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“So, here we are . . .”
She’s quick to add, “Let’s order. I’m starving.”
The drinks are delivered, and I immediately take my glass and tip it back, my manners flying out the window. A buzz in my pocket has me slipping my phone from it and peeking down at it. Jackson: Damn, dude. Five minutes in and Miami is up by two. That wager you let ride is gonna be mine.
It’s tempting to shit-talk back, but again, I’m riding the professional line here.
“Everything okay?” Marlow asks, leaning over with the menu in hand.
“It’s Jackson. He’s watching the game.”
“Football?”
“Basketball.”
“Ah.” Returning her attention to the menu, she taps it. “I’m thinking about the halibut.”
I decide on the steak and set the menu back on the table. Glancing up, I ask Bob, “How’s your stay in New York?”
“Lots of meetings. There always are when money is involved.” Setting his napkin on the table, he slides out of the booth. “Will you excuse me? There’s a producer at the bar who I’ve been trying to connect with while here.”
“Sure,” Marlow says, but as soon as he leaves, she looks at me. “I’m so sorry, Rad. I hate putting you in this position, but I was nervous about this dinner, and I knew you would back me up when the shit hit the fan.”
“Why are you nervous, and what shit are we talking about?”
We both glance toward the bar just as Bob reaches it. When we turn back, she grabs a frantic hold of my wrist. “I think he’s going to cut me off, and then what will I do? I’ll be homeless and will have to sell my belongings to Sotheby’s to auction off to the highest bidder or, worse, the only bidder.”
“Slow down, Marlow. Maybe he just wants to have dinner with you.”
“It’s bad news. I can feel it. Something is off.” Tapping a nail to the wood table, she says, “He’s been here for weeks but just told me the other day. He’s been busy in endless meetings, and his current wife isn’t here. It’s fishy if you ask me.”
“Or he’s been busy working,” I say. I’m not proud of myself for lying, but again, this is where we are.
“You’re probably right. I’m glad you’re here anyway. I knew you could temper the situation no matter how it plays out.” Rolling her eyes, she laughs. “He loves you.”
I catch sight of Bob returning and whisper, “I’ll run interference if you need it, but I want you to remember that anything he says, you can handle.”
She nods and looks up. “How’d that go, Daddy?”
Bob arrives with the server, and says, “Better than expected. We set up a meeting for Friday.”
After we place our order, Bob angles toward Marlow. As much as I don’t want the fact that I already know about the divorce coming out, that beats her being financially cut off. “Marlow, sweetie, I’ve been meaning to talk to you, and Rad being here seems like a fitting opportunity.” Here it comes . . .
Her eyes widen as her breath catches in her chest. “What is it?”
“I know you’ll be disappointed, but I’m getting a divorce.”
I cringe, knowing what comes next.
She blinks in disbelief. “You’ve been married for less than two years.” Not what I expected.
“It was a whirlwind. We met at Cannes. The food. The awards. The parties.” Bob reminisces as if it’s a bygone era. “As you know, we were married before we returned to LA. Not my best decision.”
Marlow drops her head in her hands. “Not even two years.” Popping up, she asks, “Does the press know? TMZ? Page Six?”
“No. Only my attorney, and now you.”
She gasps. “Does Lorie know?”
“Yes. She found out when I caught her fucking the chef for crafts services on her latest film. She’s agreeing to keep this as hush-hush as possible.”
“For a fee, I’m sure.”
“Of course. You know how these things go in Hollywood.”
“I do. Too well because of you. This is humiliating. They’ll stalk you and Lorie, and then they’ll come after me.” She tosses her napkin on the table with anger. “Why can’t you date like a normal person? You don’t have to marry every woman you meet.”
I have her back, but this is not something I can fix for them. Feeling like an intruder to their conversation, I sit back as far as I can within the confines of the red leather booth.
The space allows me to remember how beautiful Tealey looked covered in a blanket on the lounge chair, stars shining down, and the sound of traffic becoming the city’s soundtrack.
I’ve not lived with a woman before, so I’m not sure what to expect. When I lived with Jackson and Cade back in college, that was a mess. Hence, why I now live alone.
Wonder what it will be like to wake up with Tealey there, to have her as the last person I see at night? Will I see her, or is she right that we’ll hardly see each other?
