Page 186 of My Five Daddies

“Well, make it an Irish coffee, then. Come on, I’ll tell you why I’ve beenweird.”

She hesitates. “You sure you want to dothat?”

“No,” I admit. “But I willanyway.”

“Okay,” she says. “Lambert’s?”

“Meet me there infifteen.”

“Later, gator.” She hangs up the phone and I get into mycar.

Fifteen minutes later, I’m rolling into Lambert’s front door. It’s an old bar where a ton of Hollywood writers like to go and meet up with their peers. I come here sometimes with Laney, and it’s not exactly my favorite place, but at least it’s quiet and clean and the drinks aren’t too expensive. The people can be pretentious, but that’s fine, at least they mostly meanwell.

Laney is already sitting at the corner of the bar, which astonishes me. She looks fabulous, fully dressed with her makeup done, and I have no clue how she does it. I sit down next to her, shaking myhead.

“Weren’t you asleep like twenty minutesago?”

She shrugs and sips her martini. “I clean upwell.”

“Obviously.” The bartender comes over and I order a gin and tonic. When my drink comes, I take a big sip to preparemyself.

“So,” Laney says, looking at me. “I left the house and now I’m drinking a martini for breakfast. I believe you owe me astory.”

I sigh. “This isn’tbreakfast.”

“It is for me.” She leans closer to me. “Spill.”

“When I was a kid, Jackson used to live in my town,” I saysimply.

“JacksonHendricks?”

“Yep,him.”

“The guy you’re working with? The moviestar?”

“Yes,” I say,smiling.

“The hunk? TheAdonis?”

“He’s not that handsome…” I say, although I’mlying.

“You’re lying,” she says. “I mean, sure, he’s huge. But he ownsit.”

“Okay, yeah, he’s a specimen.” I hate saying it out loud, but it’strue.

“Fine, so you knew him growing up. Sowhat?”

“Well…” I say, looking at my drink. “We sort of dated. For awhile.”

“What?” she asks, surprised. “You freaking datedhim?”

“For years,” I admit. “And he broke myheart.”

She stares at me, her mouth hanging open. “Shut the fuck up,” shesays.

“Laney,” I say, laughing. “It’strue.”

“And now you’re working with him? And seeing all this shit on TV?” She leans back, shaking her head. “This is crazy. Why didn’t you tellme?”

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