âThe ambulance took its sweet time getting to the backlot, and the hospital is quite a distance from here. Balfour, why not let Nolan drive Ivy? Do you want to see me passing out from pain right here in this diner? Balfourâ¦â
Balfourâs frown deepened with every passing second.
At that moment, Nolan chimed in, âBalfour, Giselle seems like sheâs really hurting. You take her to the ER, and I can drop Ivy off No big deal.â
Giselle seized her moment with a theatrical plea. âOh⦠Ivy, please. Iâm in agony here. Let Balfour give me a lift, just this once. Arenât we all friends? You canât just leave me to suffer.â
Curled up like a shrimp, Giselle couldnât even straighten up in her seat.
Ivy, concerned something serious might be wrong, nodded her head to show she had no objections.
Balfour grumbled, âLetâ¦â
Ivy cut in quickly, âIâll ride with Nolan.â
If looks could kill, the icy glare Balfour shot Ivy wouldâve done the job. Though his face remained stoic, his eyes betrayed his irritation. Was he actually annoyed she chose Nolan over him?
Ivy couldnât fathom why he was miffed. She had given him an out to be with his childhood sweetheart, Giselle. What was wrong with that?
His questioning gaze left her puzzled. Wasnât she making the best choice for him? Balfour would have chosen Giselle in the end anyway.
Unable to decipher the emotions behind those eyes, Ivy grabbed her purse and left with Nolan.
âLetâs go, I need to get back to the set.â
Balfourâs mood seemed to darken further, making even Giselle avert her eyes to avoid his glare.
âNow that theyâre gone, can you take me to the hospital, Balfour?â
She clung to his sleeve with one hand, the other pressed to her abdomen, the picture of suffering.
âIf you donât need an ambulance and just a ride, then Quinton can take you just as well.â
Quinton arrived in under ten minutes, hair tousled as if heâd rushed out the door.
Balfourâs voice was cold as ice. âSheâs all yours.â
Quinton nodded dutifully, âGot it, Iâll make sure Giselle gets to the hospital safely.â
âIvy, Ivy?â
âHuh? Whatâs up? Nolan, did you say something?â
Ivy snapped back to reality, meeting Nolanâs curious gaze.
âIâve been calling you. Did you not hear? Whatâs on your mind?â
Ivy forced a smile, âSorry, I zoned out for a sec.â
âAre you not feeling well? You hardly had a bite before we had to rush out.â
She shook her head, âNo worries, Iâm fine. Just a bit tired.â
Nolan started the car. âAs long as youâre not unwell. You donât seem yourself, though.â
She touched her cheek, âReally? Colton said I looked radiant this morning!â
The way youâre acting, your feelings are written all over your face. Did you not want me to be the one to drive you back?â
He asked half-jokingly, but Ivy sensed a hint of probing in his tone.
âNot at all. Itâs all the same to me; just hitching a ride, right? You or someone else, doesnât make a difference.â
Nolan smoothly turned the steering wheel with one hand, his movements easy and practiced. âIf it were all the same, you wouldnât look so down. Why be so generous, letting another woman have your man?