“You’re right. Damonisa great guy.I’mthe problem. I’m not in a good place to start a relationship right now.” At her questioning glance, I continue. “After everything that happened with Andre, I’m more than a little gun-shy.”
I don’t miss her flinch. It’s terrible luck that my ex shares the name of the brother she lost years ago. It’s even worse that he keeps coming up, like a pimple that just won’t go away. All the more reason not to drag anyone else into my bullshit.
She doesn’t say anything; just places her hand over mine. It should be comforting, but it feels strange. Isn’t it my job to paste a smile on my face and push through, no matter what happens?
I pull away, walking to the kitchen to get us both a glass of wine. Denise stretches back in her chair.
“I don’t blame you for being careful. If it were me, I’m not sure I’d ever want to get into a relationship again.”
“I won’t say I’llneverget serious with someone,” I hedge. “I just don’t think that ‘someone’ should be the very next guy after my ex.Damon already said he wants more than a fling; I don’t want to turn him into some messy rebound.”
We both sit in silence for a while, drinking our wine and digesting everything I’ve shared.
“I will say this,” Denise says after a beat. “You and Damon sound a lot like how Cory and I started.”
I turn to give her my full attention.
“After one drunken night together, I thought all we could be was fuck buddies. We even tried it a few times. But eventually, it became clear we were more than that.
“How we got together was hardly a Hollywood ‘meet cute’, but it didn’t stop him from being my person, no matter how many times I tried to push him away.”
“Well, damn,” I mutter, setting down my now empty wine glass.
“I’m not telling you what to do—you’re a grown woman. You’re Kendrafuckin’Gray!” I grin. “But given how well you two get along as friends and how good that first time must’ve been to still be on your mind, maybe it’s worth considering that he could be more than just a rebound.”
I take our wine glasses and put them in the dishwasher, signaling the end of the discussion. She takes the hint, and we get back to her list of tailors before calling it a night.
Hours later, curled up on my couch with a stack of pictures from my last shoot, I can’t shake her words. I’m not ready to go all in, not yet, but maybe I can take baby steps towards something real.
I just signed an endorsement with a company that makes organic energy drinks, and they’re hosting a party next month. There’s a chance Andre might be there—he’s everywhere I am lately—and I’d rather not get blindsided again. I could go alone…I could ask Daniela about her roommate…Or, I could ask a friend to do me a tiny favor, just for one night.
My mind made up, I hit the recent number on my call log. Damon answers on the first ring.
“Hey lady.”
Just hearing him makes me smile.
“Hey,” I murmur, my voice suddenly breathy. “So…I have an event coming up. It’s nothing fancy, but I’d rather have a date in case my ex decides to crash again.” I hesitate. This could be a mistake. “Would you come with me?”
Seconds tick by before he answers, his voice carefully neutral.
“Like a date, or is this an escort situation?”
I giggle nervously.
“Denise was actually talking about ‘Pretty Woman’ earlier today. I could be your Richard Gere for the night.”
“So that makes me a prostitute?” he asks with a laugh. “If so, I’m not cheap.”
I smirk even though he can’t see me.
“There won’t be any sex. I just need someone on my arm so I don’t look pathetic since the news about Andre’s engagement is still pretty fresh.”
“Pathetic?!” Damon gasps, appalled. “Who would think you’re pathetic just because you don’t have a date?”
I scoff.
“Plenty of people, I assure you. Reporters especially.”
