Wyatt
Perfect excuse to get back into it. Nothing like ocean air and friendly competition.
Lucas
By friendly he means Jake will crush your soul if you beat him.
Jake
That's what makes it fun. So you in, Grimaldi?
Brandon
Yeah, count me in. Sounds like exactly what I need.
Grant
Excellent. Fair warning…no phones during poker. House rules.
Jake
And no talking about work.
Wyatt
Looking forward to having you there, man. It's about time.
Brandon
Thanks for including me. Really.
Lucas
Welcome to the club. Your liver may never forgive you.
twenty-seven
. . .
Brandon
I should probably stay homeand figure out what the hell just happened between Stella and me this morning. Instead, I'm driving to the studio lot like my apartment is on fire, needing to put distance between myself and the memory of how she felt in my arms before everything went sideways.
I grab two bottles of water to go with our lunch from the commissary and head outside to where Sophia's already claimed our usual picnic table under the big oak tree. The afternoon sun feels good on my shoulders, and I'm grateful for the day off.
“Please tell me you got the good sandwiches,” Sophia says, looking up from her phone as I approach.
“Turkey club for you, Italian combo for me,” I say, sliding the bag across the table. “And yes, I made sure they put extra avocado on yours.”
“This is why you're my favorite,” she says with a grin while unwrapping her lunch. “How's the morning been? You looked like you were moving pretty slow when I saw you walking across the lot earlier.”
I rotate my shoulder experimentally. It's better than it was a month ago, but still not where it needs to be. “Just the usual bumps and bruises. Nothing a hot shower won't fix.”
Sophia takes a bite of her sandwich and studies me with those sharp eyes that made her such a good child actress and an even better adult one. “So, how's everything else going? You seem different lately.”
“Different how?”
“I don't know. Quieter, maybe? Less of that Brandon charm that usually has every woman on set asking me for your number.”
