The Summer of Sunshine and Margot(27)

“Why aren’t you having sex?” she asked.

Sunshine nearly choked on her smoothie. “Excuse me?”

“I assume you could get someone in a hot minute. Or a cold one.”

“I could, but I’m not going to. I told you—I’m done with that. I want to be normal.”

“Normal people have sex.”

“Normal people have relationships. I’ve only ever had flings that, in the end, didn’t mean anything to either of us. I’ve run away from my life and my responsibilities because of the promise of a few weeks of bliss, and then what?” Her mouth twisted. “I wake up with the flu, alone in a hotel room in London with no guy, no job, no anything.”

Margot stretched her hand across the small table. Sunshine squeezed her fingers. The situation Sunshine was describing was exactly what had happened four months before, two days after their thirty-first birthday. She’d made her way from London to LA and had moved in with Margot, vowing she was going to change her life for the better. No more random guys, no more meaningless, slightly hedonistic existence. Instead she was going to achieve normality.

“I love you,” Margot said.

“I love you, too. Even though you’ve had your shit together for most of our adult lives.”

“Have not.” Margot set down her drink and held up one finger. “I nearly flunked out of my sophomore year of college because I went to Thailand with Dietrich.” She raised a second finger. “I missed registration and couldn’t get any of the classes I wanted because I was in Australia, also with Dietrich.” A third finger went up. “I was in Patagonia when I should have been interviewing for my dream job and instead I ended up as assistant manager at a midlevel hotel in San Francisco.”

“Which ultimately got you to the job you have now, which you love.”

“I think I would have loved managing a Peninsula Hotel, as well.”

“Not as much.”

“I’m not sure. My point is I could keep going. You’ve been stupid over a bunch of guys and I’ve been stupid over and over again about the same one. Neither of us wins an award. Instead we have to keep moving forward. Which we are.” She picked up her drink. “Quit being mean to someone I love.”

“I’m not being mean to myself.” Sunshine sighed. “I’m going to get through it. College, staying at my job, ignoring inappropriate men. Maybe I should give up on men for a while.”

“Or find someone appropriate.”

“Where?”

Margot shrugged. “I’m actually not the person to ask. I am appropriate-man free.”

Sunshine touched her plastic drink container to Margot’s. “Perhaps, but you are also Dietrich-free, and isn’t that nice?”

“It is. I’m going to change the subject and talk about my work.”

Sunshine raised her eyebrows. “Wow. You never talk about your work. Not in specifics. Or are you teasing me?”

“Bianca Wray is my client.”

Sunshine choked for a second time. “You said a client’s name out loud. Should I duck so the lightning doesn’t strike me, too?”

Margot smiled. She was very protective of the people she worked with and never discussed anything about them with anyone outside of her immediate supervisor.

“I have her permission to tell you.”

“To quote our friend Lizzy Bennet, I am all astonishment.” Sunshine tilted her head. “Wait a minute. Bianca Wray? The actress?” She sat up straighter. “The one who slept with all those guys and unfastened her halter dress on some award show, letting it drift to the ground, and she was naked underneath? I love her. She’s my hero.”

“I thought you were going for normal.”

“Oh right. Well, she was my hero. You’re working with her? Why?”

“I can’t say.”

Sunshine rolled her eyes. “You are a giant pain in my ass. So why did you tell me?”

“Bianca is going to be hosting a dinner party. I thought you’d like to come, along with your boss and Connor.”

Her sister leaned toward her. “Um, what? Your client, who has never met me, wants to invite me, the guy I work for, whom she also hasn’t met, and his kid to dinner?”

“Declan knows Bianca’s son, Alec, who will also be there. Alec hired Declan to design his gardens.”

Her sister’s expression turned knowing. “Alec? You haven’t mentioned any Alec.”

Margot willed herself not to react. “He’s Bianca’s adult son. He’s owns the house I’m staying in. He’s a talented scholar and his house is a beautiful, converted monastery. The dinner will be at his place. Bianca’s staying with him for a few weeks as we work on things.”

“You’re living with Alec? Funny how you didn’t mention that, nor the man himself. You’re keeping secrets.”

Margot felt herself flush, even though nothing flushworthy was going on anywhere in her life. Ridiculous pale skin.

“I’m not living with him. You’re deliberately misunderstanding me.”

“Is he hot?”

“He’s very intelligent.”

Sunshine simply looked at her.

Margot exhaled sharply. “He’s not unattractive.”