Chapter Twenty-Two
Wren
“ H e really is dreamy,” Genie said, curling her legs under her and snatching a bowl of snacks off the coffee table.
“He’s super nice, surprisingly…approachable, warm. He’s a good guy.” I heard myself singing Ryan’s charms.
Chomping on a mouth full of buttery popcorn, Genie held a finger in the air, signaling me to wait. I took advantage of the moment and took a sip of my coffee.
It was a cold and dreary Sunday afternoon, and Genie had invited herself over for a Ryan Strauss movie marathon—her choice on the movies. She’d come up with the idea the day before when I’d been on call and had to rush in for an emergency consult with a professional basketball player.
“At least it’s not another grandma trying to fix you up…since you’re in love,” Genie said when we’d finished for the day.
“I don’t know about love. Maybe like.”
“How is lover boy?” she’d asked with a wink.
“Filming all weekend. But it looks like I will head out to visit next weekend…Ryan is having some sort of party and invited me.”
That was the moment she clapped her hands and stated, “We have to do a marathon of his movies! Tomorrow. I’ll come over and bring the snacks.”
Now, Genie was clearing her throat and saying, “That man is amazing and hot… I mean, I saw his doppelganger on Friday and I haven’t been able to get him out of my mind.”
Pressing pause on the movie about two people falling in love under the worst circumstances, I asked, “What are you going on about?”
“On Friday, when I took a half day to see my gyno? Remember?”
“I’m not senile, Genie—”
“Right, right. Well, anyway, I stopped home to freshen up before I went out to dinner, and this mail guy was walking down the street. If it wasn’t for the uniform, I would’ve thought he was Ryan. A young Ryan. No joke, dude was smoking hot.”
“I don’t know whether to love or abhor where this is going…”
Genie interrupted me, not caring what I thought. “He winked at me!” At thirty-five, no one was going to yuck Genie’s yum. Ever.
“Did you wink back?”
“No! Of course not. He was maybe thirty. Too young for me.”
“Please, five years is nothing.”
“Whatever. I’m never going to see him again, but you are going to be with the real Ryan next week.”
“Do you want to come? You should!”
“Oh please, me?”
“Why not? I’m sure Ryan won’t mind.” Genie finally set her popcorn down and pulled her hair back. I secretly loved these times. We didn’t share girls’ afternoons often, but they were the lightest I ever felt. “Also, I’m sure Daniel will have some work obligations, and it will be fun to have a friend there.”
“Um, where would I stay?”
“Daniel has a big place.”
“No way. Not with you two lovebirds. I can stay at a hotel.”
I heard myself laugh. “Regina, you are way too much… We’ll see. Now play the movie. I am going to eat one of those huge cookies you brought with the rest of my coffee.”
We watched another movie, ordered Chinese takeout for dinner, and by the time the evening was over, Genie was booked to Los Angeles with me.
I’ll set Genie up at the Four Seasons where the party is , Daniel had offered, and it was set.
“Hi!” Genie popped out of the elevator, where I was waiting for her to walk into the event.
We’d arrived the day before and Daniel had taken us on a mini tour, driving us past a vantage point to look at the Hollywood sign. Genie had joined us for dinner before going back to the hotel.
Today, Daniel and I had a “golf lesson,” which turned more into make-out golf, while Genie window-shopped on Rodeo Drive before she went to get her hair and makeup professionally done.
“You look gorgeous,” I told my friend, who was wearing a long black dress with sparkly stilettos.
“Right back at you… Girl, that dress was made for you. Sheesh, red is your color.”
I’d splurged online on a red Givenchy sheath dress. I figured this might be my only Hollywood party, but I didn’t say that aloud because Genie was walking around with rose-colored glasses. “Your hair looks great like that,” I said instead.
“Beach waves, they called it.”
“The beach suits you.”
She smiled and looped her arm through mine, and we made our way to the ballroom.
As we entered, I whispered in her ear, “Tell me who is better looking, the mailman or him,” and jutted my chin to the left.
“Oh my God, him! There he is.” Genie couldn’t help the excitement in her voice.
“Let’s go say hi,” I said, putting myself out of the further misery of listening to her rattling on.
Daniel was standing next to Ryan, looking absolutely smashing in a black tuxedo, fitted and perfect on his muscular body.
“Birdie, I see you brought your friend,” Ryan said, bestowing an enormous smile on us.
“I did. Ryan, meet Regina, who we all call Genie.”
He stuck out his hand to shake, and Daniel announced, “But we don’t all call Wren Birdie—”
“Of course we do,” Ryan shot back.
And Genie added, “These two are funny.”
“That’s what happens when you have twenty years of pent-up pining for someone…” Ryan contributed to the banter.
“Enough, enough,” Daniel spoke, pulling me into his arms.
Ryan watched us with a grin. “Danny, the paps are lurking tonight. They’ve all been invited, Wren,” he said quietly to me.
I nodded. I’d been warned, hence the dress and makeup and sleek hair. No way I wasn’t looking my best next to Daniel. “I know, I’m ready.”
Daniel pulled me in deeper to his side, and if I hadn’t been mentally prepared for the evening, I was now.
“Well, I’m looking for my moment of fame,” Genie said, lightening the mood, practically jumping on her toes.
“Then how about coming with me? Let’s get a cocktail and let these two canoodle,” Ryan said while swinging his arm around Genie.
“Really? Is that okay?” Genie looked to me.
“Of course. Go, go…” As if I would deny her this moment.
“Come on,” Daniel spoke to me. “I have a corner table, and a boat-til of red waiting.”
“You mean bottle?” I asked about the way he said the word, sounding more like boat and til combined.
He pinched my cheek. “Ya think you’re funny. Well, you can take the boy out of Scotland, but you can never take the Scotland out of the boy.”
“That’s what I like,” I teased back.
He guided me toward the front of the room, stage right, where in fact sat a wine bottle and two glasses in between two seats.
“So thoughtful,” I said. “Thank you.”
“Not me. Thank Ryan’s assistant. I asked and she provided.”
I reached over and brushed my lips over his cheek. “This was sweet.” He pulled my chair out and I slid in, making sure my dress didn’t wrinkle underneath me.
“We didn’t get a date-date this time, so I figured why not a quick moment here.”
“I’m sorry, but Genie was so excited at the prospect…”
He stopped uncorking the wine and put his hand over mine, stalling my rambling. “Never apologize. Regina is your friend. And you can bring whomever you want, anytime. Okay? We may live on opposite sides of the country, but I want this and you…in whatever way we have to package it.”
Speechless, I nodded. Package it…
“You know,” I said, “I’m never one who is not able to find words, but you do that to me a lot. Take my voice away…in a good way… Make me breathless. I don’t know—thank you, I think. This is new territory. Also, don’t let Rourke hear you say Genie can come anytime. He was pretty pissed to go to the kennel.”
“Rourke is welcome too, you know? And as for you losing your words, good! That’s my job—I want to take away each and every rambling word, every thought, until you are completely relaxed and at peace.” He poured us each a glass of wine, clinking his glass to mine, not bothered by my utter silence. “To this job being over so I can spend more time relaxing with you.”
I took a sip and wondered how much this bottle of wine must cost. “Delicious,” I commented.
“A special bottle for the most important guest here.” He paid attention to saying “bottle” as it should be pronounced and raising his voice a tad on important.
“By the way, I see why you were adamant about not shoving Ryan under the bus over the skiing incident. Why you kept his secret—”
“Because he hosts a fundraiser for Make-a-Wish? That’s not why,” Daniel responded.
“No, that’s not what I meant, Mr. Interrupting Me. You haven’t taken all my thoughts away,” I said softly. “I see how giving he is as a friend. He tries to act all Hollywood big-time, and then he’s taking me on a tour of his trailer and asking me to come along on the location scout back east. And here he is, being so gracious with Genie and warning me about the paparazzi.”
Daniel tilted forward an inch and ran his palm over my bare arm. “He is a good man, a great friend, generous with his time and money, and also a notorious lover. So, I’m not surprised he welcomed you because you mean something to me. And I would never throw him under the bus, to borrow your expression. Now, if Genie falls into bed with him, I can’t be blamed for that. And as for the photographers, that’s going to be a bigger part of my life for the next however many months. It’s always looming, but they mostly leave me alone. Still…”
My hand came to rest on his knee. “I called my parents, on your recommendation. I brought them up to speed, and let’s say they were tickled. I’m pretty sure they’re expecting a reconciliation that includes knowing you and everyone around you.”
Daniel took a long slug of his wine, and I watched him swallow. “If that’s what you want, then I will consider it. But if it’s not, then no.”
I was about to respond when the band started to play, the singer saying, “Let’s get this place moving,” which is exactly what Daniel and I did all night long. First on the dance floor, then on the kitchen counter and later in bed, any discussion of my parents long forgotten.
Until my phone started buzzing. I’d set it to night mode after I checked on Rourke and heard Genie was back at her hotel…and it currently was vibrating on the nightstand.
“Hello,” I said, knowing it was my dad but distracted by an early morning text from Genie.
Wanting to answer Genie, I hoped he would be quick when he said, “Morning, Wren.”
“Hi. What’s up?” I wanted to cut to the chase.
“Mom and I saw your gorgeous picture online this morning, rubbing elbows with celebrities and attending charity events. You’ve come a long way from the smart-mouthed, curly-haired, defiant young girl we helped meld.”
“Dad, listen. I’m a surgeon. I operate on people, cut them open, and fix them before putting them back together. Many of them are celebrities. In order to do that, I graduated medical school with honors. I’ve done everything you asked. What could you want now?”
Shoving the phone in my ear, I held up a finger to Daniel who was now walking into the bedroom carrying two mugs. Taking one from him, I savored a long slug while he looked at me, an eyebrow raised.
“We’d like to see you. Meet your new friend you’re being photographed all over with—”
“Dad, I appreciate that, but I’ve never been quite enough for you so let’s skip the niceties. I don’t think Daniel and I are up to hang out. We have very little time together, and I don’t think he wants to waste it on you.”
Daniel fist-bumped the air. I wasn’t sure how we got here, with him being my biggest advocate and seemingly feeling like the closest person to me.
My dad grumbled, saying something about my misunderstanding their intentions. I didn’t even respond to his claims. I simply said, “I have to go now. Bye, Dad.”
With his arm snaking around mine, Daniel was cautious of my coffee cup. “Well, I guess that solves that. But we have another problem…” He plopped a kiss on my nose before stealing away to get his coffee.
Flipping through my phone with one hand, holding on to my caffeine like a junkie with the other, I said, “Yep.”
“Ryan and Genie want to join us for a round of golf today.”
“What? I assume that means they’re located at the same place, maybe her hotel. Maybe his house…my God , she’s going to be unbearable if she slept in his bed.” I couldn’t help but raise my voice.
“Told you. Genie is having the real Hollywood experience, and you’re stuck with a golf pro.”
“I hope she doesn’t fall for him. I assume this is his thing—impress them, sleep with them, and send them on their way?” I turned to face Daniel.
“Babe, not all men are assholes.”
“I know,” I said, snuggling into his chest. “But you noted he’s a notorious lover.”
“I hear he is very generous. But usually from someone he’s in a relationship with, and it’s always in one of those couple jesting ways.” I felt myself nodding against his pectoral muscle. “He’s a good guy. You said so yourself.”
“Yeah, but also I can’t lose Genie to the West Coast. She’s my right and sometimes left hand.”
“Let’s not get carried away…it was one night. And now, golf.”
“So, they’re coming?”
Daniel slipped away, but not before lightly tapping my butt. “I’ll text him now. We’ll play nine, grab a late lunch, early dinner thing, and then get you two to the airport for your red-eye.”
“Don’t remind me,” I said, settling into the chair in the corner of Daniel’s room, wondering what my hair looked like and finishing my coffee.
“By the way,” he called to me after setting his phone down, leaning against the wall. “That was totally badass with your dad.”
I could feel my head shaking no . “Nah, just my stubborn streak. My Mediterranean tempers mixing.”
“Nope, just all you. The strong-willed beauty I’ve been thinking about for two decades, who I can finally call mine.”
“Danny.” His name came through on a whisper, my head cocked, throat clogged, and all the emotion pooling in my gut.
“What? Been falling for you all these years, Birdie. Get used to it.”
He’d rendered me speechless for the second time in twenty-four hours.