They came around the counter. “Want me to take it?” Guy asked.
“No, get in!” the barista said. Guy hunched down to fit in the frame, giving a crooked but happy smile.
Guy slid his hand back into mine as we left, stopping me just outside the door. He pulled me to him for a quiet but sweet kiss. He looked down into my eyes with a broad smile as he traced his thumb over my lips.
“What was that for?”
“You’re nice to your fans. It’s cute,” he said.
“Well, yeah. I’m not a monster. You’re nice to yours, too.”
“I haven’t gotten to see you be famous, though,” he said. “It makes me happy. You deserve everything, Birdy.”
My grin could have split my face. “Thanks, Frenchie. Wanna meet some of my famous friends?”
“I don’t wanna crash your time with them,” he said. “I can go do tourist things.”
“I’ll double-check, but I’m sure they’ll be fine. But we mightjust gossip the whole time. Your choice.”
He gave me a sweet smile. “I’ll tag along.”
I had a lunch date scheduled with some friends from SNL, meeting up at a dive bar that had great burgers. I texted Tania to see if she was cool with Guy tagging along.
Hey. My old friend is with me this weekend.
Do you mind if he comes?
TANIA
You mean that hot piece of ass that you had on stage last night?
Yeah, bring him. But don’t blow up our lunch spot
with your fame and fortune
Ha. See you soon
Guy came in late, saying he needed to return his agent’s phone call. Our recent boost in fame affected his career, too.
Tania, my closest castmate other than the one I dated (ahem), my makeup artist Deandra, and my other co-star James Anthony waited for me at a table, greeting me with boisterous hugs.
“Heard you brought your man meat. Where is he?” Deandra asked, looking behind me.
“Outside on the phone. He’ll be in soon.”
“Okay, so before he comes in, did you two hook up? Did the stage chemistry carry over?” Tania jumped into interrogation mode.
I sipped the water in front of me. “Has the waiter been by yet?” I asked, changing the subject and fully knowing I wasn’t going to get away with it.
“No way, missy. Cough it up. How was it?” Deandra pushed.
I smirked. “He still remembers everything about me.”
The table erupted in shouts of excitement.
“But he’s the one that tried to marry you when you were nineteen, right?” Tania asked.
“He is,” I said after hesitating.
