I sat a bit straighter on my bed. “You recognize my voice?”
“I do, though I tend to remember most people I meet.”
“Oh.”
“Are you disappointed?”
“Well, you also called me talented. Do you say that to most people?”
“I do not.”
“Then I guess I can forgive you.”
He laughed, and my nervousness floated away.
“How are you, Jonah?”
I exhaled. “Can I be honest?”
“I’ll be disappointed if you don’t.”
“I’ve lost a role I wanted.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. What was the role?”
“For a comedy. It sounded pretty dumb, really.” But so didWayne’s World, and everyone was talking about that film.
“Dumb comedies are not your niche. You should aspire higher.”
“My current aspiration is to get paid.”
“I see. Money’s tight?”
“Very. Hmm, I was actually calling you about that. Do you maybe know of a place where I can work as a waiter?”
He stalled before asking, “Do you think that it’s wise?”
“My agent seems to think so.”
“How is Agatha?”
“Fine, I guess. I only talk to her on the phone these days when she bothers picking up.”
“Well, unlike her, I believe in a more personal approach. I would like to take you out tonight to brighten your mood.”
“Are you serious? You don’t have to.”
“I am well aware of my freedom of choice. Should I pick you up at eight?”
“That sounds great. Aren’t you working, though?”
“Call it an owner’s perk. I’ll see you at eight.”
*
I left my apartment when Eliot honked at exactly eight o’clock. The temperature was mild, so I settled for a short-sleeved button-down shirt and my nicest pair of jeans. I’d spent a bit too long making sure my curls were behaving, but they had a mind of their own.
Walking toward Eliot’s gorgeous turquoise convertible, I couldn’t help but feel like I was going on a date, butterflies flapping in my stomach and all. Only itwasn’ta date, and the last thing I needed was to get into anything with this man, who was clearly way above my league. He must have also believed me to be straight after what happened at his club.
