He liked the sound of that. “It’s a date—twodates.”
She blushed, and he liked that too.
As they walked toward the soundstage, he was aware the crew outside were watching. In his peripheral vision, he tracked a woman as she broke from the group and approached.
“Excuse me,” she said sweetly, “could I have a selfie?” She held up a phone.
“Not today.” He knew it sounded harsh, but this was supposed to be stealth Griffin.
As they walked into the building, he detected Lana watching his face.
“It’s never just one selfie,” he said. “They multiply. If I gave everyone a piece of me every time they wanted one, there wouldn’t be any of me left. And we’re not here for that.”
“You don’t have to explain.”
“Just for, you know, when you give your tell-all interview.My 24 Hours With Hollywood’s Biggest Jerk.”
“Griffin! I hear we’re having a meeting.” Griffin hadn’t seen Elmore approach, but he was engulfed in a handshake, a backslap and a semi-hug, all at once. “This mean you’ve changed your mind about myFrench Connectionremake?”
“Sorry, man, I dropped your name to get through the gate.”
“The mighty Griffin Hart droppingmyname? I’ll take it.”
“Shoot it over summer hiatus and we’ll talk.”
“Ah, I couldn’t afford you anymore. You are the definitive Achilles. Looking forward to seeing what Estelle brings this season.”
“A lot. She brings a lot. Hey, this is Lana.” Griffin pivoted toward her. “Lana, Elmore. Elmore directed my third film,Stormbreak.” They shook hands. Elmore was evidently awaiting a clearer definition of who Lana was, but Griffin breezed on past. “Listen, can we have a quick chat with one of your guys? Julian Vega. Personal matter.”
“So long as you’re not poaching him—he’s good.” Elmore gestured to the assistant at his shoulder. “Great to see you, man. If you mean it aboutFrench Connection, I’ll be in touch.”
The assistant approached a guy standing near a camera—Julian, presumably. She pointed out Griffin and Lana, and the guy frowned. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he strolled over, glancing around as if it were an April Fool’s joke.
“Lana,” he said as he neared. “Everything okay?”
Lana introduced them. Like the director, Julian evidently expected an explanation for the unlikely pairing, but Lana didn’t give one. What could she say?Griffin’s this random guy I somehow pulled into the hunt for my sister? And by the way, we kissed.
“I need to ask you something about Vivien,” she said instead.
“She’s not still missing, is she?”
“She is. I’m guessing you haven’t heard from her?”
“Not a word.” He shot a look at Griffin, as if he’d had a lightbulb moment about the tenuous connection between Griffin and Vivien. Not that that explained things, either.
“Listen, I…” Lana pressed her lips together. Griffin guessed she hadn’t considered that she might be breaking the news that Julian had fathered a child. “Is there a chance Vivien could have been pregnant when you guys broke up?”
“Jesus, what?” Julian drove a hand through his hair, clutching it. Then his expression relaxed, and he released his grip. “No, wait. She had her period that week.”
“You remember that?”
“We had an argument because she said I wasn’t ‘sympathetic’ to her. And by that time, I gotta say I kinda wasn’t. You think she’s pregnant?”
“Possibly.”
Julian stared into nothing, biting the side of his cheek.
Griffin crossed his arms. “Got a theory on that?”
