Page 91 of Play Room Actor

I nodded and sat down on the bed. “Thanks,” I muttered.

The tears had stopped by now, but I still wiped my cheek just to be sure.

“I’ve never seen you this out of sorts,” Nico said. “Not even after what happened with Gian.”

My shoulders slumped as I stared at the floor. “I hope you’re right.”

“About what?”

“That everything will be okay.”

“Doesn’t it always turn out okay?”

I nodded, my eyes lingering on the bizarre painting on the wall. The style seemed familiar. Could it be one of Lucien’s?

“Get some sleep.”

And so I did. The night wasn’t particularly restful since I kept waking up, but it still helped. Far from my own world, I felt safe in Hector’s apartment. It was like a retreat—a hiding place where no one could find me.

When I woke up the next morning, I stayed in bed as long as my bladder allowed. I listened to the sounds of the apartment and heard voices—probably Luca and Nico talking.

I had met Luca and his boyfriend Juri at the gallery opening. The two of them were so sweet together. While Juri had been a bit reserved with me, Luca had been open and friendly. He’d grilled me about Hector—grinning as he admitted he might use the information against him one day.

After relieving myself in the bathroom, I found Nico sitting alone at the dining table, engrossed in his laptop with a coffee in hand.

“Hey! How are you feeling?” he asked with a smile, lifting his cup.

“Better than last night,” I admitted, sitting across from him. “Was that Luca earlier?”

“Yeah. He went to training.”

“And how are things going with you?”

“Well …” Nico set his cup down beside the laptop and leaned back. “I signed the publishing contract yesterday and sent the manuscript to my editor.”

“Oh, really? Congratulations!”

“Yeah … She said I should finally get an Instagram account.”

“I’ve been telling you that,” I teased, leaning back and clasping my hands behind my head.

“And a website.”

“Can’t help you there,” I laughed.

“Figured as much …”

“And what does your dad think about all this? I mean … I assume you’re publishing as Nicola Rossi. Everyone will know The Birds’ Song of Laughter is by you.”

Nico scoffed and reached for his coffee. “I told him, loud and clear, that he no longer gets a say in this. He falsified evidence and nearly ruined my career because of it. Hector’s helping me sort it out so my father can’t enforce the old contract.”

“That’s good. I’m happy for you.”

Nico motioned toward the kitchen with a nod. “Help yourself. You know how to work a coffee machine.”

“Thanks.”

I grabbed a glass, filled it with tap water, and drank it down in big gulps. Then I made myself a coffee and sat at the table with Nico.