“Hi,” Dylan said, waving.
“You’re even more beautiful in person,” Iris said, smiling with her hands on her hips. “I’m a huge fan.”
Dylan frowned. “Are you?”
Iris just laughed, then glanced at Ramona. “Hey, I’m Iris.”
“Oh, sorry,” Dylan said. “This is Ramona Riley. My—” But she cut herself off.Girlfriendwas on the tip of her tongue. It was right there, but she and Ramona hadn’t had that conversation.
Hadn’t used that word.
And this was just supposed to be a summer thing.
Wasn’t it?
“Hey,I’ma huge fan,” Ramona said. “I’ve read all your books. They’re amazing. So funny and tender and sexy and smart. Sorry, I’ll shut up now.”
“Please do, authors hate hearing how wonderful we are,” Iris said, then winked. “I’m so excited to be here on set. Everything looks gorgeous. My partner, Stevie, is wandering around here somewhere.” She waved a hand at the yard. “She’s fascinated with film.”
“I saw her in last year’s Shakespeare in the Park,” Dylan said. “She was an incredible Katherina.”
“She’ll be so happy to hear that,” Iris said, beaming.
“Iris, hi,” Blair said, appearing next to Dylan and sticking out her hand.
“Hi, Blair Emmanuel, good god, you’re lovely,” Iris said, shaking her hand.
Blair just laughed. “I’ve got some questions for you about Mallory and Eloise. Do you mind?”
“Not at all,” Iris said. “That’s what I’m here for.”
“Oh, god, sorry, Blair,” Ramona said, resting her hand on Blair’s shoulder. “I got so distracted.”
“No worries. Totally understandable.” Then to Iris, Blair motioned toward the patio table. “Shall we?”
Dylan watched Iris and Blair settle at the table, her chest still a little too tight for comfort.
“Should we sit too?” Ramona said. “I’d love to hear what Iris has to say about—”
“Dylan,” Noelle said, appearing from the house’s back door. She was frowning, a tape measure curled around her neck like a scarf, iPad tucked under one arm. She walked up to them and started fiddling with the hem of Dylan’s dress. “I think we need a wardrobe change.”
“What?” Dylan asked. “Why?”
Noelle didn’t answer right away, just mumbled to herself as she circled Dylan, her brows pressed together.
“Yep,” she said. “I need something…more.”
“More what?” Dylan asked. “Please don’t put me in a child’s shoe.”
Noelle didn’t respond, just narrowed her eyes at Dylan’s very simple dress. “Damn Vee and their fibula. Could really use their opinion on this.”
“Opinion on what?” Dylan asked, smoothing her hand down the garment. “It’s a good dress.”
“But not good enough, maybe,” Noelle said.
“Isn’t Eloise, like, not into fancy clothes?” Dylan asked.
“Yeah, but she’s at this fancy event and she’s nervous, so she’d probably tried a little harder than normal.”
