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It’s my cue to leave if I have any chance of getting to this red carpet on time. Eric informs me we need to go to his place for the suit, so I say goodbye to everyone, but I’m unable see Jessa anywhere as I search around.
Then, as I exit the gate, she’s standing outside texting on her phone.
“Hey.” I reach out to touch her arm. “I was looking for you. I need to go but just wanted to say bye.”
Her gaze is fixated on the screen, and then a small smile appears. I want to know who she’s texting but realize now isn’t the time to interrogate her unless it’s some guy. The thought sends a wave of anger throughout me.For fuck’s sake, Andy, just focus.
“Oh cool, I’ll see you later.”
“Are we good? You seem upset.”
She places her phone in her pocket. “I’m fine. You go on your date, and I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Jessa doesn’t give me a chance to say anything else, walking away and back into the yard.
Eric yells for me to hurry up, then drives us to his place like a speed demon while all the way he bitches about all the movie stars who would be in attendance tonight.
Upon arriving at Eric’s, I head straight to the shower then change into the suit. I don’t even have a moment to text Jessa about something Eric says because he rushes me out the door and into a limo where I finally meet Chloe.
Her photos were an accurate depiction of what she looks like in person. She’s beautiful and sexy—just not my type. The dress she’s wearing—gold with thin straps and a plunging neckline—catch the attention of every man we walk past.
Chloe places her arm in mine as we snap pictures for the red carpet. For someone who’s always behind the camera, I know which way you should pose to capture the best angle.
Inside the event space, we’re seated at our table. There are a few actors seated with us, all of who Chloe knows of. I chat, keeping it friendly but can’t help the urge to send Jessa a picture of this woman wearing a dress in the shape of a swan. Since Jessa has a fear of swans, I find it all so amusing. I decide to hold back, preferring to show her in person so I can watch her dry heave and poke fun at her.
My focus shifts back to Chloe. There’s this awkward silence between us, so I try to come up with something worth discussing.
“Nice place,” is all I say.
“It’s so Hollywood, though.”
I look around, followed by a soft chuckle. “Yeah, my best friend would love this.”
“He would?”
“She would.”
“Oh, right. I mean, it’s tacky, but I guess the fairy lights make it romantic.”
“Exactly,” I say, thinking Jessa would’ve said the same.
Chloe begins to tell me a story, then the conversation drifts to her modeling career. I hear things being said, but my mind wanders elsewhere.
“Andy, are you even listening?”
“Yes, you mentioned something about Malibu and a bikini photoshoot.”
The waiter serves us cocktails, distracting us from this mundane topic we converse over. Chloe enjoys talking about herself, so the drinks being served are a nice way to hopefully switch subjects, except most of the glasses are filled with a pink liquor.
“I love a good pink drink,” she says with a grin.
“There was one time, in Manhattan, my best friend and I went to this club. They served pink drinks exactly like this. I made some joke about how many would it take to drink and puke up a rainbow. We got so drunk, and she did exactly that. Not so great for me because I spent the night back at the hotel holding her hair back in the toilet.”
Chloe plays with the rim of her glass, bowing her head. “Some best friend you must have.”
“Yeah, she has her moments.”
“It sounds like you’re in love with her?”
