She nods. “I’ll try.”
After Ria put the movie in, we settled in the overstuffed recliners, laughing and talking throughout the entire film. I’m not sure we actually watched any of it.
We shared stories about our childhoods, our struggles with fame, and the pressure of being in the media eye all the time. I explained further how I ended up in Recoil and how I continue to skate by in their shadows.
Even though I really like her, and I would love nothing more than to kiss her, I’ve truly enjoyed her company. Underneath her bitchy persona is a fun, caring woman. Basically, it is the opposite of how she is perceived in the public eye.
After the movie finishes, I’m reluctant to call it a night as we get up to leave the theater room.
“I should probably go,” I say begrudgingly, seeing as I’ve been here all day.
Ria purses her lips like she’s pouting because she’s sad I’m leaving.
And that thought makes me happy.
“Thank you for today,” I tell her, then lean in to kiss her cheek.
She smiles, grabs my hand, and gives it a gentle squeeze. “Was my pleasure. We have to do it again, and soon. Okay?” Ria offers, while walking me to the front door.
I nod and smile in answer.
The urge to kiss her is strong, but I figure two kisses on the cheek are a little excessive. So I simply turn and head for my car.
“Bye, Nate,” she calls out.
Swinging around, I see her waving, and I return the gesture, looking at her through the darkness. She’s standing in herdoorway, and the lights from inside shine from behind her, lighting her up with a halo glow.
I sigh.
I’m so done for with this chick.
Shaking my head, I slide into my car and start the engine. Before I take off, I wave once more and drive toward the gate. It opens automatically, and the security guards nod—I’d forgotten they were even here—before putting my foot on the accelerator and heading home from Hollywood Hills.
The drive doesn’t take long, and when I arrive home, Matt is having a late dinner and barbecuing. It smells delicious, and I know he has extra, which is great because I’m starving after the small salad I had earlier at Ria’s.
“Where the hell have you been all day?” he asks.
I figure lying is probably not such a good idea. Plus, Matt can always tell when I’m bullshitting, so I tell him the truth. “I spent the day at Zaria’s mansion.”
Matt gawks, then laughs loudly like he thinks I’m joking.
“Is it so hard to believe?”
Matt stops chuckling and squishes his brows together like he can’t quite grasp what I’ve just told him. “Um, no. Just surprising, I guess. So, what’s her place like?”
“Fucking amazing. We had lunch and went swimming, then watchedFinding Nemo—”
“You made an Oscar winner watch a kids’ movie?”
I laugh and nod. “She loved it!”
Suddenly, my cell phone beeps with a text message. I wince and pull it out, never knowing if I’m going to be able to read it or not. I usually have to get Matt to read my text messages.
The text is from Ria, but it doesn’t say anything. It’s a symbol of a clownfish. I smile and send back a picture of a dove.
Matt shakes his head. “Weird,” is all he says as he continues cooking on the grill.
“So, what happened at the office today?” I ask.
