Page 77 of Marlowe Banks, Redesigned
Marlowe gave his hand a squeeze, smiling to herself at how she’d once wished Jake’s character arc would end in tragedy, and how differently she felt now.
“Or maybe he’ll buy a flower shop and rescue a lot of cats,” she offered.
Angus smiled as he tossed aside his phone and drew Marlowe onto his lap. She bent down to kiss him, but her phone lit up, pinging away with a backlog of texts. She snuck in a quick peck on Angus’s lips before crawling across the bed to grab her phone.
“Oh, shit.” She quickly scrolled through the messages. “Cherry’s been trying to reach me. Apparently Babs brought Edith to work today but Lola’s fitting is in an hour and she can’t stand dogs. Cherryneeds me to come get her. Edith. Not Lola.” Marlowe scrambled up. “I’m so sorry. Is it still okay if I borrow your car?”
“Actually, I have a better idea.”
By the time Marlowe stepped into the design office, Edith Head was going stir-crazy, spinning in circles and leaping on and off chairs. Cherry gave Marlowe a little sly teasing for showing up in yesterday’s clothes (for obvious reasons), but mostly she was grateful she wouldn’t have to deal with BabsandLolaanda skittish Weimaraner for the rest of the day. While Marlowe sorted out timing and leashed up Edith, Angus was off at a nearby deli, picking up everything they’d need for a picnic lunch. Then he swung back around to the studio lot, grabbed Marlowe and Edith, and they all headed north on Highway 1.
Half an hour later, the trio was kicking up trail dust in the hills behind the Getty Villa, setting off at a leisurely pace so Edith could smell every scraggly bush. Marlowe wasn’t much of a hiker, but she was glad Angus had talked her into spending time outdoors together. It was a good first step outside the protection of his magical skybox, even if ball caps and sunglasses were required. Fortunately, only a few other hikers and joggers passed by, none of whom showed any overt signs of recognition.
About forty-five minutes into their hike, Angus steered Marlowe and Edith off the main trail onto a grassy hillside with a view of the ocean. He unrolled a blanket while Marlowe helped unpack sandwiches, chips, sodas, and a container of olives Angus hadn’t had the means to properly garnish. Edith showed great interest in the food, but Marlowe convinced Angus not to feed her one of everything. As they ate, Marlowe told Angus more about her lifein New York. He told her more about his life in L.A., going as far back as the time a talent agent scouted him, and how his siblings had thought it was the funniest thing ever, though of course they’d long since come around to other opinions.
Their lunch finished and Edith resting comfortably on the edge of the blanket, Marlowe clambered onto Angus’s lap. Having seen no sign of potential onlookers over lunch, they removed their hats and sunglasses, freeing up opportunities for kisses and caresses, and for some of the staring that no longer made Marlowe squirm. Now the way Angus looked at her made her happy. Ridiculously so. Full-on, belly-fluttering, chest-expanding joy. The kind of joy Marlowe used to think only existed in the movies, but it was real after all. Funny how long she’d spent convincing herself to accept “fine” as good enough, when all the while,thiswas possible. This unquestionable sense of rightness. Of being precisely where she was supposed to be, free of doubts or second-guesses. Though as the quiet stretched on, a crease formed between Angus’s brows.
“You really miss New York, don’t you?” he asked.
“L.A.’s swiftly gaining in appeal.” She bent to kiss him while he tried to tame the tendrils that kept escaping her ponytail, tucking them behind her ears as more strands slid past her cheeks. Edith stirred at the end of her leash, groaning as though she disapproved of the mild PDA she was being forced to witness. Marlowe couldn’t help but laugh. “I may not get design work out here, but at least I’m experienced in last-minute dog care.”
Angus smiled, but his eyes stayed serious as he caressed her cheeks.
“I know it might take a while to get your foot in the right door,” he said, “but you’re not alone out here. Tan did a show at the Geffen Playhouse last year. I bet she can help you get an interview.Whitman’s sister works at the opera, though I don’t remember as what. Alejandra loved that you pushed back about Wes’s terrible script ideas. She might put in a good word for you if she knows of an indie that’s looking for a designer.”
“Thank you for that.” Marlowe kissed him again, because he cared and because he was beautiful and because he was smart and because he made the impossible seem possible. “What about you? When does season seven start shooting?”
“Not until after Christmas.”
“Does that mean you could visit me in New York?”
“If you wouldn’t mind being distracted.” His caresses trailed lower, tracing her neckline and sneaking under her shoulder straps. “I could even set up some auditions. Who knows? Maybe this bicoastal idea would open up opportunities for both—” He broke off as Edith sprang to her feet, barking her head off and yanking on the leash.
Marlowe tightened her hold, peering off in the direction of Edith’s focus.
“What is it?” she asked. “A bird? A squirrel?”
Angus stiffened. “I wish.”
Marlowe’s nerves went taut as she realized what had caused Edith’s barking fit. About twenty yards away, two teenage boys scrambled out from the underbrush and ran off, waving their phones. Angus leapt up and called after the boys to stop, but they kept running.
“I’d chase them down,” he said, “but it wouldn’t do any good. Either they don’t know who we are and I’d draw unnecessary attention, or they do know who we are and I’d make us look like we had something to hide.”
Marlowe grimaced as she watched the boys disappear arounda rolling hill. She appreciated Angus’s point, but it didn’t prevent her anxieties from mounting. She prayed the boys thought they’d stumbled onto a random couple making out, something to chuckle about with their friends. She kept praying as she and Angus packed up, and as they trekked the forty-five minutes back to the parking lot, barely exchanging a word. When they rounded the last bend and the lot came into view, her prayers died away.
Only a few cars had occupied the lot when Marlowe and Angus had arrived. Now the lot was full of vans and SUVs while at least two dozen people with cameras and microphones milled between vehicles. Naturally, Edith chose that moment to start barking, drawing all eyes their way. Marlowe turned to bolt back into the hills but Angus grabbed her hand.
“Running won’t help,” he said. “They’ll spin it. Let’s just get in the car and go.” He stepped toward the lot but Marlowe remained rooted to her spot, utterly petrified.
“You said we’d start slow.”
“It seemed like a good idea at the time.”
“Minimal engagement.”
“But it was stupid. Willfully ignorant.”
“Control the narrative.”
