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Why wouldn’t it be? They’d had just broken up. It wasn’t like they were going to hold one another tightly and start making out right there in the middle of the store. Even though that was probably what Damon wanted.

Tessa’s hopes that Lissa wouldn’t even address her were instantly shattered.

With a gasp, the actress put a hand to her chest. “Oh my goodness! Damon, is this her?”

“Sure is. Lissa, meet Tessa. Tessa, this is Lissa.”

As if he had to tell her.

Tessa wasn’t sure how to act. Was it okay to show how starstruck she felt? Or was she supposed to be the polite-on-the-surface new girlfriend who was secretly saying, “Back off. He’s my man now”?

Did it matter? She wasn’t a skilled actor like the two before her. There was no way she could pull off a stellar performance.

The best she could hope for was to mitigate her awkwardness just a little and not seem completely weird.

“Hi. It’s so nice meeting you.”

Too much? Too little? Man, this was weird.

“You are so adorable! I can see why Damon is crazy about you.”

Was that a dig? Or was Lissa being sincere?

Why was this so freaking confusing?

“Thank you. And same to you.” She winced. “Not that he’s crazy about you. I mean, not now. He was. But… you two broke up and he’s not now so⁠—”

“Hey, what are you picking up here?” Damon interjected.

Tessa would give all her money—okay, that wasn’t enough… she’d give all of Damon’s money, too—if the floor could just open and swallow her whole right then.

You actually mentioned the fact that they just broke up? What are you doing?

“Oh, just a little of this, a little of that. Daddy has been dying to spoil me. Hey, there he is now.” Lissa raised her hand and called out, “Daddy! Over here. You’ll never believe who it is.”

While the actress’s attention was turned elsewhere, Tessa conveyed a look to Damon that said, “I’m sorry.”

He just smiled and shook his head, indicating it was no big deal.

Whew.

Okay, you messed up one time. Don’t do it again and maybe no one will remember it. Just don’t go and make it even more awkward.

Tessa turned her own attention to the tanned, relaxed older man strolling toward them.

He wore his slacks and blazer with a casual indifference that said the clothes had been tailored just for him. The t-shirt beneath the jacket looked soft and was probably made from a special fabric that cost a gazillion dollars.

Once again, Tessa was a little self-conscious about her thrift store outfit.

“Damon, you know Max,” Lissa said.

“Of course.”

The two men shook hands.

Looking at Tessa, Lissa said, “And I’m sure you’ve heard of Max Arden. Well, this is him.”

Tessa didn’t want to admit it, but she had heard of Arden. Most people probably hadn’t, but with her desire to work at a studio, she followed the movie industry excessively.