Page 56 of The Final Draft

“Isn’t it simply divine? I knew you’d love the Old Fashioned. The food was amah-zing.”

Shaking my head at the way she knows my drink of choice and weakness. “I wasn’t aware you ate food anymore. I read you had an eating disorder or something.”

“Gotta watch this girlish figure.” Her teasing lilt fills the room.

“Hell, I thought vampires only drank the blood of virgins.” That gets me another laugh.

“Like I could find one of those in LA. I’d starve.”

Now I laugh. “How’s fiancé Frank?”

“It’s Fredrick, and stop acting like you don’t know his name,” she scolds. “He wants me to ask you to reconsiderThe Bachelor. He’ll meet all your demands, and you can screen the girls before production.”

“No can do, Mads. Tell Frank I’m flattered, but no with a capital N-fucking-O.”

She sighs. “Fine, I want you to find a nice girl. Chance isn’t a substitute, you know.”

“Don’t worry about me. He’s not my type.” I glance at Harper and catch her watching. She quickly looks down and types franticly. I’m dying to see what she’s writing.

“Fine. Listen, I need four basketball tickets for tonight. Freddie is trying to land some rapper for a new series, and his sources struck out. I told him I might know a guy.” Her giggle makes me shake my head at her lack of subtlety.

“Courtside?”

“You’re the best! Love you J. Come see me soon, K? Bye.” Conversation ended.

It takes one text, and minutes later, I’ve secured four courtside tickets. I send the link to Maddie and get a screen full of kiss emojis.

I stand behind Harper and put my hands on her shoulders, peeking at her mostly blank screen. She still has a search tab open for Madelyn Reynolds, and I can’t help but feel satisfied that she’s jealous. That’s a good sign.

She snaps her laptop closed. “Let’s take a break. I’m starving.”

CHAPTER

THIRTY-SIX

HARPER

“How do you know Madelyn Reynolds?” Balancing Noodle’s leash in one hand and holding Julian’s hand in the other, we make our way to the lunch spot. These two guys keep my nervous fidgeting at bay. I don’t want to sound jealous, but call me curious.

“She’s an old college friend.” That conversation sounded more than casual acquaintance.

“Did she date Chance?” She mentioned him, so she maybe that’s how they met.

“No, we dated for a few months senior year, but she was made for Hollywood. She’s a sweet girl. A serial romantic. This is her fifth or sixth engagement, but she’s never married. I give her shit and never bother to learn their names.”

I’m amused and concerned at the same time. Julian, no J, dated Madelyn Reynolds. Mads. He’s had the most desirable women in America on his arm. I can’t figure out what he wants with me. I try to drop his hand, and he tightens his grip.

“Have I told you how adorable you are when you’re jealous?”

“What?” I sputter. “Why would I be jealous?”

“That’s what I want to know. Because gorgeous,” he says as he stops in the middle of the sidewalk and steps in front of me. “You have nothing to be jealous of. You shine brighter than the biggest star in Hollywood. Baby, you have me wrapped around your finger.” He cups my cheek and gives me the sweetest kiss. Can this guy be for real?

“Come on, I need to see what you do with this menu.” He tugs me down the sidewalk, and we enter a casual neighborhood cafe. They’ve got outdoor seating with heaters, so we sit on the patio with Noodle.

My phone vibrates when Lawson calls, and I’m transported back to our conversation at the rink last night. I decline the call and send him a text, letting him know I’ll call him later. Another errant thought I want an answer to pops into my head. “Why did you tell Lawson about us yesterday?”

“I’m not going to ask permission to court you like it’s the nineteenth century, but he deserves to know I’m interested. It’s not right if he finds out about us from someone else. I’m sorry if you wanted to tell him.” Would I have told him? Eventually. Maybe. Probably. I appreciate Julian isn’t hiding me, but it feels a little soon.

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