“That’s better than coffee, right?”
“Oh my God,” she said, slapping her hand over her face. “It really was way better. I should’ve ordered that from room service.” Lowering her hand, she smiled, serving me my sass back.
“Hey, I don’t want anyone from room service doing that…” I stood and poured myself a coffee from the cart and refreshed Jamie’s.
She switched gears. “What about you?”
I knew what she meant but wasn’t letting her go there. “This morning was about you.” Moving back next to her, I clinked my coffee mug to hers. “Also, glad to see we both like our coffee.”
“Every morning. Every afternoon.” She told on herself.
“Every evening for me too. I work a lot of nights. Dinners and filming.”
“See, I have a lot to learn about this Ford.”
“Today’s Sunday, so we have all day.”
“I have to go home eventually. I need fresh clothes…”
“You can have breakfast first. Or brunch,” I said, taking a quick look at the time on the TV. “Shit, I must still be on West Coast time, or you tired me out.”
“Well, you’re kind of old,” she teased again.
“I love this side of you, James.”
Her gaze turned downward. I assumed it was a combination of the compliment and my use of the L word. I hadn’t said I loved her, but I might as well have—after twenty-four hours, I didn’t know how I was going to leave her.
“Thanks,” she said from the passenger seat of the Tesla. She stared out the window but didn’t bother getting out.
“Hey, look at me,” I said.
She listened.
“Don’t do that. I’m not going anywhere.”
After room service and a long shower together, I told James I needed to go see Scott. I was sure he couldn’t keep my secret—my being back in town—from my mother. I wanted to make sure he knew I was serious when it came to James. I’d told James all this, but she was still hesitant.
“In fact, you’re going to be sick of me I’m going to be around so much,” I told her now.
She half smiled.
“You look beautiful.” It rolled out of my mouth. “I can’t help it. You do.” I took her hand in mine and brought it to my lips, kissing above her knuckles, allowing my lips to graze her skin. “I’m going to speak with Scott, that’s all.”
“Look, your mom doesn’t care for me. I don’t know why. All I ever did was grow up lesser than you, than her. Who cares? I never asked for a handout, but she seems determined to break down whatever I’ve built on my own.” She refused to look at me while she spoke.
“I can’t change my mother. If I could, I would. Maybe in another time, our moms could have been friends. Maybe instead of Maggie knowing you well, my mom would have. This is how I grew up, with a mom who didn’t care about anything but herself. But I’m a grown man now and I’m done with this shit, okay? I don’t back down to my mom anymore. I just want Scott to know this is my business to handle, not his opportunity to play Mommy’s favorite.”
She nodded, and I watched her swallow a lump in her throat. I didn’t know if it was pity or patience or resolve. I didn’t care. I had to do this my way.
“Sushi later? Takeout?” I changed gears, making sure she knew I was coming back.
“Sounds perfect. Maybe I’ll bake,” she added with a wink.
“You don’t mind a night in?” The Hollywood ladies would have never accepted a night in as a date or anything more than nothing.
“It’s absolutely perfect. I work tomorrow, and I like staying in.”
Hmmm.“I’ll be back,” I said, mimicking the Terminator, and James got out of the car. Hopefully, her worries resolved.
