Chapter 12
Chapter
Twelve
“We’re here on set this week, but Ange and I thought we’d film a short cooking video for you together. Not only so you can see what it is we do every week when we’re on location, but also to give you a dose of our regular cooking clips.” Hope smiled at the camera, her eyes crinkling in the corners.
Angelica’s stomach twisted sharply. With the rest of filming wrapped, every single person on set was standing around watching them, including Rex and Eva.
Her heart thudded hard, sweat pooling at the small of her back from the bright lights and the heat in the kitchen from the stove already being on.
She knew she needed to turn the charm on, to get into the mindset and role that she played when they filmed these, but with everything going on, it was such a struggle. She and Hope hadn’t really talked, not outside that brief moment they’d stolen in the office yesterday. And it was her fault.
She’d avoided.
She’d locked herself away and refused to even entertain the idea that she and Hope should be talking. Because it hurt too damn much to think about everything. Maybe that was why everyone was here watching them. They wanted confirmation of their relationship one way or the other.
Well, she wasn’t going to give them that satisfaction.
“We’re going to make lobster risotto today, which can be a bit temperamental, so if you have ADHD, then I don’t suggest you leave the kitchen for anything.” Hope winked at the camera.
Angelica held her breath. Most of the time, she didn’t know when to step into the monologue that Hope was giving, so she could actually interject her part of the conversation that needed to happen.
“Lobster is a fan favorite in our house.” Hope turned slightly, locking her eyes on Angelica. She had a grin on her lips and a softness in her face that Angelica had missed in the last week.
What Hope was implying was that she cooked lobster often and that Angelica was there to eat it with her.
Which had happened once or twice in the last year, but it wasn’t often.
Typically Angelica would show up after dinner and leave before breakfast because her work schedule didn’t allow for any other time off.
“It certainly is,” Angelica answered, though the flirtatious tone she’d been searching for didn’t quite ring true to her ears. She just didn’t want to be here doing this. Not right now anyway.
“First, we’ll start this pot with the stock in it and get it warmed up.” Hope worked as she talked.
Angelica was always impressed by that. If she was the one cooking, she’d never be able to manage it. She struggled when the recipes were more complicated. She followed Hope though, staying close to her as she went to the stove and then back to the prep area.
“Second, we’re going to halve these tomatoes and sauté them in butter with shallots and some salt to sweat them out.”
Angelica paused. She touched Hope’s arm lightly. “Tomatoes?”
“For all the people out there, Angel. Trust me, on this one, okay?” Hope flicked her finger under Angelica’s chin and then went back to dicing up the tomatoes. “Will you chop the shallots?”
Tensing, Angelica said nothing as she picked up a knife and started to follow Hope’s instructions.
Usually when they made these videos, Hope would stand closer to her, touch her, tease her.
But that wasn’t happening this time around.
And the lack of flat-out telling the audience about the food allergies was also an odd take.
“Here we are.” Hope slid the tomatoes to the side and bumped Angelica’s shoulder lightly. “You want to toss those into the pan and start sautéing them.”
“If you don’t mind them burned.” Angelica bit her lip and looked directly into Hope’s eyes. “Because you know I don’t cook well.”
“Nonsense. I’ve eaten plenty of food you’ve cooked. It’s always delicious.” Hope’s gaze dropped from Angelica’s eyes to her lips, lingering there way longer than was appropriate.
Well, there was something at least.
Angelica reached forward, skimming her hand against Hope’s before she gripped the wooden spatula and started stirring the butter, garlic, and shallots that she’d just chopped up.
Hope stayed right over her shoulder, watching her movements carefully.
Her breath fluttered across Angelica’s shoulder, stirring arousal in an instant.
Hope reached forward, covering Angelica’s hand with her own and stirring right alongside her, her free hand pressed against Angelica’s waist.
“That’s it. Just like that.”
Angelica shivered. Hope had said those exact words to her in an entirely different situation. Heat rushed to her cheeks as she remembered it, the way Hope had slid against her, kissed her. Angelica relaxed into the simple caress of Hope’s arm instantly.
“Perfect. Now we put in the rice.” Hope stepped away.
Cold rushed through Angelica like someone had just dumped a bucket of ice water over her head. She needed that connection with Hope, the trust that they had built up slowly over time. The rice crinkled against the skillet. Hope confidently took the spatula and stirred it around.
“We’re going to let it cook like this for a little bit until we start to hear a sizzle and pop and it sticks to the bottom of the pan. Angel, I want you to stir it around slowly, okay?”
“Okay.” Angelica did as she was told, not entirely sure what they were making in the end, and she wouldn’t be able to eat it anyway.
Before Angelica knew what was happening, Hope poured wine into the skillet. And then she added in some broth.
“Keep stirring, Angel.”
The brushes of Hope’s hand against Angelica’s back or arm were never-ending.
She didn’t know when to expect them or when they might stop, but she craved just another touch.
She shouldn’t have pushed Hope away so much in the last twenty-four hours.
It was only making matters worse for them.
They were so much better as a team, and this was exactly the reminder that she needed for that.
Hope dropped the tomatoes into the pan.
“One thing we’ve learned about Ange’s allergy is that if the tomatoes are fully rendered down and cooked, then she can handle them.
” Hope took the wooden spoon from her to make sure that the tomatoes were covered in the broth and rice.
“So I’m going to cook these a bit longer than I normally would.
You can choose your poison on that one.”
Hope stepped away, still talking to the camera. Angelica stayed dutifully next to the risotto and continued to stir it until Hope finished off the dish and plated it with the lobster on top.
“See? It looks delicious.” She picked up a fork and pulled up a small bite of the food, scooping around a large chunk of tomato and holding it out for Angelica. “Want a taste?”
Angelica held her breath. She locked her gaze on Hope’s as she leaned in and parted her lips, sliding her mouth around the food as she tasted. It was hot as fuck, burning her taste buds immediately. But Angelica didn’t pause. She chewed the food and swallowed it, keeping her eyes locked on Hope’s.
Hope’s lips pulled upward into a brilliant and beautiful smile, the crinkles at the corners of her mouth revealing just how often she actually did this. Angelica missed it. She needed more of it in her life.
“Cut!” Cadence called.
Angelica jerked with a start. Reaching up, she brushed her fingers across her lips and swallowed the last bit of food in her mouth. Hope touched her upper arm briefly. “I hope I didn’t get too much tomato in there.”
“Not at all. And you’re right, if they’re fully cooked…” Angelica pressed her lips into a thin line as Hope’s eyes crinkled.
“Good.” She squeezed Angelica’s arm and stepped back. “The food is fair game for anyone who wants it!”
The crew charged forward almost instantly, digging into the dish that Angelica had just eaten from and the one that Hope had made earlier to ease the time burden of the filming. Angelica stepped back, giving everyone the space they needed and giving herself enough space to breathe.
“That was amazing!” Florence’s voice reached Angelica’s ears, but she wasn’t talking to Angelica. She was talking to Hope. “I’ve only seen the one other short you two filmed, and this one was even better.”
“Yeah, I think so too.” Hope’s lips didn’t falter in their smile. She leaned in, getting so close to Florence.
It was probably just to hear her better. Right?
Except Angelica had noticed this behavior all week, and it had irked her. There was nothing outrageous about it. Hope was simply being herself, and Angelica had seen Hope do this with other people throughout the years. But something about Florence set Angelica off when moments like this happened.
“That was a good one.” Cadence said, touching Angelica’s arm lightly to get her attention before backing off.
“Thanks,” Angelica replied, trying to steel herself against whatever nasty emotions were working their way into her body. She wanted the warmth and teasing and comfort she had minutes ago. But she was left with this cold wake now.
“I can see why Hope and FloRo get along so well,” Cadence said as she nodded toward them. “You and FloRo are a lot alike. It helps me to think about it like that when I’m dealing with her.” Chuckling, Cadence walked away.
Angelica’s stomach dropped.
Rex had made the same comment.
And that’s exactly what her problem was.
Florence Delarosa was too much like Angelica.
The crew chattered loudly as they dug in to the dish like fiends, just forkful after forkful, no one taking a plate of their own.
Angelica swallowed her grimace and stepped away from the crowd, heading back to her room.
She needed the escape and the quiet.
“Angel!” Hope’s voice reached her ears as she got to the elevator.
Angelica turned around and held her breath as Hope walked toward her.
“You’re leaving so early.”
“I’m tired,” Angelica said. It was only a half lie. She was exhausted from the week, but she really just wanted the escape.
“Are you sure that’s everything?” Concern furrowed Hope’s brow. “You weren’t exactly yourself when we were filming just now.”
Angelica shook her head slowly. She met Hope’s gaze and frowned. “Do you want an open relationship?”
“W-what?” Hope stumbled a step back, her face paling instantly. “Why would you say that?”
“I’m not…” Angelica bit her lip and finally looked around the room to see who else was nearby.
She closed her eyes and steadied herself.
“I know how we started.” Angelica’s heart raced so fast she worried it’d burst out of her chest. “I know… Look, I’m not opposed to an open relationship, but I’m not going to be five years into this and have it thrown at me that that’s something you want. ”
“Angel…” Hope’s jaw dropped. “What are you talking about?”
“You and Rex. You and whoever. I don’t know. But I don’t want to start thinking that we’re in this together, just you and me, and then have you say you want someone else as well. I want honesty in our relationship, on all levels.”
Hope bit her lip, a frown forming where her beautiful smile had been only moments before. “Why are you bringing this up now?”
“I meant to bring it up before, I just…” Was scared. Chickened out. Didn’t want to end a good thing by accident. There were so many answers she could give for that one sentence, and she wasn’t sure that she could even find one that was more right than the others.
“Is this because of Josef?”
“No.” Then Angelica paused. “Maybe a bit.” She winced. “I just want to know what we’re doing.”
“I love you, Angel.”
Angelica’s heart sank. That wasn’t what she was after. She didn’t doubt Hope’s love for her. She doubted that Hope’s love was only for her. But how could she even begin to explain that? “Just think about it, will you?”
“Yeah. Sure.” Hope still looked just as confused as before.
Angelica winced. “Like I said, I’m not opposed to an open relationship—well, open on your side, not mine. I just want to know…”
“Angel—”
Putting her hand up to stop Hope from saying anything else, Angelica held her breath. “Just… think about it.”
“Okay.”
Angelica nodded. Then she turned around to wait for the elevator.
She didn’t have anything else that she wanted to add, and Hope seemed to respect that.
As soon as she was in the elevator alone, she pressed her fist to her heart and closed her eyes as she held back her tears.
She was making an even bigger mess of this.