31.
February 28th, 2020
“Are you, you know… Are you, like,real?” Zaira asked, her eyes wide enough to most probably fit the entire peninsula in them.
I ran a hand over my jaw. “Of course he’s real, babe.”
She fidgeted with her glasses and looked at me. “I didn’t ask you.” She hugged the magazine tighter to her chest.
I put my tongue to my cheek at the sass in her voice, and raised my hands in surrender. “Okay, okay…”
Kenneth, who was in front of me, laughed at Zaira and I’s little exchange. “Yes, Zaira; I’m very much real,” he answered her question – which was meant forhim, notme. Just clarifying.
She returned her gaze to him. “Can I, uh, touch you a little bit?”
Amara, Kenneth’s wife – who was next to him – chuckled. “Aww, you’re just like me when I’d first met him. All I wanted to do then was touch him to make sure he was actually real.” She looped her arms around Kenneth’s. “But he’s kind of a weirdo, so you better be careful.”
Kenneth rolled his eyes, whereas Zaira and I chuckled at Amara’s ‘warning’.
“My wife here loves pulling my leg,” Kenneth began, and then pressed a kiss on the top of Amara’s head. “But don’t worry, this is just her way of pissing on what’s hers.”
She gasped and elbowed him in the ribs, which only made him laugh.
“Untimely pissing is our son Isaac’s department, not mine,” she said to him.
Kenneth clicked his tongue. “And who taught him to do that?”
Amara glared at him. “He’s naturally talented at it, just like his dad.”
I hid my grin behind a fist. Their son was only a few months old, and also the cutest little thing I’d seen in my entire life.
“Well, if that’s the case, then should I, too, piss on what’s mine?” Zaira asked, and then glanced sideways at me.
I wrapped an arm around her waist and bent to press a kiss on her temple. “You don’t have to, because I just did that for you.”
She blushed as she looked at me. “Charmer,” she whispered, which made me grin.
“Oh God,” Amara said, and Zaira and I looked at her again. “There’stwoof you now!” She pointed between me and Kenneth. “Why are the men of Hollywood always so ridiculously cheesy?”
Kenneth and I high-fived, and the girls rolled their eyes at us.
“Hell-O, you good-looking lot!” Dylan chirped as he walked over to us.
Zaira gasped. “OH-MY-GOD-YOU’RE-DYLAN-ROWE!” she said in a rush, and then cleared her throat. “Uh…I’m sorry.” She flinched a little.
Dylan chuckled. “Why, hello, Zaira.”
She was about ready to melt in a puddle, judging by the expression on her face. “You know who I am?!”
“Sure do. I’ve seen both yours and Gallan’s IG posts from a few days ago,” he said. “Also, this guy,” he pointed at me, “talks about you nonstop whenever we chat.” He winked at me, and then looked down at Zaira. “I think you two look very beautiful together. I’m really happy for you and him.”
Zaira shifted on her feet. “Thank you. That means a lot, really. I look up to you, you know? I’m inspired by your drive and passion. You single-handedly ruined Rachel Jonas after what she did to Kenneth. You’re so fierce, Dylan. I really need some of your adrenaline and dedication to keep me going.” She shook her head around a sigh. “Lord knows I need it after being exposed to the whole public side of Hollywood.”
His eyes gleamed as he grinned at her. “I would love to help you out!” He grabbed one of her hands. “How about you and I go on a shopping spree tomorrow? We can talk all about Hollywood, clothes, fashion, boys, and everything else that interests you.”
“Really?” She looked like a kid whose parents had just told her that they were taking her to theLouvre.
Dylan chuckled. “Yes, really.”
