I knew he thought he needed to ensconce himself in the literary scene in order to write the kind of book he wanted to write. The kind of book he had promised to his publisher.

“I think I’d pick L.A. too,” Gabe said. “How’s the tea?”

“Good,” I said.

“You really should try that chai recipe,” he said, before turning to search again.

“If you find it…” I said.

“I thought it was in here.” His voice was slightly muffled from inside the cabinet. “You’ll just have to give me your number so I can send it to you.”

“Ha,” I said, but when he turned around, hand outstretched, gesturing toward my bag, I realized he was serious.

“I’ll text it to you when I find it,” he said.

Wordlessly, I dug my phone out of my bag and handed it to him, extremely grateful I’d remembered to remove his photo from my lock screen.

He still raised his eyebrow at my ancient phone, but didn’t say anything, typing in his number. There was a buzz, and he pulled out his phone—the highest-end iPhone that money could buy—and saved my contact information.

When he handed back my sad little phone with its cracked screen, I saw that he’d put his number in as Gabe Parker (Team L.A.).

I smiled at that.

It was getting late. My tea was getting cold.

“I should probably go,” I said.

Gabe nodded.

“I should probably watch The Philadelphia Story,” he said. “Even though someone told me it’s sexist.”

I opened my mouth to apologize, but he smiled, indicating that he was teasing me. The warmth I felt in the center of my chest was not a result of the tea.

“Just part of it,” I said. “It is a good movie otherwise.”

“Oliver likes it,” Gabe said. “He said we’d talk about it after the premiere.”

It seemed that the tabloids were completely wrong about Gabe and Oliver’s so-called rivalry. Going to a former co-star’s movie premiere was just good business, but planning to discuss a movie that was assigned homework for a role they’d maybe both been considered for? That seemed like actual friendship.

Maybe the rumors they’d both dated Jacinda were wrong too. Maybe all the rumors were wrong.

“I bet you’ll have fun,” I said.

He shrugged. “If you think standing around in uncomfortable clothes while everyone tells Oliver how handsome and talented he is sounds fun, then yeah, it will be a blast.” His tone was light.

“At least you won’t have to wear heels,” I said.

“You don’t know what outfit I’ve chosen,” he said.

I laughed.

“You wouldn’t have to wear heels,” he said. “If you were free tomorrow night.”

The rest of my laugh was snatched right out of my throat. Was Gabe Parker asking me to go to a premiere with him?

“I—”