“I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” she replies.
My stomach is angry, but I’m starting to feel more mellow already as I sip my second drink much slower and greet old friends and acquaintances. Avery Hart, the star of the movie and the woman recently covered in the tabloids for taking an entire two-week vacation in Fiji, stops me for cheek kisses.
“Oh my god, I woulddieto be you tonight,” she breathes in my ear before the director whisks her away to say hi to Sunny Darling.
Sunny Darling, whose role in this film was playing Geofferson’s character’s mother.
“I want to talk to Sunny,” I tell Kiva.
She and her husband, Judson Clarke, who are both Hollywood royalty, live next door to me. I don’t see them or their daughter, Sarah, nearly enough. I miss them.
They were always kind when I was growing up, and now I’m not sure I’ve seen any of them in two years.
“Waverly?”
A dark-haired white woman a little shorter than me approaches. She’s in a pantsuit instead of a dress, and I gasp out a cry that has people turning heads our way.
“Sarah!I was literally just thinking about you.”
“Oh my gosh, I didn’t think you’d remember me.” She laughs as I tackle her in a hug that’s probably overkill. “Or know to call me Sarah.”
I shouldnotdrink. “Of course I remember you. And Levi talks about you and Beck all the time. I got the name memo. You smell amazing. I’m sorry I missed your wedding reception. I was in Europe. How’s Beck? How’sthe baby? Can I talk to your mom or is she like, completely booked all night? Should I have my people call her people to see when we’ll both be home for tea or something?”
Sarah rolls her brown eyes. “Mom’s probably completely booked. C’mon. I think you’re sitting near us. Have you ever met Beck? I feel like you should’ve, but I also know you’re both crazy busy.”
“I don’t think I have. But Ifeellike I know him.” I follow her deeper into the lobby, where half of Hollywood seems to be milling around.
I spot Sarah’s husband, Beck, who made a name for himself modeling underwear after his Bro Code boy band days with the Wilson brothers and Cash Rivers, but seeing him in person for the first time isn’t what has me blinking.
Is thatCoopernext to him?
Both men are tall, with dark hair and bright smiles, and clearly interrupting each other while telling stories and cracking up.
Cooper is wearing aBaby Ash suit.
“I cannot even tell you how badly the two of them make my stomach hurt from laughing too much whenever we’re out in Shipwreck and they get together,” Sarah says. “Donotask about the dead sheep.Ever. And say no if they ask if you want to hear about it. At least, that’s my advice if you never want to know what it feels like to laugh until you puke.”
“Am I that drunk?” I whisper.
She laughs. “You are not. I assure you, you heard all of that correctly.”
“I assure you, I’m reasonably certain I’m drunk and having a very weird conversation in my head with you right now.”
“Sarah,” Beck calls, waving at us. “Cooper’s aunicorn!”
“Oh my god,” I whisper.
Sarah grabs me by the hand and pulls me through a curious crowd. Kiva’s right behind us, but she falls into the background.
“Show her,” Beck orders Cooper, who turns sideways, displaying the slight bump on his forehead courtesy of my elbow.
He slides one of those grin-winks at me, andoh my god, I have to hug him and kiss him and wrap myself around himright now.
I can only get in the hug. “You’re here.”
“I know people who know people who know the people who run the back door.” He squeezes me tight. “And I heard this would make less of a scene.”
“I’m so glad you’re here.” I peck his cheek, then rub the lipstick off, almost spilling my martini on his suit in the process. “And you wore Baby Ash!”
