Come Away With Me(33)

“You made it with Luke Williams.”

And my smile is gone.

“I’m sorry, but give me five minutes to gush. Is he as hot naked in real life as he is in the movies?”

“He was naked in the movie?” I squeak.

“From behind, yeah. It’s my favorite part.”

Oh I definitely don’t like it that all of America has seen Luke’s ass.

“I think his ass is better in person.” I reply.

“Oh, you’re killing me!” Jules sounds fifteen and I giggle. “You know, he hasn’t had a new movie since the last Nightwalker five years ago.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.” Jules shrugs and climbs back onto her chaise, taking a sip of my tea. “Rumor had it that some crazed fan broke into his house and hurt herself.”

I gasp. “Was he hurt?”

“No, I don’t think so. I don’t think he was home. But who knows how much of the television tabloid stuff is true? I heard he just left LA and stopped acting.

I had no idea he’d moved here.”

“He’s from here,” I tell her. “His family lives around here.”

“Oh, cool.” Jules looks at me speculatively. “Are you sure you’re done with him, Nat? You should have seen him after you ran out this morning.”

“What did he do?”

“Well, he has quite a potty mouth, but then, so do you. He paced and swore, and I tried to stop him from running after you because I knew that wasn’t going to be the way to smooth things over.”

“No, I didn’t want to see him.”

“He was a mess. He’s mad about you. I think you should get to know him, the real him, better and give it a chance.”

I frown at her. “Besides, I’ve never seen you act this way about a man before. Don’t give up on this yet.”

“He lied to me, and you know how I feel about that!”

“Oh, Natalie, think. Have you stopped to think that maybe it was a nice change for him to be around someone who didn’t want anything from him?

Who didn’t recognize him and squeal and ask him stupid questions? He was just a normal guy hanging out with a normal girl. I wouldn’t want to ruin that either.”

I think hard about what Jules is saying, and yes, it makes sense.

“He still should have told me, at least yesterday.” I am now sulking, and I don’t care.

“You’re right. Let him apologize.

Maybe you’ll get some good gifts out of the deal. Jewelry? Wine? Flowers?”

She laughs when I stick my tongue out at her.

“Not today.”

“Don’t play games with him, Nat.”

I scowl. “I’m not playing anything.

He hurt my feelings. I just want to hang out with my best friend and do girl stuff today. Besides, when he stormed out of my room, he said he didn’t need this, so I’m assuming he’s no longer interested.”

“Oh, he’s interested,” she waves the thought away with the flick of her wrist.

“Wanna

go

shopping?”

she

asks

hopefully.

“No. Ironically, I want to go to the movies. But nothing with Luke Williams in it.”

“Okay, there’s nothing with his name on it there anyway. I think we deserve extra butter on our popcorn.”

“And no diet soda. And because you recognized him before I did, you’re buying.”

Jules pouts as we gather our things and get in the car, headed to the movies where I can lose myself in someone else’s story for a few hours and spend time with the one person in this world that I trust completely.





Chapter Ten


It’s late when Jules and I get home.

The high-paced action-adventure film we caught - with Vin Diesel no less –was exactly what I needed to escape reality for a few hours. And I ended up giving in to Jules to go shopping afterwards. How can I, Natalie Conner, pass up new shoes? They are my vice.

“Those red Louboutin’s you found are to die for,” Jules and I are pulling bags out of the back of my Lexus.

“I know. I love them. I don’t know when I’ll get to wear them, but I couldn’t resist them.” I reach for the bag of shoes and we head for the front door.

We stop abruptly when we see what’s waiting on our doorstep. Dozens of bouquets of roses, in all different shapes, sizes and colors, are covering the porch, the front steps, every surface possible. The aroma is amazing. There must be fifty dozen roses here, minimum.