When we’re done and just starting to get up from our seats, her phone rings. She reaches into her bag and checks it. “Sorry, I need to take this,” she says. “Could be important.”
“Go ahead.”
She swipes the screen, biting her lip. “Hello, Grandma. Is everything okay?”
Ah. Her favorite people. She said she talks with her folks every weekend. Interesting, though—this isn’t the weekend.
We start walking out, Aspen with her phone still glued to her face and me directly behind her. A couple of people wave, and I nod back discreetly. A model makes a phone sign with her hand and gives me a meaningful look. She’s trying to get a movie role with Dad, but she’d be better off buttering up Joey than me.
“My address?” Aspen says, shooting a glance in my direction. “You don’t really have to mail it… I mean, of course I love it, but I can wait until the summer.”
Except I don’t want her to wait until summer to get whatever that can make her happy enough that her grandmother wants to ship it right now. “Tell her we can stop by,” I say, placing a hand on her shoulder. Her grandparents must live close by for Aspen to have suggested dropping by to grab a dress she could wear to dinner yesterday.
“Give me a second, Grandma.” She pulls the phone away from her mouth. “Are you sure?”
“Why not? They don’t live too far away, right?”
“If we go, they’re going to want to feed us,” Aspen says.
Normally, I avoid socializing with the families of girls I’m with. It isn’t like the relationships are serious enough to go anywhere, and it’s best to avoid awkward conversations with their parents. But I’d love to meet Aspen’s grandparents, even if they ask some squirmy questions. Plus it’d be cool to see the house she grew up in, a glimpse of her childhood.
“So?” I say. “I love being fed.”
“Okay.” She turns her attention back to her phone. “Uh. Actually, a friend and I are in the area, so why don’t we just stop by?” She listens, her gaze darting in my direction. “Well, it’s a guy friend. Yeah. I guess? Dinner?” She lowers her phone. “Do you have any allergies? Things you don’t like?”
“Nah. I’m easy.”
She laughs and raises her phone again. “He’s good with anything. Uh-huh. Uh-huh. Okay. See you soon.” Her eyes soften. “Love you too.”
Although she isn’t saying the words to me, they have an impact. Having her look at me with her eyes that tender… For once my brain might freeze and refuse to process the moment.
“Oh hey, I had no idea you were going to be in town.”
My body tenses with dread.Joey. And if he’s here, there’s a good chance Dad’s here too.Fuck!The hostess said he wouldn’t be. I continue to look at Aspen, hoping Joey gets the hint.
There’s a plant in his line of sight. Maybe he was speaking to somebody else.
But no such luck. He comes right over.Damn it.
“Jesus, look at you, Grant. It’s been a while.”
“Yeah.” I force a bland smile, but only because Aspen’s watching. Otherwise, I’d dispatch him with a cutting insult or two.
I don’t know how a guy who works and lives in Southern California can stay so pale. Or have a forehead so high without a receding hairline. It’s like he was born with an extra two inches above his eyes. And right now, those eyes are raking over Aspen speculatively, taking an inventory of her features and proportions along with her accessories and clothes. Something like approval flickers in his gaze, and it pisses me off. Nothing good has ever come from Joey’s attention.
“Is my dad here?” I say, trying to turn him away from her.
“No. Do you need him to be?” His smug expression radiates petty power. In Hollywood, it’s a big fucking deal to have direct access to my father.
“No.”
“Fine, but your date might want to an introduction to the head executive assistant totheTed Lasker.” He looks at Aspen.
“Again, no.” Aspen has started to extend a hand, but I pull it back gently. “She isn’t interested in the movie business.”
Joey lets out an incredulous laugh. “Oh, please. Everyone is, even when they say they aren’t.”
“Go away, Joey.”
