Page 58
“Wait, you have a Wikipedia page?”
Lydia’s smirk belied the oh-so-casual way she shrugged as she drawled, “Doesn’t everyone?”
Zann inclined her head in a silent touché. She did, in fact, have one, herself.
“And she’s sassy! I like her!” Imani cackled. “Oh, I’m definitely looking this girl up just as soon as I get back to the office.”
Zann rolled her eyes. “You can meet her tomorrow if you help with the wedding.”
“Well, duh, I already said we’ll be there. But I like knowing what I’m up against.”
“Smart woman,” Lydia noted in an impressed tone.
“I’m thinking that’s quite the compliment coming from you,” Imani mused playfully. “Zee, just send me the address, and we’ll be there with plenty of time to spare.”
“You can stay in my cottage at the resort, if you want,” Zann offered as the light changed and she started driving again.
“Because you’ll be with Ms. Lydia-doesn’t-everyone-have-a-Wikipedia-page-Alexander.”
“Yes,” Zann confirmed. And then, knowing that discussing sleeping arrangements would undoubtedly lead to more teasing, said, “We’re basically at the house, so I’m gonna need to go. Gotta grab my shit so we can book it back up to Santa Barbara for the rehearsal.”
“Sounds good,” Imani said. “Tell Aspen ‘hey’, and that we got her covered. And we’ll see you guys tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Imani. I owe you.”
“Get us late checkout on Sunday, and we’ll call it even.”
Zann nodded as she turned onto her street. She wouldn’t have a problem getting Stella to okay that. “Deal.”
“Sweet. See you tomorrow, Wikipedia,” Imani signed off before disconnecting the call.
“I like her,” Lydia said as the playlist kicked back on.
“I do, too,” Zann said, shaking her head fondly.
Lydia’s thumb brushed lightly over her inner thigh as she asked, “How’d you two meet?”
“Film school at USC. She did a little work in television, which is where she met her wife, but it ended up to not be for her, and she’s now the creative director for the Giselle Agency.” She smiled at the quiet sound of impressed surprised that escaped Lydia at that bit of information. The Giselle Agency might not be in the same field as TAG, but it was a major player in West Coast marketing and branding. “So she knows her shit. And her wife is a DP in the industry, so she’s quality, too. They’ll more than live up to Eve’s standards.”
“Good, because she was a total Bridezilla when it came to choosing the photographer.”
Zann laughed. “I know. Aspen may have called me up to vent after a few of those meetings,” she said as she pulled into her driveway and hit the button for the garage door. “Anyway, here we are.” She rolled her left hand toward the house as she pulled her right from Lydia’s to turn off the ignition. It wasn’t hot out, and they weren’t going to be long; the car could stay in the driveway.
Lydia’s lips twitched with the hint of a smile as she appraised Zann’s modest, two-story house with light cream colored stucco and a terra cotta colored tile roof, and she nodded as she said, “I love it.” The hint of a smile morphed into a full one as she teased, “Do I get to go inside?”
“No, I’m going to leave your ass out here,” Zann sassed as she opened her door. She waited at the front of the car for Lydia to join her, and her heart swelled when Lydia’s hand found hers and their fingers laced together.
“Nice bike,” Lydia noted, tipping her head at the gleaming black Triumph Rocket 3 Storm GT that sat proudly in the middle of the second garage bay as they made their way to the door.
Zann ran her thumb along the side of Lydia’s hand as she glanced at the motorcycle. “That’s my baby.”
“She’s very pretty.” Lydia hummed and swayed closer to bump Zann with her shoulder. “Maybe next time I’m here, you’ll take me for a ride and give me that lesson you promised.”
Zann’s heart fluttered, and a thrill ricocheted through her chest at the thought of Lydia coming back to California to see her. She knew that Lydia’s commitments to TAG meant she’d always be tied to the East Coast—was confident that, eventually, this house would be little more than a footnote in her life when she moved on—but she’d be lying if she said she didn’t love the future that Lydia’s comment represented. “I think that could be arranged.”
Lydia laughed and bumped her again. “Good.”
“Very good,” Zann agreed as she pushed open the door to the house and ushered Lydia inside. She briefly chastised herself for not taking Lydia in the front door so that her first impression wouldn’t be her laundry room, but quickly tossed that thought aside as she watched Lydia stop to toe off her sneakers and tuck them into a cubby beneath the bench of the built-in lockers opposite the washer and dryer. Yes, using the front door would have been more formal, but she very much liked the informality of Lydia making herself at home as if she’d done it a million times already.
