Spencer had already returned to the city, sending her a text telling her he had forgotten he had a meeting for late afternoon, which was code for not sticking around to watch Conrad Santos steal his bacon. Not literal bacon, of course. Conrad emerged looking well rested and ate his pancakes in silence. When Olivia rose to retrieve her phone, he followed her out of the kitchen and cornered her in the dining room within earshot of Chase and Neve.

“Are you sleeping with Spencer Rome?” he’d demanded.

Neve lifted her head, sat the fork containing a bite of pancakes aside, and widened her eyes at Chase.

Chase dropped her mouth open, mimicking Neve’s wide eyes. They both stilled and listened . . . because how could they not?

“That’s not any of your business, Con,” Olivia said.

“I told you about my feelings yesterday, Livy. I think it’s a little bit my business if you’re seeing someone else You should have given me a heads-up so I didn’t look like a fool,” Conrad said.

“OMG,” Neve mouthed.

Chase held up a shushing finger.

“I’m not seeing him, necessarily, and I wasn’t trying to make you feel foolish,” Olivia said in a careful manner.

“What does ‘necessarily’ imply?”

“Look, Conrad, I am not in the right place for this conversation at present. I appreciate everything you’ve done for Chase, and I value our friendship and our past, but I’m not sure I can give you what you want.”

“Why? All I’m asking for is to spend some time together and see if what we had all that time ago is still there. We were good together. You remember that.” Conrad’s voice sounded . . . hurt and sort of patronizing at the same time. Like he was irritated Olivia didn’t see things his way.

“Con, I’m not saying I don’t want to spend time with you, but this is all very . . . confusing. I need some time to think about . . .” Olivia paused for a few seconds.

“What? About how you’ve always felt about me? Livy, we have a second chance,” Conrad insisted.

“Con, I don’t think this is the time for this conversation. Let’s get back to LA, and we can talk later in the week, okay?”

No doubt Olivia had figured out that she and Neve could hear their conversation. And really, it was kind of shitty of Conrad not to realize that. She and Neve were in the next room with only an open doorway to separate them. Of course they could hear him demanding an answer from Olivia and putting her in an embarrassing situation. Douche move, but Conrad was accustomed to getting his way—a side dish to having Hollywood power.

Neve’s expression reflected the same feeling.