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“I’ve sent production assistants to collect some personal items for your stay tonight, as well as at the permanent location,” Nadine says. “We should have the new place lined up by tomorrow night.”
We thank her and she asks if we have any questions.
“Have you been able to confirm my mentor yet?” Laila asks. As was discussed today during one of our phone calls with the producers, now that Laila has been unexpectedly promoted to judge, both Laila and Aloha will need mentors, both of which will be selected by the producers with an eye toward maximizing ratings.
“We’ve got several mentor candidates we’re in talks with,” Nadine replies. “I’ve got a scheduled call to finalize our decision in . . . ” She looks at her watch. “Damn. I’m late for my call. Reed is out back having a get-together with some friends. He said for you to come outside and join him.” She calls to an elegant older woman who looks to be Latina, and when she arrives, the woman introduces herself as Reed’s longtime housekeeper, Amalia. Nadine tasks Amalia with escorting us outside and getting us fed before scurrying off for her call like a chicken with her head cut off.
“Would you prefer to see your rooms before joining Reed outside?” Amalia asks. “Or room, if that’s what you prefer?”
“We’ll definitely need separate rooms,” Laila replies. “Is there food outside?”
“Yes, lots of it.”
“Then I’d prefer to go outside now and see our rooms later, please. If that’s okay. I’m starving.”
“Of course, dear. As you wish. I’ll be here all night.”
We follow the elegant housekeeper toward a set of double doors. And I can’t help feeling an illogical pang of disappointment Laila said we’ll need separate rooms.
Outside, we find Reed partying with a small group of friends. We’re introduced to the only people we haven’t met before—a couple Reed introduces as Henn and Hannah. From there, we greet the rest, all of whom we know. When Laila greets everyone, she gives them hugs like they’re her lifelong besties, while I dispense a series of simple hellos. I’m especially standoffish with the wife of Dax Morgan, the lead singer of 22 Goats. Dax’s wife, Violet, is also Reed’s little sister. The one I flirted with a few years ago at a party, long before Violet had met Dax, without me realizing her connection to Reed. I don’t know if Dax knows the story, but I wouldn’t put it past Reed to tell him, and I feel a bit awkward about it.
Besides Dax and Violet, I’m relieved to see Fish, the bass player of 22 Goats, and his cute girlfriend, Alessandra, the artist from the music video in New York, are also here. Those two are as nice as humans come from the factory. So, at least, until Kendrick gets here, I won’t feel like the entire party hates me.
As conversation continues, I hang back and watch my fake girlfriend flit around Reed’s patio like the social butterfly she is, easily engaging with everyone, the same way she did during our tour. Staff, crew, musicians. It didn’t matter during our tour. There was nobody Laila Fitzgerald couldn’t charm and easily befriend. Unlike me. I mean, I can charm people. That’s easy. But genuinely befriending them comes a whole lot harder for me.
As Laila and I are talking to Fish and Alessandra, Reed pointedly brings his date over to say hello to Laila and me. And, once again, like in New York, his date is none other than Georgina. The sultry reporter for Rock ‘n’ Roll. How Reed still hasn’t gotten bored with her and moved along to the next yet, or, conversely, hasn’t royally messed things up with her, I have no idea. But, plainly, by the couple’s body language, they’re still going strong.
As Laila hugs Georgina in greeting, Reed trains his steely gaze on me. “You remember my fiancée, Georgina, don’t you, Savage?”
Reflexively, my eyes dart to Georgina’s left hand. And, I’ll be damned, she’s wearing a glittering golf ball on her ring finger.
Laila expresses effusive congratulations to her friend—apparently the women bonded quite a bit during the music video shoot—while I say, “Yeah, of course, I remember Georgina. Congratulations, Reed. You’re a lucky man.”
“Yes, I am,” Reed replies. And there’s no doubt in my mind he means it. Also, that he’s still holding a grudge from months ago, when I had the audacity to hit on Georgina when she appeared to be a single reporter at a party. It’s so on-brand for Reed to be holding a grudge for something so stupid, I can’t help chuckling to myself.
“What’s funny?” Reed asks.
“Nothing. I’m so happy for you, I’m bursting with joy.”
Reed glares at me like he wants to punch the smile off my face. So, I smile even more broadly at him. Why does Reed always have to make it so damned hard to like him? For the love of fuck, I didn’t know Violet was his little sister when I hit on her a thousand years ago! And I didn’t know Georgina was destined to become his future wife when I hit on her! Which, by the way, I only did for Kendrick’s birthday amusement, in the first place.
