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“HeckyesI want to come stay with you at the Ritz,” Charlie said when I finally answered her call at the end of the day. “Are you sure you don’t want it to yourself?”
“It’ll be more fun together. I’ll be working anyway, and then you’ll be at the premiere. You’ll probably be too tired to drive home after that, so really, I did it for the health of Liam Junior.”
“At some point this baby is going to have his own name, and you’ll have to get used to calling him by whatever it is.”
“I’ll change over now. What is it?”
She was quiet for a minute. “I don’t know yet.”
“Then Liam Junior it is!”
“How was work?” she asked.
“It wasn’t that bad. I was worrying for nothing.” I got into my car in Bellmead’s town square and started driving home, my phone connecting to the car so I could hear Charlie through the speakers. “Did I make the right choice?”
“With Rhett? Only you can answer that. You don’t want the spotlight, right?”
“It’s not that. I don’t want to have to be so sneaky and fake.”
“Well, if that hasn’t changed, then yeah, you probably made the right call.”
“But I think I love him.”
“Beth, you’ve always loved him.”
“No, this is different.” I pulled into my apartment complex and parked my car, sitting back in my seat. “I always loved the idea of him. Now I lovehim.”
“I’m glad you’ve learned the distinction.” She softened her voice. “You know, it’s not too late to change your mind.”
“But you’re right. Until his circumstances have changed, then nothing has changed for me, either.”
“What can I do for you?” she asked, putting on her business voice. “Do you want to ride down to the city together?”
“I have to go pretty early to do Sunny’s hair. I’ll meet you down there.”
“Okay. Text me details later, then. I’m here if you change your mind. Love you, Beth.”
“Love you.” I hung up and closed my eyes. Why couldn’t love be easier?
Chapter Twenty-Nine
When I pulled up tothe Ritz, I felt a little déjà vu. The beautiful building towered above me, and I lugged my makeup cases inside, already planning on ordering from the Torch of India for dinner once everyone left for the movie premiere.
This time, there would be no swapping tikka masala with Axl Rose and then falling in love. But just in case, I left my hot-pink joggers at home.
Jackie opened the door and let me into Sunny’s room. Her eyes were overly bright, and I could sense at once that something was wrong. She stared at me like a person did when you showed up for dinner and they forgot they were cooking for two. “Hey! It’s good to see you again.”
“Hi,” I said, lugging in my cases. “How has Sunny been?”
She wrinkled her nose. “Well, pretty sick, to be honest, but that’s to be expected. Apparently this runs in her family.”
What? “Is she nervous about the premiere?”
“No.” Jackie closed the door behind me. She looked a little confused. “I’m sorry. I figured Rhett would have said something to you.” She spoke his name slowly, identifying the reason she was being weird around me. She’d clearly been keeping up with the media. “Sunny’s pregnant.”
“Oh. Oh! Wow. That’s great.”
