“Take a load off, Rosie Bloom.” Robby patted the couch cushion next to him. She dropped down next to him with a sigh.
“This may be the first time I’ve actually sat all evening. I may never get up.”
His chuckle was higher-pitched than she remembered. Now that they weren’t under the low light of the outer deck, she could see his features clearer. Somehow he’d grown up without really aging. A few laugh lines, but still sweet-faced. Sort of the midpoint between cute sitcom teen and hot barista energy.
Ten-year-old Tzipi had had such a crush on him. And his character.
Bobby Bloom hadn’t been the sharpest crayon in the box, but had always been nice to her.
“Then I may have just the right thing for you, right now.” Robby wiggled two fingers into his shirt pocket, pulling out a silver foil blister pack. “ChaiCycle.”
It weighed next to nothing in her hand. And had a logo like the average health store supplement, with a Hebrew Chai symbol in the design where you’d expect a sun or moon to be.
“It’s hormone-balancing and metabolism-boosting…for peak vitality. For all people, for all stages of life – get it? Chai! Plus it’s got all the polyphenols you’d find in a cup of chai tea, too. In pill form. I’m still working on my pitch,” he admitted. “It’s my first venture into the wellness space.”
“Congrats…wow. I’m happy for you, Rob.”
“And I’m happy we ran into each other here…I’ve been thinking you’d be the perfect spokeswoman for the brand. You know, you’re known for your bad-ass villain-busting. Breaking the chains. How about breaking the vicious cycle of fatigue and inflammation?” His laugh was even higher-pitched now, and nervous. “Or, or…get this. We can go a different route. Bloom brother and sister, all grown up. We endorse it together. Ads, socials, maybe a billboard. Then we could lean into the Jewish angle, bring Chai to the masses!”
Anytime now, Max. Tzipi willed him to walk through the door right now. She’d use every extraction signal to get out of this awkward conversation. WWKD – what would Kara do?
“Super fun idea. Bloom throwback vibes! Let’s put a pin in it till after the new year – bring our publicists into the mix.”
“You’re looking at him.” His smile didn’t quite light up his eyes like before. He still radiated a bit of his old theater kid sparkle, just wrapped up in a slightly wearier version of himself. “I haven’t been able to afford a publicist since the RTB creative team wrote the brothers off as irrelevant.”
“You guys went off to college! You weren’t written off.”
His eye roll and smirk told her the two were pretty much the same thing.
Wow, she hadn’t really thought of it that way. She had been so focused on wriggling out of the spotlight relentlessly focused on her star character, she hadn’t noticed the same spotlight was fading on the supporting ones.
She turned the packet over in her hand. “Is the packaging BPA-free?”
“Yep, and made from recycled materials. Plus printed in soy ink. The capsules are also vegan, cruelty-free. Even kosher. All things that matter to today’s health-conscious consumer.”
She wasn’t about to consume this, but wanted to be polite just the same. “Thanks…I’ll save it for a Chai-saving emergency.” She tucked it into her purse.
“Here, take a few more. I have tons.” Robby reached behind the couch and pulled a backpack stashed there. Like a traveling salesman, he cracked it open.
“Wow, that’s quite a pharmacy you got there.” Did he go through the same security line as she did? Because they’d even made the ultra-VIPs open their handbags.
“Just samples. Event promoters are always looking to stock their influencer grab bags for the end of the night. My contact on board told me to bring at least five hundred tonight.”
He handed four more to her. “They’re best when taken daily. Try a five-day challenge. Tell your friends. Tell your sister.”
All the chatter in the room whooshed to a dull roar. All mixing and mingling seemed at slow motion speed. The only thing fast and loud was her own heart.
“You know I’ve always had a soft spot for Tzipi.” His smile was impish again. “Not playing favorites though, promise.”
Paranoid, much? Keep it together, girl.
Movement in the doorway caught her eye. Normal speed.
Max was making his way through the crowd, broad shoulders clearing a path.
“Hey, how about a quick selfie? For old time’s sake? And hell, the guys at the gym will be so jealous.”
She laughed. “Sure, Robby.” That I can do.
