“I’ve gotten that impression.”
“The fact that she brought you here…that means she trusts you.”
He swallows that down, trying to ignore the new warmth glowing in his chest. Does he deserve it, that trust? God, he hopes so. “What about her family? Is she close with any of them?”
“She hasn’t spoken to her parents in months. They’re kind of parasites. Forced her into doing things she never wanted, didn’t let her take breaks, micromanaged every part of her life. Her mom was always trying to live out her own dreams of being famous through Ramona.” Betty grits her fangs. “Really fucked-up.”
Suddenly he fears he’s asked something intrusive, received information that maybe Ramona wouldn’t want him to have yet.
Rage and heartbreak crash through him. He knew Ramona’s parents were her managers, but he had no idea they’d been so vicious. He pictures his sister, the way she’s always encouraged Audrey to explore what she’s interested in but never pushed.
Ramona’s parents failed her in this massive, catastrophic way. And yet here she is, moving on with her life, taking the reins and going back to school. Doing something solely for herself.
All at once, he understands the control she keeps an iron grip on. Why she’s so reluctant to give it up.
“You seem like a good dude,” Betty continues, clapping him on the shoulder more strongly than he’s expecting before he remembers that she’s a personal trainer. “I just don’t want her to regret anything.”
“That’s the last thing I want,” he says, and Betty smiles. Eases up a little.
“I like your costume, by the way.”
When he rejoins Ramona in the living room, he passes her another seltzer he grabbed from the bar, and she grins like this isthe kindest thing anyone’s done for her all week. Suddenly Nick’s not just heartbroken—he’s so goddamn impressed with her, the ability she has to move through the world pretending she doesn’t give a shit. He’s not sure anything in his life holds a candle to that kind of bravery. The shield she puts up, and the few times she’s lowered it for him—he’s determined to feel worthy of it.
Even if no one else can know about this,a voice in the back of his head reminds him.
“So I’ve narrowed down a few options for you,” Ramona says between sips, sounding all business. “There’s Brooke, who was on some Hulu show I didn’t watch but was supposed to be decent—I overheard her complaining about how single she feels. And Valerie, who owns a gym in Sherman Oaks. She also just recently got divorced, so you have that in common.”
It takes Nick a moment to realize what she’s talking about. Right—the other half of their “deal,” where he gets her friendship in exchange for her coaching.
She looks so earnest about this, so hopeful that one of these women might be the perfect match. He’d hate to wreck that by saying he’d much rather sit here with her all night.
“You were scouting them?” he asks.
“Just some light recon.” She gives a fluff of her hair. “What’s your opening line?”
“Hmm. ‘Did we meet in my divorce attorney’s waiting room, or do you just have one of those faces?’ ”
“Why do I feel like you could actually make that charming?”
Nick stirs his drink. If this is what Ramona really wants, then he’s not about to deny her. “If I ask someone to dance,” he says, “will you stop badgering me about it?”
She inches toward the edge of the couch, her eyes wide. Her tie is crooked, and he aches to straighten it for her. “I wouldloveto watch you dance with someone.”
And that feels like a challenge.
He makes a big show of downing the last of his nonalcoholic drink, as though needing the liquid courage. Truthfully, maybe he does. At least if he gets turned down, Ramona will have something to laugh about for weeks.
And he really, really likes hearing her laugh.
The woman she mentioned who owns a gym, the newly divorced one, is standing near the speaker system. She’s in a white dress with blue text message bubbles all over it, and when he gets closer, he can see what’s written inside:
Had a Great Time Tonight.
You Free Next Friday?
Hello???
“Are you…getting ghosted?” he asks.
