Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Hey!” Sally sets her lunch tray down across from me. “It feels like it’s been forever since I’ve seen you.”
“I know. I miss my big sister.”
She laughs. “It definitely feels more like family when you’re on the set.”
“Aw, thanks.”
“I’ve seen you around, though, even on days you don’t have any shooting to do. What have you been up to?”
“My podcast. I’m trying to get all the episodes filmed before we wrap, so it’s sort of a mad crush. It takes a lot of research when I’m interviewing someone who does a job I’m not familiar with.”
Sally grins. “I think that’s why this new series has been so successful. You really put time into crafting the interview to bring out the best of the person and their function on the production. Your views are crazy high.”
I nod enthusiastically. “When I thought of doing this, it was mostly so I could provide new content for my viewers who have loyally stuck around through it all. I never expected to gain so many new followers and for my views to go into the stratosphere. It’s pretty exciting.”
“I’m thankful, because my following on my socials increased a lot after you published our interview. My following was super small to begin with, but now I feel almost legit.”
“Oh, that’s so cool, Sally. I’m really happy to hear that.”
Crispin drops into an empty seat between Sally and me. “Thanks for coming yesterday, Ari. That was really fun. Mom wants that cookie recipe.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Sally’s eyebrows arch. “It was fun. I love your sister and Angel. They’re such a great couple. I can’t believe he puts up with you, though.”
Crispin laughs. “He loves it.”
I nod. “Yeah, I think he does.”
“I’m really sorry about whipping your butt in lawn darts, though.” His false humility is pathetic for an actor of his caliber.
“I don’t mind losing, actually.” I pick up my fork and twirl some spaghetti around it as I speak. “I know I don’t have skills in anything that requires competition and physical effort. But you are such a bad winner. It was shocking, really.”
“A bad winner?” He looks between Sally and me. “What even is that?”
“Someone who gloats excessively. Someone who won’t let it go. Someone who shows up the next day ready to start all over again.”
He has the grace to blush as he looks down at his food. “If you can’t enjoy your victory, what’s the point?”
I squint at him. “You’ll be enjoying it alone if you always act like that. It’s no fun, Crispin.” I look at Sally. “I can see it now. Crispin wins his first Oscar and gets up on stage and says, “In your face, Tod Strapper. I’m better than you, and now I can prove it.”
Sally leans away from the table. “Yikes.”
“Yeah. The rest of the day was fun, though.” I side-eye Crispin to see if I’ve ticked him off yet. Obviously, I’m still miffed about his gloating. The day would have been perfect if he hadn’t gone on and on about it.
Sally, looking uncomfortable, her gaze bobbing back and forth between us, says, “That’s good.” Then she brightens. “Oh my gosh. Someone turns eighteen next week. What are we going to do to celebrate?”
“Nothing, obviously. Who wants to celebrate during the week?”
Sally rolls her eyes dramatically. “You don’t have to celebrate on your birthday, silly. Let’s do something on Saturday.”
“Not this Saturday though,” Crispin says, oddly fast. “Next Saturday.”
We both look at him like he sprouted leathery bat wings and horns.
He shrugs. “I have plans this weekend and would love to celebrate with you, is all.”
“Oh, that’s really nice,” I say. Maybe I can forgive a little gloating when it’s so clear he wants to be a part of my birthday celebration.
“Should we go out?” Sally asks. “Is there some place you want to go?”
“Why don’t we gather at my place?” Crispin says. “Sally, River is invited. Your aunt can come. Ari, you should bring your mom if she feels up to it. It’ll be a relaxing evening by the pool.”
“You even have a pool?” I ask.
“Might as well go all the way, right?” He smiles.
I squint because he’s so humble about his career success. That’s why it was such a surprise that he was a cruddy victor.
“Does that sound like a nice way to celebrate?” Crispin asks. He looks a bit worried I might say no. Or maybe that I won’t want to celebrate with him.
Of course I want to celebrate with him. Heck, I’d spend time reading the paper next to him if that’s what it took to spend more time in his company. I grin. “I’d love to. And thanks for inviting my mom. I’ll see if she feels up to it.”
Crispin looks really pleased about this as he digs into his lunch.
I look at Sally with a questioning expression and then nod in his direction.
She studies him, her eyes narrowing, but then she shakes her head at me.
He’s up to something. It’s clearly not a surprise party, since he’s already told me about it, so why does he look like the proverbial cat who ate the canary?
I look at my watch. “Shoot, I have to run. I’m interviewing our location manager who is rarely on set. I’ll see you guys later.”
“Bye!” Sally calls after me while Crispin only waves since his mouth is stuffed with food.