Hollywood Heir (Westerly Billionaire #4)(67)

Midafternoon, Sage was retrieving her mail from the first floor of her apartment building when her phone rang. Her heart fluttered with excitement until she saw the number was her mother’s. “Hi, Mom.”

“How are you, Sage?”

“I’m good.”

“I wanted to thank you for finally doing something right. I received a call from Delinda Westerly. She said she met you and was so impressed that she needed to meet me as well. Needed, can you believe it? We’re having tea tomorrow.”

“And you’d like me to join you?”

“Oh my goodness, no. I’m calling to see if there is any lie I need to maintain regarding what you do for a living or anything else you might have told her.” Of course. Delinda couldn’t like me unless I lied about myself.

Sage tapped the mail on her forehead and said, “Mom, I love you. I will always love you. That doesn’t mean I like you. Every time you call, I think this time will be the one when you want to see me because you miss me, because you finally realize that I’m more important than everyone you try so hard to impress. You might never make that call. You might always remain self-centered and narcissistic, but I’m not giving up hope on you. I am a good person, and I will keep my heart open so that if you do wake up and want a real relationship, it’ll be possible. But I’m also a busy person who doesn’t have time for you when you’re like this. Good luck tomorrow, Mom. I have a feeling you’ll need it.” Her mother was sputtering in annoyance as Sage hung up on her.

And that was okay.

Sage looked at the mail in her hand and saw that one piece hadn’t come through the post but had been delivered directly to her mailbox—a large, rectangular ivory envelope with gold-embossed print. She tore it open.

Careful script on expensive card stock held an invitation.

Sage,

The entire Westerly family invites you to join us at my home tomorrow evening, Saturday, at 5:00 p.m. for a meal and whatever mayhem might ensue as a result of our gathering. Please feel free to invite anyone you would like to accompany you.

RSVP as soon as you receive this, because I’ll be holding my breath until you do,

Eric

After hugging it to her chest, Sage reread the invitation again and again. He had done what she’d asked. She texted Bella with the news, then read the invitation a few more times.

She stuffed the rest of her mail back into her box and headed out into the afternoon sun. She took out her phone while she walked and texted, I would love to.

He replied almost instantly. They’re all here except my youngest sister, Nicolette. She’s flying in tomorrow morning.

At the corner of her street, she let her feet guide her and smiled when she realized the direction she’d taken. I’m hungry. I think I’ll get a sandwich at the place next to our coffee shop.

Eric: I’m always hungry.

Sage: Maybe I’ll see you there.

He didn’t respond immediately. I’ll have to come as Wayne, unless you’re okay with having absolutely no privacy.

She understood now that the scar was not a lie—it was a tool that freed him. I like Wayne. The only problem I ever had with him was his aggression toward clowns.

Eric: ??? Oh. Yeah. That’s Reggie’s sense of humor.

Sage: I figured.

Eric: It’ll take me about thirty minutes to get to you.

Sage: I’ll get us a table.

If Sage’s feet touched the pavement after that, she didn’t feel it. She kept smiling at strangers along the way as she texted Bella where she was going. Not only had he arranged the dinner she’d requested, but like her, he didn’t want to wait until then to get together.

She accidentally bumped into someone going in the other direction. Sage apologized and was about to keep walking when the young woman asked, “Were you in the Eric Westerly video? The one with the flowers and the limo?”

“Uh, no. No, I wasn’t.”

“Sorry, you look just like her. Can I take a selfie with you anyway?”

Sage was shaking her head to refuse, but the woman had already lined up her shot and had taken it. She obediently smiled when the woman told her to, mostly because the entire exchange had caught Sage off balance. She was used to being invisible.

“Thanks, my followers will love this. I’ll just say you might have been her. That’ll be good enough. Cool.” With that, the young woman disappeared into the crowd.

It was Sage’s first taste of being in the public eye, and it gave her a new appreciation for what it must be like for Eric. It also made her worry that someone might see them together and see through Eric’s disguise. He was hiding in plain sight. The only reason the scar worked was because no one had a reason to doubt it. She didn’t want to be the reason they did.

Since he was probably already en route, she called rather than texted. “Hey.”

“Hey, yourself. I’m halfway there.”

“I’m not sure we should meet in public.”

“Why?”

She told him what had just happened. “It was only once. It might be nothing, but I thought you should know. I’d hate for people to draw a connection between you and Wayne.”

After a pause, he said, “I have an idea. It’ll mean I won’t be there for another hour, though. Is there somewhere else you need to be?”