“Speaking of which,” Dean chimes in. “How long are you planning on being in San Francisco, Patton? How’s it going hanging out and learning to pitch from the legend of all legends himself?”
I take another sip of my coffee, buying myself a moment to think. “Probably a few months, maybe a year. And as for working with Troy? It’s been amazing. In just two meetings, I feel like I’ve learned intricacies of pitching that I never knew. It’ll definitely take a while and a few more lessons from Troy before I actuallylookprofessional on-screen . . . as professional as an actor can look, that is.”
“Several months or a year?” Dev chimes in, and dammit, I’m not quick enough to stop him from asking the rest. I might not know the guy well, but his smirk says he gives zero shits about putting me on the spot. “But didn’t you just buy a house here? Specifically, across the street from Nisha?”
The entire table goes quiet once again, except for the sounds of forks clattering against plates.
“Well, isn’t that one hell of a coincidence,” Dean says with a shit-eating grin. “And Dev, are we talking aboutNisha Arora? The ex-wife of our Hollywood guest of honor today?”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. The asshole knows damn well which Nisha he means.
“Why yes, yes I am, Dean,” Dev responds, playing along.
“So let me get all this straight because”—Garrett whistles before he grins—“it’s a doozy. A Hollywood A-list celebrity decides to film a baseball movie in San Francisco, based on his ex-sister-in-law’s new fiancé’s career. He then buys a house ina ‘regular’ neighborhood, instead of staying in a highly secure condo, and it justhappensto be across from his ex-wife?” He looks around the room exaggeratedly, getting their nods. “Did I get all that right?”
I should have asked more questions or maybe politely declined when Troy asked if I wanted to meet his friends.
“The neighborhood is secure enough,” I hedge. “My team even added more security around it.”
“I don’t know about you guys,” Hudson says, trying to suppress a smile, “but this sounds more like a strategic plan than a coincidence.”
Clearly, he’s recovered from his bout of speechlessness, though a part of me wishes he’d go back to sputtering again.
“Some may even call this ‘strategic plan’ a stalking operation,” Darian muses with an amused expression.
“Hey now, guys,” Dean says, turning up his hands in mock defense. “Perhaps Patton just couldn’t find a condo of his liking in one of the largest cities in the U.S.”
“It’s likely the same reason he didn’t like any other screenplay besides the baseball one,” Troy adds sarcastically, inciting the same shit-eating grins on every face around the table. “Not that I’m complaining!”
Wow.
Et tu, Troy?
I run a hand through my hair, squeezing the back of my neck, realizing that I’ve walked right into a trap set by these guys.
“Look,” I say, not able to hold back my smile, but refusing to give into them cornering me. “It’s not like I’m hiding out in her basement or anything. I told Troy I was looking to buy property, and when he mentioned the house across from her was on the market, I decided to act on it.”
“Sure, sure,” Dev says, grinning. “This all makes sense. You absolutelydidn’tmove here under the guise of filming a baseball movie to win back your ex-wife.”
I give him an “are-you-serious?” face. “Iamfilming a baseball movie!”
“Sure, sure.”
“It’s actually romantic,” Hudson says into his mimosa. “In a ‘not advisable and will probably end badly’ sort of way, but romantic, nonetheless.”
I take a breath, hating how hard I’m having to work to suppress my damn smile. “I might have just met you all a half-hour ago, but I already think you’re assholes.”
Dean raises his glass. “That’s the spirit! Welcome to the club, man. Being assholes is part of our charm!”
Darian side-eyes Dean. “Some of us are bigger assholes than others.”
Without missing a beat, Dean pulls him into a headlock and kisses the top of his head. Darian shoves him off, both of them laughing like they’re twelve and not grown adults.
“But seriously,” Dev says, bringing everyone’s attention back to me. “Are you trying to get her back? You’re part of the Schlongs now, so anything you say will stay in the circle of trust.”
“TheSchlongs?” Why do I feel like I’ve heard the name before?
Troy nods, pulling out his phone and typing something while he speaks. “It’s our group chat—the Six Schlongs Hen Party. It’ll be Seven Schlongs now since I’m adding you to it.”
