He lowers his voice to explain, “My parents weren’t always as business savvy as they are now. My dad—Jack Sr. served in the Navy. During a mission in the Philippines he met the love of his life, Eleonor Loanzon.”

“Your mom?” I whisper.

“Yeah.” He has a softer smile when he talks about his family. Like he’s cradling all the loving memories. “Anyway, she studied nursing at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. Their ambitions started out practical, but she quit nursing after they got married. His service ended, and they both wound up in my dad’s hometown.”

“Long Beach?” I ask.

“Long Beach,” he confirms with a nod. “They chose a new path together and went all-in on real estate, and it panned out.” I can’t ask more; he’s too quick with a question. “Would your parents hate the ballet?”

I nod strongly. “Oh yeah. Without a doubt.” We stare ahead as a ballerina playing Juliet floats across the stage, and I add, “Though, my mom will enjoy anything the first and hundredth time. She really relishes in the experience.”

Speaking of my mom.

My phone vibrates in my fist. I silence the fifth call from her tonight and text: I’m on-duty.

The biggest meltdown on the Oliveira crisis line yesterday was a fictional death on a Brazilian novela. My mom rehashed the entire episode over the phone to me before I had to cut her off, and I expect today’s catastrophe to be similar.

But damn am I wrong.

Please call Jo. She’s saying she’s moving to Alaska! – Mom

I try not to roll my head back in frustration, and I text: I’ll call her later. I have to put my family on hold in order to stay on-duty. I’m lucky I even have this time with Highland.

I pocket my phone in my black slacks.

“Everything okay?” he asks quietly.

“Yeah, just family drama.” I check on Charlie with a quick glance, then zone in on Jack.

He’s tinkering with an ancient camcorder on his lap. Reminding me that he’s also working tonight, but I can’t imagine that equipment is for Charlie’s show. Honest: I haven’t seen a video camera that old since I was in high school.

And Jack has told me that he’ll pay top price for the best quality cameras and lenses so they’ll hold up. Even Jesse’s Canon looked like it cost a fortune. His little brother isn’t at the ballet shooting B-roll. Jack said he’s organizing equipment at his Philly apartment.

We both open our mouths like we have too much to say in so little time, but the orchestra pumps up the tempo. Our gazes veer to the stage again.

A dirty-blond-haired Romeo serenades a thin, brunette Juliet from her balcony. I lean into Jack to whisper, “We don’t like him.”

“Romeo?”

“The guy who plays Romeo.”

He nods, understanding. “Leo Valavanis. Beckett’s rival in the company.” He smiles more as he asks, “Who is we? You, Donnelly, and Farrow?”

“No, no, no.” I hold up a hand. “At least not Farrow. Donnelly, yeah. We encompasses anyone who’s Team Cobalt, and Farrow has always been Team Hale, even before the Husband.” I tease, “Choose your sides wisely, Highland.”

He leans back in his chair. “Production can’t pick a side. I’m Team Everyone.”

A grin edges across my mouth. “That’s way too diplomatic. I hate it.”

He forces back a laugh, then wets his lips. We watch the ballet for another five minutes before he whispers, “You know, if I had to pick a side, I’d just choose yours.”

My chest swells, then knots. On guard.

Not wanting to be, and maybe his lines aren’t manufactured for just anyone. Deep down, I know they’re genuine and made specifically for me.

I have a lot of responses:

Wise, Long Beach.

I’d choose your side too.

We can make our own side.

But I land on the worst one.

“I’m not famous.” My voice sounds too curt.

Jack stops tinkering with the camcorder. He looks from me to the stage and back again, and when I catch his gaze, I nod to him like, we’re alright.

I wish I could just show affection. Touch is my favorite love language, and I can’t wrap an arm around him like I did in the camp cabin.

More tensely, we watch the ballet, and I worry my cautious ass ruined our first non-date that feels like a first date.

Romeo leaps lithely across the stage. Have no idea the correct ballet terms, at all. I honestly think Donnelly knows more than me from attending so many of Beckett’s rehearsals and practices.

And Beckett should have landed the lead role, but he lost out when he was stuck in Scotland with the rest of us.

He’s still in Romeo & Juliet. Just as Mercutio.

Jack slides a panel off the camcorder. He brought a little toolkit with his camera bag, and he sets aside the tiniest screwdriver. Once he captures my attention, he whispers, “How often does Charlie come here?”

Tags: Krista Ritchie Like Us Romance
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