She laid her hand on his arm. “I’ll catch up with you in a bit?”
“Yeah.”
He started to wander off.
“Logan?”
He stopped. “Yeah?”
“Thanks for coming tonight. It means a lot to me that you’re here.”
He nodded, gave her a smile, and walked away.
Her sweetness, her trust in him, that was going to kill him, knowing what he was going to do later.
DES WAS SO tired of smiling for the cameras, of having to answer the same questions over and over again about the movie and her personal life and whether or not she’d talked to James lately and how she and Colt were getting along and if they had started up a romance. It was like the press had a wish that every leading man and leading lady who were single were going to have a romance. She understood it was a Hollywood thing, but how many times did she have to tell them that she and Colt were just friends? She was ever so grateful when the press’s time was up and they were escorted off the property.
The best part of tonight was that Tony had come to be here with Colt. It was the beginning of the two of them being together in the open. Colt had decided he wasn’t going to make some grand announcement, he was just going to start being with Tony, living with him, and at some point in an interview, he’d mention how long they’d been together as a couple and leave it at that. And then maybe it wouldn’t be such a big thing if he didn’t make a big thing of it.
Des hoped so.
Colt and Tony sat together at a table in the corner. She waved as she walked past them. Colt blew her a kiss and Tony smiled and waved.
Theo’s wife was in attendance tonight, so he stuck to her like glue, on his best behavior for the press. He’d stood beside her and proclaimed the shoot had gone smoothly and that both his leads had performed to perfection. While barely standing within two feet of Des.
Ha.
She found Logan at a table near the bar, sitting with Ben and Martha. Martha’s cheeks were pink with excitement, and every time one of the actors walked by, she’d snap a picture. Des wandered over.
“Oh, Des, you look so beautiful tonight,” Martha said. “Like a true movie star.”
“You do clean up pretty,” Ben said.
“Thank you both,” she said, sliding into a chair.
“Are you finished with all your work for the night?” Martha asked.
“Yes.”
“What can I get you to drink?” Logan asked.
“A club soda with lime would be great.”
Logan stood. “Anyone else?”
“Oh, we’re fine here, I think, Logan, but thank you,” Martha said.
While Logan wandered over to the bar, Martha asked, “So what’s next for you?”
“There’s a premiere of my next movie in a couple of weeks. Plus, I have to do some finishing work on this one at the studio. So I head back to L.A.”
Martha took her hand. “We’re going to miss you.”
“I’m going to miss you, too.”
“When do you leave?”
“Tomorrow.”
Martha’s eyes brimmed with tears. “Oh, so soon?”
“I’m afraid so.” Des fought back tears of her own.
“Will you come back and visit us sometime?”
“Well, I have been invited to Emma and Luke’s wedding.”
“Oh, it’ll be so wonderful to see you again. But I’m hoping you’ll be back before then.”
She sighed. “We’ll see. I hope so, too.” Her fingers were crossed she’d be seeing a lot more of Martha and Ben.
“Here you go.” Logan handed Des her drink.
“Thank you. All that talking I had to do made me thirsty.” She took a few sips of her club soda.
“I think we’ve had enough of all the partying,” Martha said. “I’m going to wander through the crowd, snap a few more photos, and then we’re going to head out for the night.”
Martha and Ben stood.
“Thank you for coming.”
Martha scooped her into a hug. “You’re welcome here anytime.”
“Thank you for making me feel so at home, so much like a part of your family.”
Martha kissed her cheek, then Ben hugged her and they left.
“That was hard.”
“What was?” Logan asked.
“Saying good-bye to Martha and Ben.”
“Oh. Well, you have a lot of things to do back in L.A. Soon you’ll forget all about us here.”
She frowned. “I don’t think so. This place has become like home for me.”
He laughed. “The way you’re dressed tonight? You couldn’t be further from looking like you belong here.”
“That’s just for show. I’m way more comfortable in a pair of jeans and tennis shoes than I ever am dressed up like this.”
“You look like you should be dressed like that all the time, Des. You look amazing.”
“Thank you. But this isn’t who I am. This is just an act.”
He didn’t say anything more to that, and then they wandered through the crowds, stopped and visited with various members of the crew.
“There’s Colt,” Logan said. “I didn’t know your friend Tony was in town.”
“He is.”
They went over to their table.
“Hey, Logan,” Colt said. “Why don’t you two take a seat?”
Des and Logan sat.
“What brings you back in town, Tony?” Logan asked.
Tony looked over at Colt, and Colt nodded.
“I wanted to congratulate my boyfriend on completing his movie.”
Logan looked over at Colt, who was smiling at Tony. It didn’t take Logan more than a few seconds to make the connection. He looked at Des, who nodded.
“Oh. I didn’t know.”
“No one did. Until now,” Colt said. “I’m not making an announcement. Tony and I have been together for a long time. I’m just tired of hiding it.”
“Why should you hide it? You should be with whoever the hell you want to be with. I wish you two the best of luck.”
Des watched as Colt visibly exhaled. “Thanks for that, Logan. You don’t even know how much that means to Tony and me.”
Tony nodded. “Agreed. Seriously, man. Thanks.”
Logan shrugged. “You’re welcome, but I don’t know why anyone would make a big deal over who you love. I know they do, but it’s bullshit and none of their goddamn business.”