Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Adelaide POV

“I’m just saying, the second one is clearly superior to the first. The CGI effects were much better done.”

Jenna argued.

“You’re insane,” Lucas shook his head in disbelief. “The first one is an instant classic! CGI doesn’t even

cover half of what practical effects can do.”

“Clearly, you need to get your eyes checked,” Jenna huffed. “Galactic Starfighters II has style and a

clearly defined plot- and no musical numbers.”

“That was cut from the theatrical release and you know it!”

“Does this really matter?” I groaned, stuck in between their petty fight as I drove to the restaurant.

“Where is this place, Jenna?”

“Oh, yeah.” Jenna perked up, taking a look at our surroundings. We were lucky to have the set right

down the road from a shopping plaza. “Ooh-there it is!”

She pointed through the crowd and to a little shop with a flashing neon sign that said ‘Viva Tamarillo

I pulled into the driveway, parking the car, and getting out.

“I can’t wait for their taquitos,” Lucas grinned. “They have the best in the whole state.”

“Debatable,” Jenna shrugged. “Their enchiladas are delicious, though.”

“Let’s just go. I’m starving,” I huffed, pulling on their arms to get them walking towards the little spot.

“What does Tamarillo mean anyway? Is it slang for tomato?” Lucas asked as something else caught my

attention.

As we neared the parking lot, I spotted a very familiar car. One I’d seen only last night.

Damon’s car was sitting outside this restaurant.

I frowned. What on earth was he doing here?

“What do you think, Addie?” Jenna asked.

I snapped back to attention, frowning at them as I asked, “Huh?”

“What does Tamarillo stand for?”

“Nothing, it’s a vegetable,” I pondered. “Or is it a fruit?”

“Not that again.” Lucas groaned. “What were you looking at?”

“You won’t believe this,” I huffed, pulling them to the glass window front of the restaurant. I cupped my

hands to cover the glare of the sun as I peeked inside, searching for the familiar oudine.

There. At the back table, he sat in one of the chairs. On his other side were two beautiful women. I

couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

“Are you kidding me?” 1 raged, stepping back. “Take a look. Back table.”

Lucas and Jenna dove for the glass, looking in and I heard simultaneous gasps from them.

“Ooh, not a good start to a marriage,” Lucas clicked his tongue.

“I’ll kill him,” Jenna growled. “Say the word, and I’ll kill him.”

“Not before I get to him first,” I snapped

Chapter 9

“Wait, who’s that with him? Oh, my,” Jenna backed away from the window, a shocked look on her face.

“That’s Kathy Bishop.”

“Who?” Lucas and I turned to her questioningly.

“Kathy Bishop. She’s one of the talent managers. Even we went through her for our casting. She knows

everybody.”

I grinded my teeth together, the anger busting through my stomach.

Just last night, he was telling me we had to have a baby, and now he’s out here on a date with two

other women? And why did it have to be a woman from my industry?

That stupid playboy!

“Let’s get a table,” I said, burying my anger and jealousy like I usually did. I didn’t want to let anyone

know how much this actually hurt me. I didn’t even want to admit that to myself.

“Are you sure?” Lucas asked. “We can go somewhere else.”

“I’m not letting him ruin my lunch. I’m starving.” I grumbled as I threw open the door to the restaurant. I

heard Jenna and Lucas following me.

“Hi, Welcome to Viva Tamarillo! Take a seat anywhere,” a passing waitress with two black trays full of

food passed by for only a second to say her spiel, and then she was off. The smell of fajitas and fresh

made tortillas filled my senses as we walked through the restaurant.

I purposely strode to the front, passing right in front of Damon’s gaze. I caught his eye, glaring at him

as I took my seat.

Damon looked completely and utterly unashamed, like he’d done nothing wrong, and I was a child

throwing a temper tantrum. I immediately began eating the free chips, devouring the bowl in less. than

five minutes.

“You’re lucky those are free,” Lucas eyed me. “Hopefully they bring more, I actually wanted to have

some.” he said with a small smile.

“Maybe you should slow down,” Jenna suggested helpfully before standing the menu up. my view of

Damon.

and blocking

I heard laughter-high-pitched, girlish laughter, and all the chips I’d devoured dropped straight down to

my stomach. I didn’t want to be here anymore. I couldn’t listen to him on a date with not just one, but

two, other women.

“I’m not feeling well,” I said, my emotions getting the better of me, I didn’t want to be jealous, I didn’t

even like Damon.

“Probably because you ate a whole thing of chips and the salsal” Lucas tsked, shaking his head sadly

at the empty bowl.

I thought it had more to do with Damon and his companions than anything, but I didn’t say that. Lucas

and Jenna didn’t need to know how upset this was making me.

I got up from my seat and stormed outside. The bell on the door jingled as I exited, and I felt so stupid-

fleeing from Damon like we were actually married, and I’d caught him cheating.

Newsflash, Adelaide. It’s just a pretend marriage. None of this was real, so why did I have real feelings

developing now?

“Addie,” I heard Damon’s voice from behind me, but I only sped up, my heels clacking on the ground as

I jogged to my car.

Luckily, it auto-unlocked as soon as I got close to the car, and I tried to throw the door open. Before I

could get inside, however, a large hand pushed the door shut with a snap.

“Hey!”

Chapter 9

“You ran from me,” Damon said simply, not moving his palm. “What’s wrong?” He looked at me with an

unreadable face. I hated how calm he always appeared.

“Nothing.” I huffed as I grabbed the handle, pulling it but the car door wouldn’t budge-not with him

keeping it closed.

Damon rolled his eyes and then leaned on the door, forcing me to move my hand off the handle. Now, I

really couldn’t open it. I glared at him intensely then.

“Can you not go one day without being an “ss to me?” I snapped, breathing harshly.

Damon only laughed in my face, eyes twinkling with mirth. Clearly, he enjoyed upsetting me.

My face turned red as the anger I’d been suppressing roared up inside of me. My cool was just about to

call it quits when I heard a loud “Damon!” from behind me.

I turned on my heel. It was a blonde woman with sparkling eyes and the friendliest smile I’d ever seen.

She was gorgeous, like model-level gorgeous, and she was walking right towards us.

She spotted us-her face lighting up like a Christmas tree. As she approached, she held her arms out

like she was going to hug someone, and I paled.

Not this again. Please, not this.

Contrary to my expectations, however, the blonde woman did not wrap her arms around Damon.

But instead, she hugged me.

I blinked in surprise. The smell of strawberries floated from her hair, and I really wanted to ask what

shampoo she used to get it to smell like that. I was too shocked, however, to even mumble my own

name.

“Oh, it is so nice to meet you!” the woman laughed. “I’ve heard so much about you, Adelaide!”

She let go, beaming up at me like we had been best friends for years and not strangers who had just

met in front of a Mexican restaurant.

Damon stepped up next to her, a smirk on his face. It was like he had a secret that he didn’t want to

tell.

“Who are you?” I asked the woman, who seemed to know my name.

“Oh, I forgot. My name is Lacey.” The woman smiled brightly. “I work with Damon as one of his

engineers.”

I looked between the dark-haired spawn of evil to my right and the glowing angel to my left.

“You work with him?” I pointed at Damon with a look of amazement, flabbergasted at this turn of

events.

Damon worked in construction but mainly lived off of his trust fund as far as I knew. What would a

construction worker need with an engineer?

“You’re adorable when you’re confused, Addie,” Damon said as he grinned. “I’m sure you and Lacey

will become fast friends. My wife and my ex-girlfriend.”

“Ex-girlfriend?” I shouted, looking between them incredulously. He’d dated her?

She must’ve dumped him, I thought, seeing as how she was the personification of the word virtue, and

he was well, Damon.

“Yes,” Damon nodded.

“Mutual breakup. I swear,” Lacey agreed with a smile.

That’s when I noticed the other woman walk out of the restaurant and towards us.

“Lacey!” The brown-haired woman with a fierce look came running over to us.

“And that,” Damon pointed at the new woman with a grin, “is Lacey’s wife.”