As Hank re-entered the bar, people parted like the Red Sea. He made his way to a raised area. Someone moved a rope, and Hank and Liv sat on a squishy red leather sofa together. Hank repositioned himself closer to her, so his outer thigh nearly touched hers. She surreptitiously inched away. Two glasses of whisky appeared from nowhere.
‘You sure look like Essie Starling,’ Hank said. ‘You know her?’
‘I actually work with her. She lent me these clothes.’
He twitched an eyebrow. ‘Yeah? What’s your name?’
‘Liv. Olivia Green.’
‘Hey, right.’ He nodded, tipping his glass towards her. ‘Yeah, I heard of you.’
Liv’s heart almost leaped out of her body. ‘You have?’
‘Ess mentioned you.’
‘You still talk to her?’
‘Rarely.’ He smiled wryly. ‘Wish it was more often.’
‘She doesn’t speak to many people.’
‘Yep. Have to trick her into taking my calls. Got unfinished business, me and Ess…’
Liv wondered what it was. She was more amazed that she’d been a topic of Essie and Hank’s conversation. ‘What did she say about me?’
Hank swigged his drink. ‘Can’t recall much. Ess said someone worked for her, name of Olivia. Said you guys got along. ’Fraid that’s all I got.’
Liv felt flames of curiosity ignite inside her. ‘Please try,’ she said, trying not to sound desperate.
He frowned and shook his head. ‘Nope, don’t know. She likes you, though. Ess don’t trust many people. Couldn’t trust me,’ he laughed, until his face gradually stilled. ‘Jeez, I loved that woman.’
There was something sweet and open about him. Liv could tell he’d be devastated to learn of Essie’s death in eight weeks’ time. She felt the need to comfort him. ‘She must have loved you, too,’ she said. ‘She left England to be with you.’
‘That surprises you, huh? We’re totally different people, right?’
Liv nodded, but she could see how sparks might fly between them. ‘How did you both meet?’
He circled his glass. ‘At a book launch of mine in London. We got talking and she was a real lady. Classy. They say opposites attract, and they did. I went home with her that night and felt like I never wanted to leave her. Ess’d had enough of the UK,so I invited her over to LA. Life was fun for a long time.’ Ice clinked against his teeth when he drank his whisky.
‘You’ve never talked to the press about your life together. That’s noble,’ she said.
‘It’s the least I can do,’ Hank murmured. He stared into his glass.
‘And you’ve remarried and have a family now?’
‘Yep, moved on. A wife and two great kids,’ he said briskly. ‘How’s Ess? Is she good?’
Liv didn’t want to lie to him. After hearing how Ted and Sven tried to shape Essie, Hank sounded truly invested. ‘She’s been struggling a little recently, with her health and work.’
‘I was afraid that might be the case.’ He shook his head. ‘Wish I’d never coaxed her along to that damn Constellation thing.’
Liv lowered her whisky. It sounded like Hank recognized the awards were the catalyst for Essie’s downturn, too. ‘I always wondered what happened that night,’ she said gently. ‘It was a highlight of her career, yet she was never seen in public again. Why did you have to persuade her to go?’
‘Will telling you make me feel better?’ He sighed.
‘I suppose that’s for you to decide,’ she said.
Another couple of glasses arrived. Hank nodded thanks to the server and refocused on Liv. ‘Ess always had this thing with dates. You’ve noticed, right?’
