“I think so. We’ve worked with Toddler Tom and Ben on the schedule for Chase’s community service in Nashville and on the road. Gabby said he already went to the community center in town before we even did the press conference, so I have no concerns about him following through with the promises made today. Mary is in touch with the police department and we’ve solidified the date. Now, we just have to advertise it like any other event at the ballpark.”
“Then take a deep breath and enjoy your pasta. I’ll text the pilot and you can take the plane after dinner.”
Unable to resist teasing him, I smirk and ask, “Offering your plane without me having to ask? Who are you?”
He winks playfully. “Figured I should offer before you tried to tell me half the plane belonged to you and we got into another argument about the separation of assets.”
I bite my tongue to silence the retort and instead take a sip of the wine. His eyes sparkle in the low light as if he knows he won this round.
He releases my hand and sits back in his chair, his fingers spinning his wine glass as he says, “Tell me about your company. How did you go from a newbie agent at a PR firm in New York to a powerhouse boutique operation in just a few years?”
“You’re one to talk, Mr. Forty Under Forty and Forbes 500,” I reply.
“This isn’t about me, Ms. Thirty Under Thirty.”
I lift a brow. “Checking up on me?”
“I could ask you the same.”
I’d never admit to following his success as a businessman, but apparently, I wasn’t very good at it considering I didn’t know he owned this hotel or the others I’ve stayed in.
“You know about my big promotion.”
“The one to senior agent,” he murmurs. “Out in California.” I simply nod in reply, a quietness falling over the table as we both seem to be remembering that shift.
Hurt flashes across his face at the reminder of when the promotion came in. When we first got married, I didn’t think about the potential of leaving New York, at least not while Grant was still pitching. But this promotion came in just after he’d gotten his Tommy John surgery and was in recovery. The timing of it all couldn’t have been worse. Staying to take care of him would’ve been the dutiful wife thing to do, but I knew if I passed on the opportunity, it might not come around again. We talked about it at length.
“I was so proud of you.”
“I know.” I give him a sad smile. Those were the hardest days of my life. Not only was I alone on the west coast, I was also nursing a broken heart that no one in my immediate circle knew was broken. “When I got to Los Angeles, I was working all the time, taking on more clients, traveling, networking, all the things that were exciting at the ripe age of twenty-three.” I laugh remembering the glitz and glamour of it all. “Eventually, I got tired of working for someone else. The plan was always to start my own agency and be my own boss. At the time, Ivory was looking to change agents as well, and we just went for it. She was my first client. We’ve been close since freshman year of college, but for her to trust me with her career, it meant everything, you know?”
“It’s hard to work with friends. You worry about that balance, about how to keep the professional and the personal separate. Not everyone can do that.”
“Exactly.” I sigh, thankful he understands. “But for us, it’sbeen easy. We trust each other and aren’t afraid to tell it like it is.”
He tilts his head. “How so?”
“Well, like when she ended up in Belize during the pandemic. That was all me. She’d been burning the candle at both ends and needed a break, but she was finally getting a pilot season for a show she would be producing. She was so excited. It was a fight to get her that opportunity too because the studio execs she was working with were fucking assholes. They proved it too when they canceled her outright at the first chance. She was really upset, as she should be. But that project wasn’t hers by the time it was greenlit for production. They changed almost everything about it. So when she was sulking about it, I told her as much.”
“How did she take it?”
“She told me I was harsh.” I laugh at the memory of the phone call. “But we promised early on that our relationship would only work if we weren’t worried that tough love would be mistaken for personal attacks. She deserved more than that project would have given her. I mean, hell, look how well she’s doing right now. Had that project gone forward, she never would’ve started Serentia or written a box office hit likeStranded.”
His eyes lock on mine, piercing and imploring at the same time as he says, “Or met the love of her life.”
I can’t look away, lost in the bronze depths of his stare. A million unsaid words pass between us as I take a shuddering breath to compose myself before shaking it off and relying on sarcasm to get me through this conversation. “I mean, I wasn’t going to say it but…” I brush off my shoulder with a smirk. Miller tries to take credit for Preston and Ivory getting together too, but I know a thing or two about forces greater than ourselves bringing your soulmate into your life.
A companionable silence falls over the table as we finish our meal. Occasionally, I catch Grant looking at me like he used to. More and more, tonight feels like a date. Anxiousness swirls inmy belly at what it all means and how the night should end, so before we can get carried away, I push my chair back from the table and stand.
“I should go pack and probably need to check out too.” Though I can afford it, I’m not frivolous with my money. Staying in a hotel on a long term basis isn’t the best use of my funds, but I’ve been so in and out over the last year, I haven’t looked into anywhere more permanent in Nashville.
“I can take care of it. Do you need to take everything with you or do you want to leave some stuff here?”
The thought of packing up my two large suitcases and carting them off to LA for a week only to bring them back here sounds like the absolute last thing I want to do.
“Do you happen to have a carry-on I could borrow if I leave my stuff here?”
Grant smiles and shakes his head as if I’m predictable. “Yes, you can use one of my smaller bags. What room are you in? I’ll get it and meet you down there so you have time to clean your room before I show up.” He stands and walks inside with me, his arm brushing against mine and sending a shockwave through my system.
