More photographers (hired by Glo Radio to document the event) aim their lenses at us.
For now, we simply walk side by side, no public displays of affection that might cause more of a stir. We’re supposed to save that for later, Braden said. We just want to get people talking, wondering, theorizing.
Heads turn subtly, people smile and nudge their companions.
Here and there, a cellphone peeks out from above a table. Other attendees pretend to text or read notifications, but their phones are angled too high to not be taking photos.
As soon as we stop to get drinks from a cocktail waiter, though, someone approaches us. It’s a woman I know only from movies and she seems to know Harmony personally.
“Isabel!” Harmony chirps as she embraces the starlet. “I didn’t know you were going to be here.”
Isabel LaRue tosses her red hair (with beachy waves similar to Harmony’s). “Well, I wasn’t sure I could make it with my schedule, but I’m taking a break from filming at the moment andI happened to be at my L.A. residence this weekend, so it worked out.”
“That’s great,” says Harmony.
“It really is! Especially since I was just reading some gossip about you online.” Isabel nods toward me with raised eyebrows. “Are you going to introduce me to your friend? Not that I don’t already know who he is by now …”
I can tell it’s taking all of Harmony’s strength to act like she’s not repulsed by me, but she’s not a half-bad actor herself when she slips her arm into the crook of my elbow and replies, “Of course. Isabel, meet Riff Hurley.”
Isabel shakes my hand. “A pleasure.”
“Same,” I tell her.
“You two came together?”
Because I’m a perpetual teenager at heart, I stifle a laugh. But then it’s not so funny because I picture Harmony’s blissful expression when she straddled me and I’m very close to needing to adjust myself.
“The label thought it would be good,” Harmony says, “for promoting our upcoming single.”
“Oh right!” Isabel flags down a passing waiter and grabs herself a glass of champagne. Somehow I doubt it’s her first one this morning. “I saw the release countdown on Glo the other day. How exciting.”
Harmony asks Isabel when filming will wrap up on her current project, a thriller calledThe Deep Dark Woods, and shortly afterward someone calls Isabel away to talk to another celebrity.
A rep from Glo greets us next, thanking us for attending, and encourages us to enjoy the brunch buffet.
Silently we walk over and observe the spread. It’s fruit platters and delicate French pastries and smoked salmon. There’s also an entire charcuterie table.
Harmony mutters, “I still don’t really understand charcuterie.”
“You mean … adult Lunchables?” I pick up a plate and layer a few crackers under soppressata salami and slices of gouda.
“I never had Lunchables as a kid.”
“What?!” I clutch my chest like she’s just caused me physical pain. “But you didn’t get famous until college; I thought you had a normal childhood before that.”
“My dad grew up in an immigrant household, remember? He carried that highly practical mentality into parenting me. Why pay five dollars for a few crackers when you can get a box of fifty fortwodollars?”
“Except it also comes with meat, cheese, a mini candy bar … maybe a Capri Sun if you’re lucky.”
“I’ll be sure to pass along the message next time I talk to him. Maybe he’ll change his mind now that I’m thirty years old.”
I frown. “Have you at least tried some of this stuff?”
“I’ve considered it, but then I look at all the different possible combinations and I get overwhelmed. What goes best with what? Where do I even start? I usually end up eating slices of cheese by themselves, or putting one of the gourmet jams on a crostini, but that’s about it.”
“It’s like music,” I say, grabbing a water cracker and one of the tiny knives. “You have your percussion, your bass, your melody. You basically just need one of each category, and most times you can’t go wrong, as long as you’re dealing with good quality products.” I gesture at the cheese. “Do you prefer a salty-sweet combo? Or salty-saltier? Or tart?”
“I don’t need you to give me a lesson,” she replies flatly. “I’m fine, thanks.”
