Page 27 of Nathan
Denise was quiet, and I got the feeling that she was counting to ten before she asked, “What are you going to write?”
“I’m not sure yet, but something that’s true.”
“You can’t tell the truth. Are you crazy?”
Standing up, I reached for my suitcase. “Denise, I have to dress and pack now. My ride will be here in twenty minutes.”
“Promise that you won’t do anything you’ll regret. I’ll hold off on the statement, but call me before you go to bed and fill me in on how the interviews go, and Serena…”
“Yeah?”
“I saw Colby Steward is on the list for London tonight. You know what he’s like. Don’t take any shit from that guy, okay?”
“I won’t, but I really have to go now. Talk to you later.”
I was used to packing, and I did it fast. My make-up, however, was a different story. That usually took me at least fifteen minutes and that was on a good day. Today, I would have to compromise, and make myself presentable in record speed because if there was one thing I cared about, it was being on time. I’d been in the movie business since I was a child and worked with too many spoiled celebrities who’d wasted my time and other people’s by being late. To me, punctuality was a matter of respect and principle.
I did a quick rinse in the shower, brushed my hair, and put mascara and lip gloss on. Then I dressed in a pair of tights, sneakers, and my t-shirt with The Cranberries that I’d brought specifically to wear in Ireland.
I had packed my things and was doing a quick French braid when there was a knock on the door.
“Bell service.”
“Come in.”
I couldn’t tell if the reddish complexion of the young bellboy was a matter of nerves or because he was sunburned. With his red hair, he could be one of those people who couldn’t be outside too long without burning.
“How are you?” I asked in my polite American manner and received a quick smile before his face flamed bright red.
I was used to this sort of behavior from people, and I had a particular soft spot for shy fans because I’d been painfully shy as a child myself. Even though I was busy and stressed about the situation with Nathan and Storm, I still took the time to focus on this young man who couldn’t be more than nineteen or twenty.
“If you take those bags, I’ll finish up, and we can go down together.”
His eyes lit up, and he nodded with another shy smile. “As you wish, miss.”
While he loaded my luggage onto his cart, I put on my long green cashmere cardigan and four long necklaces that gave my casual outfit a chic edge.
With a last glance at the clock, I did a quick check of the suite to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything.
“Okay, I think that’s it.” I smiled at the young man and noticed how pale his blue eyes were. When he smiled back at me, he had a charming dimple.
Rolling the cart down the hallway, he gave me a sideways glance. “Did ye have a nice time in Dublin, miss?”
“I’ll have to come back because I didn’t see much. I was here to do a press tour for an animated movie and spent all my time inside yesterday.” Looking at his nametag, I bit my lip. “Help me out; how do you pronounce your name?”
“Oh.” He looked down at his nametag – his name was spelled Tadhg – and then he gave a nervous laugh. “Give it a try. I’m always amused when foreigners try and pronounce my name.”
I tried pronouncing it from the way it was spelled while he maneuvered the cart into the elevator, but from his amused chuckle, it was clear that I wasn’t even close. When the door to the elevator closed, we stood side by side, laughing about how bad I was at saying his name.
I felt a second of pride for giving this young man a story to tell his pals in the local bar and for being present in the now just like my mindset coach always told me to be.
“It’s pronounced Ty-guh.”
“Wow, I wasn’t even close then. Does it mean anything?”
“It means poet or philosopher. Or at least that’s what my ma told me.”
The door opened, and Tadhg and I walked into the foyer where Marie came rushing toward me.
