Chapter 34
thirty-four
. . .
BLAIR
Not even Lance can ruin my mood today. He’s already come by twice, asking questions about Sophia. I’ve never seen him this pushy about getting updates on talent. I left a message, hoping to catch up with her sometime this week. I didn’t tell Lance she has a contract in her hands and I’m just waiting for a signature.
I know I’m the right agent for her, and I know she likes what I can offer and what I will fight for as her agent. I know she wanted Wyatt to review terms, but well, he has been a little preoccupied.
I don’t realize I’m smiling until Stella comes in to let me know it’s time to go meet Naomi.
“What’s got you so happy today?” she asks.
I look around her at the open door to see if anyone’s within earshot.
“Wyatt.”
“Spill it! Tell me what is going on!” She shuts my office door and heads over to the couch.
I’m filling her in on dinner and the sleepover when Stella interrupts. “Hang on. I’m dialing in Jess. Unless you’ve already told her?” she asks as she dials.
“Good idea. I have four texts I haven’t responded to.”
“Your hands better have been tied up, and your mouth full of something inappropriate!” Jess yells through the phone. “It’s the only excuse I’ll accept for leaving me on read!”
“I think it is her excuse!” Stella says. “You’re on speaker, and Blair is about to recap last night’s sexy time with Wyatt!”
I give them the play-by-play, doing my best to sidestep the crude questions from Jess. Poor Stella. She didn’t ask for a sex education course, but you’re guaranteed to learn a new kink every time Jess is around.
As I continue, I realize that I’m not sure how to define what Wyatt and I are just yet. It seems way too fast to just jump into something serious, but I also don’t want to see anyone else either. Situationship has never made more sense than right now.
“Do you think he wants to date you?” Stella asks.
“It doesn’t matter what he wants,” Jess says. “What does Blair want?”
“It kinda matters what he wants,” I say.
“Don’t worry about labeling anything right now,” Jess says. “You need to sleep with him a few more times, make sure that chemistry is real and you’re not holding on to some past perception of who you think he is.”
“I don’t think I could move forward without labeling it,” Stella says quietly.
But Jess is right. How much of what I feel is based on the past? Are memories driving desire? I’m finally learning who present-day Wyatt is, but it’s still early. What I know for sure is that I want to see him again. If I didn’t have this dinner with Naomi tonight, I’d probably invite him over.
I promise to keep both Stella and Jess updated on the progress and then head over to The Front Yard, a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant next to The Garland Hotel in Studio City. I see Naomi instantly and rush to wrap my arms around her. Even though our offices are on the same floor, our rosters are so different that we barely see each other.
“You look fucking incredible! And happy! What’s new?” Naomi asks.
We sit and let the server know we’ll both have a chardonnay and water before I return the compliment. “You look gorgeous—like always. And I’m kind of seeing someone.”
“You flatter me. I need to spend more time with you! Now, tell me everything!”
Naomi looks like a runway model: large almond eyes that are light yellowish brown, eyelashes that look fake but aren’t, high cheekbones, full, heart-shaped lips, and a straight, perfectly buttoned nose. Her skin is creamy tan and flawless. She looks like she spent hours putting on makeup, but her coloring and features just give the appearance of elegance. She doesn’t wear much makeup at all.
“Seriously,” I say, “what is that dress you are wearing? It hugs your body in all the right places. You look incredible.”
“Oh, this old thing?” Naomi laughs, but I can tell she’s thrilled to get the compliment. “Girl, it’s the Spanx Perfect Sheath Dress. It holds me in all the right places!”
“Sara Blakely continues to do the Lord’s work. That’s for sure.”
We laugh and make small talk while we glance at the menus and pretend we might order something other than the salad, but we both opt for the winter grains salad with salmon.
“So, spill. Who’s the guy? And what’s the latest with Sophia?”
“Contract is with Sophia. It’s almost done. And the guy…well, it’s her brother. Wyatt. The attorney helping with the merger.”
“I thought you were just friends?” She teases. “Start from the beginning.”
I tell her the movie version of our story, how we had a brief fling in high school, lost touch when we left for college, and reconnected when I went to meet Sophia for the first time.
“So, did you know Sophia was his sister?”
“Not at first. Once I started due diligence on her, I realized Sophia Ford is actually Sophia Bradford. But I’m not sure I would’ve even connected the dots then. She was in junior high when we were seniors, and I didn’t really know her, much less that she was an aspiring actress.”
“I love this story! So, is it serious?”
“It’s new. That’s all I can say with confidence at this point.”
“Fair enough, but I want updates. Don’t leave me hanging on this.”
“I promise. What about you? I haven’t seen you around lately.”
We both stop talking when our food arrives. It’s a small town, and ears are everywhere. Once our server leaves, Naomi drops the bomb.
“I’m thinking about leaving TWA.”
“What? Why?” I ask.
“Eh, I’m sleeping with Lance. Well, I was. As of about an hour ago, I’m not anymore.”
I’m not sure anything could have shocked me more. Not only is it an unlikely match-up, but I thought Lance was married.
She must see the look of shock on my face because she says, “He’s not married anymore, but I’d be lying if I said this didn’t start before his divorce was final.”
“So, is the affair over because you are leaving? Or are you leaving because the affair is over?”
“The affair is over because he started sleeping with my assistant. I’m leaving because I need a change of scenery. It would be weird to stay, I’m sure, but I’m just not challenged anymore.”
“I can relate to that,” I tell her as my mind drifts to the last few times Lance shut down my ideas.
“If I’m lucky, they’ll add my name to the list of layoffs and just package me out. That would be the ideal scenario. Then I’ll be paid to go on vacation and take a breather while I figure out my next move.”
“What layoff list?” I ask.
“For the merger. They have to look cash-flow positive before everything is signed, sealed, and delivered. Word around the office is Lance just wants to cut headcount to make the budget work. I thought you, of all people, would know this.”
“Why would I know?”
“Aren’t you in all of those meetings? And Wyatt, too?”
“I’m not anymore,” I tell her. “Lance said I was no longer needed. I’m guessing that’s why.”
I get an uneasy feeling. Jess mentioned layoffs, too, but it’s been quiet around the office, and Wyatt hasn’t said a thing about it, either. Not that he would.
“Promise me you’ll let me know if you hear anything,” Naomi says.
“Of course. Same to you.”
We shift topics to the latest on-set gossip, but I have a hard time focusing on the rest of our dinner. All I can think about is if Wyatt would tell me if my contract is in jeopardy or if he would not mention it at all under the guise of professionalism.