Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Cresley had dinner with Ty, helped him and Julia with the puzzle, guided him through a shower and the usual bedtime ritual that consisted of at least three stories and a chat about their favorite thing that’d happened that day.
Once again, he asked if it was warm enough yet to go surfing with Mr. Carson.
She told him she’d check with Carson and let him know before she kissed him good night.
“Mommy is going out for a drink with Miss Marlene, but Julia will be here if you need anything, okay?”
“Okay. Be careful.”
“I always am.”
He’d been there when people got too close to her in public, and it made him nervous. Whenever she was going somewhere without him, he always told her to be careful.
“Love you to the moon and all the way around the world and back again.”
“I love you all the way to the end of the solar system and back again.”
She kissed his face off and tucked the covers in the way he liked them. “See you in the morning, buddy.”
“Night, Mommy.”
He rarely called her that anymore, and when he did, her heart flip-flopped in her chest with overwhelming love for the best thing to ever happen to her.
When she’d first realized she was pregnant, she’d gone into a panic, knowing there was no way Marlon was up to the task of parenthood, and with her career on fire, would she be able to handle it on her own?
She’d briefly worried about what pregnancy would do to her body and whether she’d still be able to work.
The panic had taken her over for months until the first time she felt a flutter of movement ripple across her abdomen.
From that second on, panic had been replaced by excitement and anticipation. Every minute with him had been pure bliss, from the minute he was born right through to today and every day in between.
Cresley waited until he’d dropped off to sleep, pressed another kiss to his sweet-smelling head and went to finish getting ready.
Tonight, she went for casual but hot, with jeans and a Foghat T-shirt that dated back to a concert in high school that her mother’s boyfriend at the time had taken her to.
It’d been her first exposure to classic rock, and she’d been hooked.
Not that she didn’t also love her some Backstreet Boys and One Direction back in the day, but her first love was classic.
She’d mentioned something about that to Julian once, which was why he’d invited her to see his band, Canyon, which performed classic rock covers—and did so exceptionally well by all accounts.
Marlene texted to let her know she was ten minutes out.
I’m ready!
She grabbed a sweater and her purse, checked herself in the mirror one last time and headed for the kitchen, where Julia was grabbing one of the raspberry seltzers that Cresley kept on hand for her in the fridge.
A junior at USC studying marketing, Julia dyed her hair black and wore heavy black eye makeup that, combined with her pale skin, gave her an ethereal vibe.
“You look hot,” Julia said in her typical blunt fashion. “I like that look on you better than the fanciness from last night.”
“I like it better, too. Much more comfortable. I won’t be late.”
“Take your time. I’ll sleep over since I have class in the morning and can go right from here.”
“Perfect. Thanks for always being willing to help me out.”
“Are you kidding? All my friends are green with envy that I get to work with you and Ty.”
“Aw, that’s sweet. I hope you tell them I’m nothing special.”
“I do not tell them that. One, because it’s not true, and two, why would I tell them that when they think it’s so cool that I work with you?”
“Good points.” She gave Julia’s arm a squeeze. “I’ll activate the alarm when I get outside.”
“Thank you. Have a good time.”
Julia was fully briefed on the situation with Marlon and knew to call the police if he showed up at the house, not that Cresley expected him to, but she wanted Julia prepared for all contingencies.
Cresley stepped outside and immediately armed the security system, which gave her peace of mind any time she had to leave Ty at home. While she waited for Marlene to arrive, she cast a wary glance at the cars parked on the street, identifying each as belonging to one of her neighbors.
She hated living this way and hoped that having a restraining order slapped on Marlon might keep him away, but she’d heard of too many cases where that didn’t do shit to deter someone who was determined to cause trouble.
Marlene pulled up in the two-seater silver BMW she’d bought as a gift to herself after surviving her divorce.
Cresley got in and leaned over the console to hug her friend.
“I’m unreasonably excited to go out tonight,” Marlene said. “What does that say about me?” She had silky red hair and gorgeous green eyes. They’d met the first week Cresley arrived in Los Angeles to chase the dream and had been close ever since.
“That we need to do this more often.”
“You said it, girlfriend.”
As Marlene drove them down the winding hill that led out of Laurel Canyon to Sunset Boulevard, she said, “Who was that handsome guy you were with at the premiere?”
“My lawyer’s brother, Carson Remington.”
“What’s the story there?”
“I’m in deep crush, but he told me last night it isn’t going to happen because he doesn’t do relationships. Ty and I deserve a guy who wants what we do, etcetera.”
“When was the last time a guy gave you the brush-off?”
“It’s been a minute, but it’s been much longer since I actually wanted one of them.”
“For real. I haven’t heard you say that in years.”
“And then I find one who wants nothing to do with me.”
“That’s hard to believe.”
“Let’s just say the words and actions aren’t matching up. When we got home last night, he went to kiss me on the cheek, and I moved just in time. All I’ve thought about today was that kiss.”
“Whoa. That hot, huh?”
“Hottest kiss of my entire life.”
“And you’ve kissed movie stars!”
“Right?”
Marlene never let her forget that she’d had sex with Flynn Godfrey and Hayden Roth, two of the hottest guys in Hollywood, but that was years ago, long before they were married to Natalie and Addie.
“I was reading the shit about the Remington parents today,” Marlene said. “That’s one crazy story.”
“And it’s a big part of the reason Carson and his siblings have sworn off love and commitment and all the crap that goes with it. Except for their oldest brother, that is, who’s broken all the family rules recently by falling for his girlfriend—and her kids. The rest of them are reeling over that.”
“Wow. They made an actual rule about staying single?”
“Yep, and Julian has them all freaked out over his personality transplant since he met Isla.”
“After reading about the parents today, I get why they’d want to steer clear.”
“Not to mention they spend their days dismantling marriages and getting an up-close-and-personal view of what happily ever after gone wrong looks like.”
At a stoplight, Marlene glanced at her. “So what’s your plan to wear him down?”
“How do you know I have a plan?”
“Bitch… Please.”
Cresley laughed. “I thought I might see if he’d be up for a fling because it’s been a long-ass time since I’ve felt anything for a guy. It’d be a damn shame to miss out on some hot sex just because he has commitment issues. I don’t want a commitment. I want an orgasm. Or two.”
“I hear that. Give me all the orgasms. They can keep the commitment. We’re fine without it.”
“Yes! Exactly. Just because we have kids doesn’t mean we’re not capable of a nice fling.”
“I’m worried that I’ve forgotten how to act normally with guys since the only one I’ve been with for twenty years was a dick most of that time.”
“You’ll figure that out when the time comes. I’m sure of it.”
“I wish I was so sure.”
“If you let him make you feel like you were the problem, then he wins, and he can never, ever win, you hear me?”
“He does nothing but win. Did you hear that his company just inked a huge new deal with Netflix?”
“I read something about that.”
“He goes on with his life as if he’s not a cheating asshole dick face. As long as he makes money for them, they all want to work with him.”
“It’s a man’s world, love, but we’re the ones with the power. Don’t ever forget that.”
“Keep reminding me.”
Marlene pulled into a parking garage about three blocks from The Roxy and found a spot on the top floor. As they approached the bar, they noticed a long line of people waiting to get in.
“Can we take full advantage of your star power here, babe?” Marlene asked.
Cresley cringed. “If we must.”
“We must. This damp air will make my hair frizz.”
“We can’t have that.” Cresley approached the front of the line and heard a murmur go through the crowd when they recognized her.
The bouncer waved them through.
“Sweet,” Marlene said. “I love having famous friends.”
“Hush.”
“I’m just sayin’…”
They moved toward the bar, with people stepping aside to let them pass.
“Such a star,” Marlene said.
“I’m going to muzzle you.”
“Haha, I’d like to see you try.”
The bartender’s mouth fell open when he realized who’d strolled up to his bar. “I, um, hey. What can I get you?”
“I’ll have a dirty martini with extra olives, please.”
“Seltzer with lemon for me,” Marlene said.
“Coming right up.”
While he made her drink, he cast not-so-subtle glances in her direction, basically letting her know he was available for anything else she might want or need.
He was gorgeous, probably an actor or model, but she felt nothing for him or any of the other beautiful people in the room.
She’d lived long enough to know that feeling of connection, the one she’d had with Carson last night, was like locating a needle in the proverbial haystack.
With drinks in hand, they moved closer to the stage.
“You’re Cresley Dane,” a man dressed in black said.
“I am.”
“Come with me.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“VIP area.”
“Woo-hoo,” Marlene said as she held Cresley’s hand while they followed the man up a flight of stairs to a balcony area that looked down on the stage.
“Thank you so much,” Cresley said to the man.