Love Your Life(90)

“Amazing,” I say politely. “Well done you, for knowing celebrities.”

“Well.” Genevieve gives a self-deprecating laugh. “In a way, I am a celebrity. In an itty-bitty way.” She laughs again and smooths down her hair. Clearly what she means is “in a gigantic, colossal way.”

    I’ve really had enough of this conversation, and I glance around to see if Matt is nearby. But to my dismay, Genevieve grabs my arm as though we’re best chums.

“You’re the one with the dog, aren’t you?” she says cozily, as though Matt has ten girlfriends, all with different pets. “I heard how you ripped my face to bits.” She tinkles with laughter. “So funny.”

“It was an accident,” I say, and Genevieve smiles kindly at me.

“Please. Ava. You don’t need to feel threatened. You mustn’t feel threatened! I said this to the last girl too. I said, ‘Look, I’m close to the family, I understand the family, I dated Matt for longer than any other girlfriend…but at the end of the day, what does that mean? That I’m still in the frame? No! It’s his life. He’s out there, having fun before he…’?” She gives an easy shrug. “You know.”

Her words are shimmering through my head and I’m trying to unpick them, but she’s such a pink, toxic presence, it’s hard.

“No, I don’t know,” I say at last.

“Oh my God.” Genevieve puts down her coffee, blinking innocently. “I’m not saying he’s going to end up with me. That’s not what I’m saying. Who am I? I’m out of the picture! Biscuit?”

“No thanks,” I say, trying desperately to catch sight of Matt.

“His parents still keep in touch, though, isn’t that sweet?” continues Genevieve in musing tones. “They actually fill me in on his love life, which is hilarious. The girl he dated straight after me? The one he met doing martial arts? She was loopy.” She gives me a conspiratorial smile. “Elsa was straight on the phone to me: ‘Genevieve, what am I going to do?’ And I said, ‘Elsa my love, relax, it’s just a fling—he’s not going to marry her.’ And then of course it ended so acrimoniously.” She smiles sweetly. “I’m sure Matt’s told you.”

    Her eyes are probing me as though to find a weakness. As though she already suspects I know less about Matt’s past than she does. Well, she can sod off, because who had sex with him last night?

“Actually, we don’t look backward,” I reply in pleasant tones. “Because we have so much to look forward to in our beautiful future together. In fact, Matt’s so uninterested in his ex-girlfriends that the subject never comes up. For example, I’m trying to think of the number of times he’s mentioned you, Genevieve.” I crinkle my brow thoughtfully. “Oh yes. None.”

“Well.” Genevieve’s smile freezes. “If I can be any help, please let me know. Oh, Matt, there you are.”

“Hi.” As Matt joins us, his eyes swivel uneasily from Genevieve to me and back again. “So…you guys have been talking. Great.”

“Yes, isn’t it great?” I say. “So great. But I’ll let you two get ready for the event now,” I add, seizing the chance to escape. “Have fun!”

As I stride out of the Green Room, I’m breathing heavily. What was that? She’s the most narcissistic bighead I’ve ever met.

    “Wait. Ava.” Matt appears at my side, dodging a pair of handsome young men wearing heavy makeup, Harriet wigs, and sequined evening dresses. “Sorry. Sorry. I know she’s—”

“Matt!” A young guy in a well-cut suit interrupts us and pumps Matt’s hand cheerfully. “Great to see you.”

“Hi, Mike,” says Matt, brightening. “Didn’t know you were coming over. This is Mike,” he adds to me. “Runs U.S. marketing. Mike, Ava.”

“Hi,” I say, smiling politely.

“I had some meetings in London anyway,” says Mike. “So I thought I’d take in the expo….” He glances around at the milling crowds. “Attendance looks good. Any news on the Harriet movie release?”

Movie? Matt tells me nothing.

“Nothing recently,” says Matt. “But you’ll be the first to know.”

“Sure.” Mike nods easily, then adds in a lower voice, “I hear you’re going out to Japan for a while, Matt? Reading between the lines, I think they need you out there. It’s pretty chaotic. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they heard the news.”

My eyes dart toward Matt, waiting for him to explain that he’s not going to Japan, but his face has frozen.

“Right,” he says at last, avoiding my gaze. “Well, it’s a complex situation.”

Complex? What’s complex?

    “Sure is.” Mike glances at his watch. “Oh, I have to go. Great to bump into you! And to meet you, Ava.”

He strides off with a cheery wave and I turn to Matt, determined not to overreact.

“He’s got the wrong end of the stick somehow!” I say with a laugh.

“Huh,” says Matt.

I wait for more, but it doesn’t come, and I stiffen. What’s going on?