Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 111165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 556(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 556(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
“Uh yes?” I say to the woman.
“Are you Lazarus Scott?” she asks.
“Uh, yes?”
“Sorry to be so nosy,” she says, smiling warmly at Marina before turning her attention back to me. “I overheard them calling your name for the table. Are you the poet Lazarus Scott? Like, on Instagram.”
“That’s me,” I tell her. This is always awkward. Well, okay it’s not normally awkward when a gorgeous woman approaches me like this but it’s awkward now with Marina here. I don’t want her to feel left out.
“Wow, I thought so,” she says, brushing her stick-straight hair behind her ear. “I didn’t know what you looked like so I hoped it was you. I don’t mean to interrupt your date.” She glances again at Marina and smiles.
“It’s not a date,” Marina blurts out. “We’re just friends.”
Okay then. In case I was wondering where we stood, there we have it.
“Oh, okay. Cool,” the girl says. She sticks out her hand to me. “My name is Colleen. It’s nice to meet you.”
I shake her hand, my grip firm enough to leave an impression, but as hot as she is and as much as Marina made it clear we are just friends, I’m not interested.
“Lazarus. Nice to meet you.”
She takes her hand back, that big smile still on her face as she looks between the two of us. She points behind her. “Well, I’m going to go back to my table over there. Having a girl’s night with a few friends. Sorry for interrupting and I’m so glad I got to meet you.”
And with that and a little wave from her, she walks away to the back of the restaurant.
Marina is staring at me with an expression I can’t read. Is she…impressed?
“You know you’re getting famous when the famous are coming after you,” she says under her breath before she sips her drink.
“Famous?”
“You didn’t recognize her?” she asks incredulously.
“I don’t know, she kind of looks like everyone else in LA.”
“That’s Colleen Croix. She’s a big deal. She’s like in every movie now.”
“I stand by what I said.”
She leans across the table slightly. “She wanted you. Like, very obviously. You should go over there.”
“No,” I tell her.
“No? Why not?”
I study her carefully. I don’t know what she wants, if she’s pretending not to be interested in me because she thinks it will scare me. Or if she actually isn’t interested. So I decide I’m just going to tell her the truth.
“You say we’re just friends,” I tell her. “But we are on a date. And that means something to me. As did that kiss yesterday. I’m not going to go talk to that chick because I’m not interested in her. Right now, I’m interested in you.”
She watches me for a moment as she carefully swallows her drink. I think she’s trying not to choke on it. It’s not unusual to say what’s on my mind but I’ve never said anything about her quite like this.
Of course now she’s not saying anything in response, so there’s probably a reason why I never say shit like this.
But I’m just going to fucking own it.
“Look, Marina, I—”
Her phone starts ringing from her clutch on the table, rather loudly.
She jumps, spilling a bit of her drink and then quickly fumbles for it, glancing down at the screen. She frowns and holds up a finger, motioning that she’s going to take the call.
“Naomi?” she says into the phone. “What’s wrong?”
I watch Marina and wait. She worries her lip between her teeth, nods at whatever Naomi is saying. “Oh fuck, Naomi. I’m so sorry. I…yes I know. You did the right thing. No, don’t do that. Promise me you won’t do that. Okay, look I’m going to come and get you right now.”
Fuck.
“No, I’m just with Laz.”
Just with Laz.
Ow.
“But I’ll be there in like forty-five minutes, okay? You shouldn’t be alone right now. No, it’s fine, really. Okay I’ll be there soon.”
Marina hangs up the phone and gives me an overly apologetic look.
“Laz, I am so sorry.”
“It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine,” she says. “She just came home and found another woman in bed with Robert.”
“Jesus. What a piece of shit.”
“I know. She kicked them out but she can’t be alone.”
“Marina, I completely understand.” I look around for the nearest waiter and signal for him to come over. “We haven’t even ordered the main courses yet, we can just pay up and go.”
“But the appetizers,” she protests feebly. “We won’t be able to eat them.”
“It’s just food,” I tell her. “Your friend is more important.”
“But you’re my friend too.”
I nearly snap at her but I manage to rein it in. “I know. And I’m sure if the roles were reversed you would be coming to my side. You’re a sound friend, you know that? No one is going to fault you for always wanting to take care of people.”