Page 46 of Hollywood Undercover
“Yeah, doll, every day is a mystery. You just never know how it’s going to go. Like, I had to shave thethickestbeard off a lady the other day. I just love my clients. I finally got the color mixing down, and…” Ramble, ramble,ramble.
He smiled over at Alexandra, who was having a harder time faking interest in her date Amy’s spiel about her heartbreak over the last jerk she had dated, who had turned out to be a two-bit hustler, con artist, and petty thief—herwords.
Alexandra asked dryly, “So, when did you finally dump him? Was it before or after he went tojail?”
“Well, actually he broke up with me. He met some skank pen pal while he was in jail. The day he got out of county lockup, he moved in with her. Ugh! But, we still keep in touch. I came tonight to prove to Rondo what he’s missing outon.”
“Wow. Yes, it’s good to see you’re over him,” Alex replied, probably with more sarcasm than she realized. Sebastian tried not tolaugh.
“And, time’s up!” announced the hostess with a ring of thebell.
“Thank God,” Alexandra murmured under herbreath.
Sebastian smiled apologetically at her, pointing at the next table, and when she moved over, he took the seat with Amy. Alexandra looked like she would rather eat nails than continue the charade. He had to do something, or the night would be a complete bust. He didn’t invite her out to have a terribletime.
“Hi, I’m Bash,” he said to Amy. He reached over and shook Amy’shand.
“Is he your little brother or something? I see you coaching him through this. What’s wrong with him?” she asked in a concerned voice. Alexandra turned and glared ather.
“It’s Asperger’s, isn’t it?” Amy continued. “I just read an article on people with Asperger’s, and he totally fits the description. At first I thought he was weird, but I try not to judge a book by its cover. I get it now, though. Asperger’s! People like that are so unfortunate. They can’t read any human emotions. They’re like robots. Oh, but you’re so sweet to bring him out with you like this—Bash, isit?”
“You should really be the spokesperson for Asperger’s awareness,” Alexandra deadpanned to Amy across from the other table. “I just love how you describe them, oh wait, us, as robot-like, mindlessautomatons.”
The woman who was now Alexandra’s speed date looked confused. She mouthed the word ‘Asperger’s’ as if she had never heard itbefore.
Sebastian cut in and explained to everyone that ‘Alex’ didn’t have any such condition, and that nothing would be wrong if she did. Another woman on the other side of Alexandra overheard the commotion. It seemed to completely captivate her. To her date’s chagrin, she damn near knocked over her wineglass trying to reach over and talk tothem.
“You have Asperger’s?” she asked Alexandra, who was rolling her eyes now. “That’s so unique! I’m Hannah, and I’m totally not against dating someone with adisability.”
“Wait, what?” Brittany leaned toward Amy, and suddenly they had anaudience.
“This guy Bash here, he’s with his little brother who has Asperger’s. He’s trying to teach him how to pick up women. Isn’t he such a sweetheart to do that? I just knew the minute I saw him he wasn’t like otherguys.”
Sebastian groaned. “Um, no, actually he doesn’thave—”
“Oh my gosh,” Brittany said, oblivious to Sebastian’s attempt to set the record straight. “That takes so much courage. What a greatguy!”
Chatter erupted. It was a buzz of bees. There were now five women bellowing over his heroism, while Alexandra just sat there, her expression going from dire to pure amusement. Sebastian looked down the row for Nate and Rod, to tell them they were all leaving. Nate and Rod were gone. They had probably skipped out before it started, because all fifteen tables had men at them. He didn’t see themanywhere.
Alexandra’s voice was now drowned out by the commotion from the excited women—and disgruntled men who missed out on their five minutes getting to know them better. She hissed out of the corner of her mouth, “I think I just made you a hotcommodity.”
“I’m sorry about this,” he replied. “On the next bell, I say we sprint for the door. You withme?”
She nodded, eyes twinkling with delight. The bell rang, and Alexandra shoved back from the table. Sebastian hopped up, ignoring the zing of pain that shot from his knee to his hip bone. She made a dash for the door, and he hurried along behind her. We’re leaving as heads of curious onlookers turn to check us out. The hostess announced, “I think we just lost two. But, don’t let that scare you guys! Everyone’s not cut out for speeddating.”
“You got that right,” Alexandra said with a laugh as she walked through the crowd in the rest of therestaurant.
They glided through the doors and into the cool evening. Sebastian had no idea where Nate or Rodrick had disappeared to, but it didn’t matter. They could phone him when they were ready to leave. He told Alexandra to follow him, and they took off down the street. They went by a few other hotspots where the nightlife had more action. The throb of music pouring from different clubs made him moreupbeat.
He looked over at Alexandra. Their eyes locked, and he saw the gleam in her dark blue, enigmatic eyes. This suddenly felt like a real date. He wished it were. He wanted to come out of his self-imposed romantic exile to show her what happened when a man and woman were as attracted to each other as theywere.
