Her Secret Life

“Yes.”

“Then I guess you don’t have much to worry about,” he said.

He was right. Bo wasn’t his father. And it wasn’t like Indiana was just around the corner.

Nodding, she stood. When she noticed a tiredness about him, in his eyes, she sat back down. If she didn’t get her hair done, the evening would go on.

People would be bound to notice—those in her circle always did, since looks were an important part of television work—but...the party would still happen.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’d tell you if I found something.”

“I’m not talking about me. Something’s bothering you.” She might barrel through life in such a way that she didn’t always notice the little things, but Michael was...Michael. She was different around him.

In a good way.

The way she was with Lacey.

Yeah. The

thought slid into place. Michael was like Lacey. He saw the real her. Treated her like the person she was inside.

And he could calm the whirlwind that was her life.

His shrug hurt her feelings.

“Michael.” She set her bag down on the floor and crossed her arms.

Her stance didn’t seem to affect him, so she waited, watching him.

Nothing.

Fine. She pulled her phone out of her purse. Pushed the speed dial for the salon and canceled her appointment.

She’d missed the cancellation window and would have to pay for the appointment but didn’t give a whit.

“You said you have time.”

His chin bent slowly and came back up. An acknowledgment if not really a nod of agreement.

“A friendship works both ways or it’s not a friendship,” she said. Now that she understood why he meant so much to her, she knew her role. It was the same with Lacey. Sometimes you had to push those used to caring for others to accept caring for themselves. You had to be diligent.

To show them that they came first, too.

She’d learned the lesson the hard way—had almost lost her other half because of it—and was never going to forget it.

“I agree,” he said.

She remembered something else.

“You told me the other day that when we had time you’d tell me how I’m good for you.”

Let him think it was still about her. That he was needed.

She’d get him to see that if she confided in him, he needed to confide, too, or they weren’t really friends. That if he didn’t lean on her, she couldn’t lean on him anymore, either.

She had this one.