All the Way (Romancing Manhattan #1)(57)

“Don’t be stupid,” I mutter to myself. “He’s in North Carolina. Someone just looked a lot like him.”

I shrug and continue down the street to my favorite deli for a sandwich, and for my meeting, which is still a good fifteen minutes away.

I sit outside and enjoy it, watching dance videos on YouTube. Dance videos that I happen to be in, studying my form.

Damn, I was good.

My phone rings, making me grin.

“Hey girlfriend.”

“You sound chipper today,” Sasha says, breathing hard. “The call must not have been urgent.”

“Not at all, I was just wondering if you were busy, which you clearly are.”

“Rehearsal,” she says. “What are you doing?”

“I met with Finn’s brother, Quinn, who wanted to grill me about my intentions with his brother.”

“That sounds like fun,” she says dryly.

“Actually, I threatened his manhood, and assured him that I’m not with Finn for his money.”

“Let’s be honest, the money doesn’t hurt,” Sasha says.

“Shut up, I am not with him for his money.”

“Okay, what else is up?”

“I’m meeting with Fiona Masterson in just a few minutes.” The idea sends butterflies fluttering in my stomach. “I’m going to ask her about the project you told me about.”

“That’s so amazing, London. Seriously. And we need to get together soon so you can fill me in.”

“Well, tomorrow is Finn’s birthday, so I’ll be with him all day, but after that, I’m flexible.”

“Okay, I’ll text you and we’ll set something up. Good luck with Fiona.”

“Thanks.”

I end the call and toss my phone in my handbag, then glance up to see a woman with fiery red hair striding purposefully toward me, a smile on her face.

Fiona and I have walked in the same circles for years. We’re not strangers.

“London,” she says, leaning in for a hug. “It’s good to see you. I was excited when I got your call.”

“It’s good to see you too. Thanks for sending the script over to me. I had a chance to read it on the plane from L.A. the other day.”

She sits and fidgets in her seat. “What did you think?”

“I love it,” I reply honestly. “It’s beautiful. Heartbreaking. Funny. It hit me in all of the feels, and that’s not easy.”

“Thank you so much.”

“And I’d like to fund it.”

She stops cold, staring at me. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

Her mouth opens and closes in surprise.

“I thought you’d asked to see it because you were interested in the lead part.”

I shake my head. “I think it’s a story that needs to be told. It’s important, and I think people will identify with it.” I bite my lip. “I can identify with it.”

She tips her head to the side, wanting me to explain more, but I don’t. I like Fiona, but she’s not my confidante.

“Are you telling me that you want to back the whole show? On your own.”

I nod.

“And do you also want to star in it?”

I sit back, considering it. It’s a beautiful role. “Honestly, no. I don’t have time right now to commit to it, and I think it hits a little too close to home for me. But I know that it’ll get cast wonderfully. This show is going to be a success, Fiona.”

We stay for another hour, talking about specifics, more contracts, timelines, and then Fiona checks the time and has to run. But we both leave the meeting feeling excited and optimistic.

It feels good to support something that my parents would also be proud of.

I stand and throw my trash away, and when I turn to walk home, a man walks down the intersecting block, and again, I’d swear it’s Kyle.

“It’s not,” I tell myself. “He’s just on your brain lately.”

I shrug it off and walk home, arriving just before the sun starts to set. I can tell that summer is beginning to wind down because it gets dark earlier every day. But I love fall, with the trees turning color. It’s beautiful here then.

But I’ll be in L.A. I don’t think the trees turn the way they do here. At least it’ll be warm.

Maybe I’ll rent a place with a pool so I can sit out and take advantage of being in the warm weather later into the year. That’ll be awesome.

“Hello, Miss Watson,” the doorman says with a smile. “You’ll want to check in at the desk. Something arrived for you earlier.”

“Thanks,” I reply, and walk up to the receptionist at the front desk. “I’m London Watson. Did something come for me?”

“These beauties,” she says with a smile, pointing to the huge bouquet of red roses on the desk. “They smell amazing.”

“I bet they do,” I murmur, and pick them up, surprised by how heavy they are. Once inside my condo, I pull the card out of them and open it.

L—

Just thinking about you today.

Love,

Finn



He might be the sweetest man ever conceived. He’s thoughtful, and protective, and those are things that I don’t have a lot of experience with. Sometimes I think he oversteps a bit, but I have a feeling that gift giving is his love language.