Page 136 of Dr. Aster

I smiled at her reaction to my Aunt Bev’s house. The funny thing is that Nat reminded me of my aunt. Add about thirty years to this beautiful blonde goddess, and I swear I might be unable to tell them apart.

“My aunt was an actress for a long time. She was obsessed with the Golden Age of Hollywood, so when she saw this house, she had to have it.”

“That makes perfect sense. This place evokes old Hollywood elegance and timeless charm,” Nat said. “Except for this Keurig espresso and coffee maker combo, of course,” she pointed at the black coffee maker I’d been using that clashed with the stainless steel, white gloss cabinets, and checkered floor.

“That’s because it’s mine,” I chuckled. “Here, let me get a mug,” I said, feeling a little tipsy, but my body was holding off from spiraling toward the drunken stupor it was approaching before the girls showed up.

“I find it fascinating that your aunt was an actress,” Nat said, making small talk.

I put my coffee cup on the tray and filled the water reservoir. “Yeah, it’s pretty neat,” I answered. “Your personality reminds me a bit of hers.”

“Well, I’m flattered, but you hardly know me?” she said with a smile.

“No, maybe I shouldn’t say it’s your personality. I suppose it’s more like your energy.” I turned while I waited for the coffee maker to do its thing, “The way you carry yourself, your confidence when you talk, and calling me honey,” I chuckled, letting my buzz do the chattering when I would never do so if I were sober. “My aunt is the same way. She doesn’t put up with nonsense of any kind and will put you in your place in a heartbeat if she catches you slipping. Even in her sixties, the woman still has men falling over her feet. You both remind me of Lauren Bacall with your sultry voices and glamorous style.”

Natalia’s vivid blue eyes studied mine with a sassy smirk. “I know I haven’t met you sober; however, I will say I do love this tipsy version of you,” she winked and stepped toward the counter I was leaning against. “Perhaps one day, I’ll have the honor of meeting your aunt. I love her style in this home, it’s glamorous as fuck.”

“I think you’d get along famously,” I said, taking the cup Natalia took from the coffee maker and handed to me.

“Come on. Let’s go find the girls and figure out what the hell we’re going to do to help you get through this bullshit.”

“Oh, shit! I just left them alone in the sitting room,” I said, realizing I was a shitty host after a few hearty drinks.

“Avery and Ash are grown women; you didn’t leave them anywhere. They’re waiting for us in that living room we passed on our way to the kitchen.”

We walked down and found both ladies sitting in the living room where I’d spent the evening getting drunk and lying in front of the fireplace, feeling sorry for myself.

“I think I’ll remodel my place. This home is so glamorous,” Ash laughed, sitting on a chair across from Avery on the chaise under the window, both women sipping on a glass of wine. “Is this home yours?” she asked as I walked over and picked up the blanket I’d left on the plush carpet beside the fireplace.

“No, it’s her aunt’s,” Nat said, sitting beside me on the sofa. “This drunk little vixen said that her aunt and I remind her of Lauren Bacall. And as strange as it may sound, since my bestie lives, eats, and breathes old movies and knows about all these actresses, I have no idea who Lauren Bacall is.”

“That’s crazy,” Ash said as Avery laughed. “Bree has never told you that you remind her of Lauren Bacall?”

“Like I just said…” Nat said with raised eyebrows, looking like she would like to know what the fuss was about.

“Now that I think about it, you’re a lot like her,” Ash said. “She’s the sassy actress who stole Humphrey Bogart’s heart.”

“Okay, Nat isn’t the only one who has no idea who you’re talking about,” Avery said. “I’m a hood rat from the ‘90s, so I have no clue. What I’d like to know is, how do you know anything about them, Ash?”

I was almost shocked that two people in the world didn’t know who Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall were. We were sitting in a time capsule, which my Aunt Beverly had gone to great expense to keep in its original condition, surrounded by trinkets and knick-knacks from a glamorous bygone era. When I thought about it, I wouldn’t have been surprised if those actors had been in this very house at some point. It had to have belonged to some studio executive back in the day. The parties that must’ve been thrown?—

“Well, my mother loved all of it,” Ashley said, snapping me out of my tipsy daydream. “Some of my best memories with her are when we’d watch old movies with Audrey Hepburn, Cary Grant, Lauren, and Bogie,” she laughed and looked at Nat. “I think it was the best time for Hollywood.”

“I agree,” I answered with a smile, “and obviously, you can tell my aunt does too.”

“You must love living here,” Ash said. “I would never want to leave this house.”

“Ever since you and Jake moved from The Hills to Newport, you’ve wanted to remodel,” Avery said. “Now you have an idea of what to do.”

“If it gets him laid, Jake will do anything this beautiful wife of his wants,” Nat said. “Speaking of getting laid and never getting laid by you again, let’s get down to brass tacks about this situation John has placed himself in,” Nat smirked. “We’re not here to talk about Hollywood. We’re here to focus on the fact that this gal nearly gave herself a monumental hangover tomorrow for a selfish asshole.”

“I don’t think he’s selfish,” I said, defending John’s indefensible actions for some reason.

“Oh, no, you don’t,” Avery said with a chuckle. “Do not defend this bullshit, or you’ll stay in this cycle forever. Trust me, these guys have shit to work out, and I swear to God, it’s probably how we all attracted them. They had issues, then they split when they realized we couldn’t solve them.”

“I’ll correct you on that, Av,” Nat said, returning to the sofa with a glass of wine she’d poured herself. “Spence had issues, yes; however, he was attracted to me only for the sex. It was my stupid ass who was dumb enough to fall for the guy so easily.”

“You think it was only for the sex?” Avery said with a chuckle. “Jim and Spence are thick as thieves, and once you and that guy reconnected, Jim said Spence could hardly work because he was so distracted. You were all over that man’s mind.”

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