodded. “And if I hadn’t stopped him, he was going to do it again the night I left. I’m so confused,” she sighed, dropping her face to her hands.
Josie pulled in a deep breath and settled against the back of the couch. “Tell me everything.”
Deciding not to beat around the bush, Chloe recounted the night in her hotel room and the encounter in his dressing room with as few words as possible. Josie’s face colored with different emotions, but she remained silent until Chloe finished.
“Well, you can’t change your mind about moving to LA,” Josie said as soon as Chloe ended her story, her tone matter-of-fact.
“But I never said . . .” Chloe began before Josie cut her off.
“You didn’t have to. I see it all over your face. But you said yourself that things are tough here. If those contacts Reid gave you are legit, and I believe they are, you’d be a fool to let your feelings for a guy stop you from bettering your career.”
Chloe opened her mouth to protest when there was a knock at the door. Her brows dipped in confusion as she stood from the couch and slowly crossed the room. She hated how much a part of her hoped to find Reid standing on the other side. When she opened the door, however, it most certainly wasn’t Reid.
“I figured you ladies could use a hand,” Anders said, walking into the room like he owned the place.
He could own the place, Chloe thought. The entire building, if he wanted.
“Anders,” Josie said, her face etched with confusion. “I thought you had an interview.”
“Rescheduled,” Anders answered, his gaze sliding across the room.
“And Nathan?” Josie pressed.
Anders shrugged and smirked, cocky and playful. “Avoiding me. What else?”
“That still doesn’t explain what you’re doing here.”
Anders sighed and fell onto Chloe’s sofa. “I’m bored.”
Chloe gaped at him. She was certain that no matter how many times she was around Anders, he would always intimidate the hell out of her.
Josie rolled her eyes and looked at Chloe. “I’m sorry. We can talk later?”
“Oh, don’t stop on my account,” Anders drawled, looking at the screen of his phone. “I tried to be polite and let you two finish your girl talk bullshit, but that doesn’t mean the walls here aren’t thin as fuck. I heard every word.”
“Anders!” Josie covered her face and groaned. “I can’t believe you were eavesdropping.”
Anders’s face twisted with annoyance. “Don’t be so fucking dramatic. I wasn’t eavesdropping.” He cut his eyes to Chloe, who had yet to utter a word. “I wasn’t eavesdropping.”
“It’s okay,” Chloe whispered, at a loss for words.
“Josie’s right, though,” he said flippantly. “You’d be a fool not to move to LA. Not everyone has opportunities fall in their laps like you did. This matchbox you’re living in is proof of that. Fuck, this place is small. It’s like the size of our closet. How can you stand it?”
A spark of annoyance ignited in Chloe’s chest. “Some of us don’t need eight thousand square feet to house our egos,” she snarked, her jaw snapping shut as she realized what she’d said.
A slow smile crept across Anders’s face and his eyes lit up. “And here I was thinking I’d have a break from Maddie’s smart mouth this weekend. Looks like everything will be the same as always.”
Josie laughed. “I knew you’d miss her. Now, if you’re going to be here, you’re going to help. We have packing to do.”
Anders’s expression colored with disdain. “I do not miss her. And you know I fucking hate packing.”
“Yet, here you are,” Josie said, sweeping her arms wide.
“I’m not sure,” Chloe cut in.
Anders sighed and stood. “Listen, Chloe, I meant what I said. Don’t be a fucking idiot. You know the entertainment business is ruthless. You have nothing to gain and everything to lose by staying here.”
Again, Chloe was left speechless, but this time she wasn’t the only one.
“Holy shit, look at you being helpful,” Josie joked.