"One year coming up in July."
The server interrupts the love fest at the table and delivers lunch, and I brace myself for Manmorial weekend planning. It's the annual guys' trip to San Diego to play golf. I'm sure it may have been a little wild in previous years, but I have a feeling it's tamed quite a bit. I'm just excited to be included in the fun this year.
However, we don't talk about the trip. Instead, I'm blindsided by Wyatt's question.
"What about you, Grant? Think you'll ever get married? Would Hazel be ok with a stepmom?"
My immediate reaction is no—at least, no to ever getting married. Would Hazel want a stepmom? Maybe. The way she was instantly drawn to Sophia and led her around our house like she was her best friend did something to my heart. It made it ache with a little concern that maybe I'm depriving her of another woman's influence because I'm so comfortable without it.
"I think that ship has sailed."
"Are you kidding me?" Jake says. "You are in your prime. Most eligible bachelor in town and a single dad. I can't imagine the numbers you must get."
"It's also hard to tell the seriously interested from the seriously deranged."
We all nod in understanding. This town is full of superficial and selfish people. Even if I wanted to date, it would take a serious amount of time to ensure I was dating someone with all the right intentions. There are agents and PR reps setting up love matches for a reason.
"That's how Sophia feels, too. I imagine you both have the same issues. I guess I'm lucky I was just a boring lawyer who worked for his dad."
"You're lucky you knew Blair," Jake says. "Dating is hard. I remember a time when I didn't think I was going to find anyone. It's hard to trust people in this town. But when I met Lauren, she didn't even ask what I did for a living until our third date. It was nice."
I catch a sour look on Wyatt's face and wonder what that is all about. But I want to hear more about Sophia.
"I don't think I've ever seen much about Sophia dating," I say, digging into my salad to appear unattached to this conversation.
"She doesn't date at all now," Wyatt says. "She was burned pretty bad by her co-star inCode Crusaders. I'm not exactly sure what happened; it's probably better I don't know."
He fucked her over is what happened. But I don't say that out loud. I remember the headlines when they got together, but there weren't many about the end. That's why I was so surprised when she shared what really happened. From what I saw, the show ended, and they fizzled out. I want to ask Wyatt more questions, but that wouldn't be appropriate since I'm not interested in Sophia in that way. In fact, I shouldn't even be wondering about her love life at all. She's a colleague and friend who needs a place to stay while she sorts out her home catastrophe.
"She's young. She has plenty of time to date," I say casually, but the thought of her dating makes the salad settle like lead in my stomach. The fact that someone else might be onthe receiving end of her eager kiss or have those legs wrapped around their waist annoys me.
"Ok, enough about the women. Let's talk golf," Wyatt says as he rubs his hands together like he's an evil genius.
"Let's talk handicap. I'm going to need an advantage for my first Manmorial weekend." I laugh, and for a minute, I wonder what it would be like if I were sitting here with Wyatt and Jake, knowing our women would be getting together the same weekend to celebrate girl time without their men.
For the first time in my life, the idea of someone waiting for me at home doesn't sound so terrifying.
fifteen
. . .
Sophia
I hideout in Grant's guest house while I peek through the glass doors—doing my best not to be seen in this fishbowl of a place—waiting for him and Hazel to leave. I saw her reach for the back door like she might be coming to say hello, and my heart stopped for a minute. Then it immediately sped up when I saw Grant come up behind her, lift her, throw her upside down over his shoulder, and set her up at the island in his kitchen for breakfast. I have a front-row seat to the dad show, and it's five stars. Would recommend.
I force myself away from the windows so I can get ready. I should already be at the studio, but I couldn't sleep after that almost kiss. And I just need a little more time this morning to get my head straight. I woke up late and then started second-guessing if I should hurry and leave or wait until Grant was gone. I'm embarrassed that I asked him to dance and then put us in an uncomfortable position. He's been so generous, offering me a place to stayand then offering all this support on this project; why did I have to throw myself at him?
I still when I hear voices, and I slide down on all fours and crawl from the bathroom on my hands and knees over to the couch, where I can hide and also have a clear view of the path from his back door to his driveway. I see Hazel running toward my doors, and I panic, yet I do nothing to move or prepare for the possibility of saying good morning to her.
Just as she reaches for the handle, I hear Grant yell for her, and then I watch as she slumps with a frown on her face like he just ruined her whole day. I let my head drop as I smile with both warm affection that she wanted to say hello and complete understanding at how it feels not to get your way.
I watch as he lifts her into his back seat and buckles her in. Then he looks over at my car and back up toward my windows before he slides into his driver's seat. Is he wondering why I'm still here? Does he know my schedule? Technically, I don't have to be there today.
As they pull down the drive, I stand back up, take a deep breath, and head back into the bathroom to get my big-girl panties on for the day.
Thirty minutes later, I'm in my car and headed over to West LA to see Blair. Yes, I'm avoiding the studio lot, but I need to catch up with my agent, too. Official agent-client business. Ok, I need to talk this whole kiss thing out with someone, and I know Blair knows I have a crush on Grant, even though I deny it every single time. She's been trying to convince me there's a spark there since the first time she brought me with her to have lunchwith him.
I pull up into the tiny lot behind Tangerine Talent, and when I walk in the door, I'm thrilled to see everyone here. Stella is carrying over a box of Porto's baked goods to the lounge space, where Jess is already relaxed with her feet kicked up on the coffee table.
