Noah

Holy fuck.

That was a cold shower and a slap in the face all at once.

It was true, though, wasn't it? Julian meant the world to me.

I swallowed hard and ran a hand over my head, my heart pounding.

What the fuck did this mean?

"You don't know him like I do," Julian said quietly. "He's a good man. There's no hidden agenda with him. So you can either be happy for me, or you can be bitter. I know I got my job unfairly, but I work hard. I'm writing around the clock, and I'm feeling really good about his film. I think it's magnificent."

Fuck. I wasn't sure I deserved all that praise. It did something to me. My chest felt tight and warm, and not in an uncomfortable way.

"I support you," Nicky was quick to say. "Come here."

I was pretty sure I was figuring Nicky out, and if I was right, I'd punch the daylights outta him. He wouldn’t be using Julian—or any of us—as an in into the industry. Over my dead body.

Their fight seemed to be over, so I backed off. But I had a feeling Julian's head was spinning. He was a smart guy. He'd see Nicky for who he was.

"You should go," Julian said, clearing his throat. "I have dinner at Tennyson and Sophie's."

That was my cue to go. No need for them to find out I was an eavesdropping asshole.

*

I was up with the sun the next morning, first to run and then to get Julian's gift at Brooklyn and Asher's house in Malibu. Next, I drove out to Daniel and Zane's beach house to let in the party planner and the caterers.

Daniel was the man. His idea to throw Julian a party there was brilliant.

"We'll all be here around four," I told the party planner. "Daniel and Zane get in from New York earlier, though, so they'll be here to bug you."

She giggled. "I've worked with Daniel before. I know he's a hard-ass."

All right, then.

I got back on the road. Traffic was a drag, but I got some work calls made along the way, so I wasn't complaining.

At my last stop, I picked up breakfast, and then I returned to the loft. Julian was still sleeping, so I checked in on his gift, making sure it was still…alive, which it was, thank you very much. Adjusting the lid, I placed it on the couch for now, and then I set up breakfast at the table.

"Damn." I was spent. I hadn't showered yet, so I got that done too, before throwing on a pair of sweats and a wife-beater.

Time to wake up the birthday kid.

I grabbed the box and knocked on Julian's door.

He mumbled something incoherently, and I took that as an invitation.

"Rise and shine, sleepyhead."

As I sat down on the edge of his bed, he threw the covers over his head and muttered something in German. It held the same tone as get lost, but it probably meant he was happy to see me.

"Hey." I put my hand on his hip and shook him a little. "You gonna miss out on your own birthday?"

He grunted into his pillow. "Mom would let me sleep in."

"Dude." I didn't fucking think so. "Don't you make up lies about my sister. She did no such thing, the little terror."

That earned me a sleepy chuckle, and he knew I had him. If people thought I got up early, it had nothing on Mia.

"You lazy fuck, get up," I said. "When I was twenty-four, I'd already been up for hours."

He snorted and pushed away the covers, scrubbing his hands down his face. "When you were twenty-four, you probably hadn't gone to bed yet."

That, too.

I averted my eyes from his exposed upper body and placed his gift next to him. "Open your present."

He grinned lazily and sat up. "Aren't you supposed to sing?"

"Not unless you're suicidal." I widened my eyes. "That would be cruel."

"Fair enough," he chuckled. "Okay, so…" He eyed the box and fingered the lid. "I just open it?"

"Try." I smirked.

He rolled his eyes and then removed the lid, and he froze when he saw the cat I'd adopted for him the other day. The chunky fur ball wasn’t a kitten, but she wasn’t fully grown, either. And like a true Hollywood pet, she would soon be fit for travel so Julian could bring the little shit to Paris.

I rubbed the back of my neck, hoping he'd like it. "I, uh, I bought food and shit for it, too. Her, I mean. A litter box—"

Before I could finish my sentence, Julian threw his arms around my neck and squeezed the fuck out of me.

"Thank you. I—thank you."

I let out a breathy laugh and hugged him back. "You're welcome, sweetheart."

Jesus Christ, it felt good to have him in my arms again. It was the same goddamn sense of relief.