But someone was looking out for them when an opportunity arose with Starz. Alissa had interned with them last summer, and a position had opened unexpectedly that she’d applied for. She hadn’t told Braxton because she hadn’t wanted him to get his hopes up and then have to let him down if it hadn’t come to fruition. But last night, she’d received the official offer, and now it looked as if he and his girl would be heading south together tomorrow.
When Braxton had shown up at Paisley’s this morning to share the great news with her, she’d been less than pleased. He hadn’t expected her to do summersaults but he’d thought she’d be happy for him.
She’d opened the door to her apartment, lips turned up, showing off her perfect smile. But as he’d spoken, the luster in her eyes just hadn’t matched the smile on her face.
And when she’d congratulated him, her voice was low, and he’d sworn he’d heard it break. “Oh, Brax, that’s awesome. I’m so happy for you.”
He’d known her long enough to see her fake smile when she used it. It had been time to do some damage control, so he’d opened his arms wide as a gesture for her to walk into them. And she had. Once she was settled between them, he’d wrapped her uptight and held on.
He’d wanted her to know that she was still an important person in his life and that he would always be concerned about her and her feelings. “Tell me what’s wrong, butterfly?”
Paisley’s head had lifted so that her eyes had met with his. He had seen her confusion as she’d spoken. “Butterfly? You always called me caterpillar.”
He’d hated that she hadn’t understood. There had been a time when their brains were in sync, and she would have instantly known why he was now calling her that. He had stepped away, breaking their hold, and touched his finger to her nose. “That was before you morphed into the amazing woman you are right now. You’ve accomplished so much, graduating with honors, and your grade point is higher than Paxton’s.”
She’d blushed at his comment.
But Braxton had not been able to help himself, and as usual, he’d taken the serious moment and turned it into something else. “I’m sure both of us will have no issues rubbing it in his face.”
Briefly, her eyes had lit up, and Paisley had laughed an honest-to-goodness laugh. But the emotion had faded as quickly as it had come. She had been lost to him again, and he had no idea what was bothering her.
“Butterfly, tell me what’s wrong please. I want to be here for you just like you’ve been for me all these years.”
Paisley had reached out her hand, touching his forearm, and he could feel the light pressure as she squeezed it. Without saying anything. “I’m good, Brax. Let’s go we’re going to be late.”
Before he could argue and call bullshit, she had walked out the door. What should have been one of the happiest days of their lives had seemed anything but happy to her.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
The sound of the cannon going off signaled the ceremony was coming to a finish, and Braxton was pulled back to the present.
Paisley stared at Braxton’s back for the entire ceremony. The love of her life was several rows in front of her, oblivious to how she felt. When he’d told her this morning that Alissa would be moving home with him, her heart tore apart into tiny pieces. Paisley knew that Alissa was an amazing person, which was why she was one of her best friends, but part of her couldn’t help but hate Alissa now that she was stealing the man Paisley had been in love with her whole life.
Everything in Paisley’s world was in disarray. This should have been the happiest day of her life, but she was alone. Earlier that year, she’d thought she, Pax, and Braxton would be heading home together. That they would find a place to rent and move on with their lives as a team. But everything was changing so quickly now, and all their previous dreams were falling apart.
All she could think of was when the three of them had talked about setting the entertainment world ablaze. Braxton would manage their clients, Paxton would represent musicians, and she’d handle the best actors in LA. But now there was Alissa and it was still unclear where she would fit into the picture of Paisley’s future. Or whether the original three musketeers even had a future together at all.
Graduating summa cum laude with honors, Paisley had paved the way for the future she dreamed of. It wouldn’t be long before she’d be rubbing elbows with Jake Bloom, the industry's best attorney in Beverly Hills.
In fact, only a month earlier, Paisley had secured a job, putting her on track to work with Jack and his firm. She was so thrilled, she had called Pax and Braxton and asked them out to dinner. Her treat.
Paisley bubbled with excitement, her legs bouncing under the table as they waited for their meals. She couldn’t stop smiling, even though she knew she looked foolish. It didn’t matter. This was big news. It wasn’t just that she had gotten a job. What she had to say could potentially change all of their lives.
“Alright. What’s up?” Pax asked. “You look like the cat who ate the canary.”
“I got hired at Bloom, Baker & Tennison,” Paisley blurted, unable to hold back any longer. “They have openings in the departments you guys specialize in too. I checked. We could work together like we’ve always talked about. The three musketeers.”
She clapped her hands together and a round of laughter escaped her throat. She couldn’t help it, and didn’t want to. Everything her heart had desired was about to be fulfilled, and Paisley was overjoyed.
“Congrats, Butterfly.”
Why does Brax sound so sad?
Paisley searched Braxton’s face for the source
