There I was,sitting across from Luke Fisher.
Yep,thatLuke Fisher.
Academy Award-winning, People’s Sexiest Man Alive, star of every movie that’s ever made anyone laugh, cry, and/or question their life choices.
Oh, and apparently, he was Topher’s best friend. They had gone to college together and knew each other before they became famous.
And there we all were, crammed into Josephine’s tiny house, Luke looking every bit like he was born to lounge on Italian leather, while his wife Anna, who grew up not far from me in New Orleans, looked effortlessly stunning on a thrifted chair that squeaked whenever she moved.
And the weirdest part? I was having fun.
“I knew this guy when he was a full-on nerd,” Luke said. “The biggest nerd.”
Topher rolled his eyes, but there was a smirk creeping up. “Says the guy who once wrote a ten-page essay on why Spider-Man could outwit Hamlet. And read the whole thing in class. Dressed as Spider-Man.”
Luke shrugged, grinning. “It’s calledcommittingto the role. Maybe that’s why I have an Oscar and you have spreadsheets.”
Topher leaned back, crossing his arms with a smirk. “At least I wasn’t quotingTwilightat parties.”
Luke gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. “Excuse me? I was Team Jacob forliteraryreasons.”
Nerds? These two, looking like they walked off the cover of GQ, had been nerds? I blinked, trying to reconcile the word with the evidence in front of me.
Luke Fisher was tall and tan, with perfectly tousled blonde hair that belonged in a shampoo commercial. He looked like someone you could admire from a distance but never touch. He was effortless, movie-star handsome.
When I first met Topher, I thought he was the same—too perfect, too polished. Tall, with brown hair that always seemed to fall just right, and a jawline so sharp it could cut glass. He wore an intense look, like he was always three steps ahead of everyone else, and honestly? I had figured he’d be just as untouchable as Luke.
But now? The more time I spent with him, the more real he seemed. His eyes weren’t so guarded, and when he smiled, it lit up his whole face in a way that made him even more handsome. Less perfect, but better.
Honestly, if this were the new definition of ‘nerd,’ then sign me up. Where do I get my membership card?
Josephine, who had been quietly watching the college friends joke around, finally chimed in. “I’m just glad to see that time hasn’t changed either of you.”
Anna turned to Josephine with a warm smile, smoothly shifting the conversation. “We’re just so glad you’re feeling better. You look amazing.”
Josephine smiled, waving her hand dismissively. “Oh, please. It’s all the lounging around I’ve been doing. I haven’t even had your spa people come yet. Thank you for that gift, by the way.”
Anna reached over and touched her arm. “You deserve to be pampered!”
Josephine chuckled. “I know, I know! It’s just, well, with Topher and hisdarlingKathleen staying here, I’ve been so spoiled already.”
Luke raised an eyebrow. “Toph?Spoilingsomeone? Did I wake up in an alternate universe?”
Josephine patted Luke’s hand and lowered her voice. “I know. For years, I saw you more than I saw Topher because he would never come home. But now he’s here, and he and Kathleen are making my meals. Can you believe it?”
Her words struck me. Why would she have seen Luke more than her own son? That seemed odd. But no one else in the room even blinked, as if this was just a well-known fact about Topher, that he was always so focused on work that his family slipped into the background.
Before I could unpack it any further, Luke turned to me, eyes wide. “Topher? In the kitchen?Voluntarily?Are we sure he’s not just boiling water and calling it a meal?”
I laughed. “Believe it. Topher’s an impressive chef. He’s been whisking together some gourmet dishes.”
Josephine added with a smile, “And our favorite part of the day is watchingJeopardy!together and then a movie to unwind. We even saw one of yours the other night—The Last Stand.”
Anna’s grin widened as she rubbed Luke’s knee affectionately. “The Last Stand? The one where Luke was the retired soldier who swore he’d never fight again. Until the bad guys show up and—surprise—he fights again?”
Josephine nodded enthusiastically. “I was gripping my chair during that final battle. I’m pretty sure I forgot to breathe.”
“Yeah, I had to remindmyselfto breathe filming that scene.” Luke mimed dragging something heavy. “Turns out, carrying a life-size dummy of my co-star was more of a workout than I signed up for.”
