Page 76 of Even Ground

She smiles. “Good. Josh is out tonight at some event, but I had a headache so I stayed home.”

I frown. “That’s not like you. Are you feeling better?”

“After some good painkillers and a ton of water, heaps better. And then I was thinking about how much I missed you, so here I am.”

“I’m always happy to hear from you. How are things other than you feeling awful?”

Her contented sigh tells me everything I need to know. “So good. Josh has an idea for another movie, so he won’t be leaving LA any time soon. I know we have a plan for if he has to travel, but I really didn’t want to.”

I grin. “He’ll always put you first. You know that.”

Delaney smiles. “Josh even offered to stay home with me tonight, but now he’s got this production company going and they’re making the movie, I think networking is more important than ever for him.” She rolls her eyes. “Reece didn’t go, but he waited until Josh left for the evening to show up.”

I laugh. “Typical.”

“He’s actually been pretty responsible lately. Josh has been impressed.”

“Really?”

She shrugs. “Well, better than he was. He was always reliable when it came to being on set, and he works hard, but when it comes to the business side of things, he’s been pretty flakey. Things seemed to change after the wedding. It’s like my baby has grown up.”

I pop a chip in my mouth. It’ll buy me some time before I say anything else.

But I end up not having to because the one thing I can rely on Delaney to do is talk.

“And then there were these stupid photos of him and Gabby on set. Gabby was so pissed. I mean, remember when they linked her to Josh? And now Reece. It’s just ridiculous.”

I swallow hard. “It must really suck for her.”

“Right? I mean Antonio and her are joined at the hip most of the time.” As if her and Josh aren’t the same. “But, oh my God, Pania. The sex scene in the movie. Josh showed me and it is hot. Reece and Gabby are on fire on screen together. I’m not sure how they do it.”

I eat another chip in an attempt not to think about that. Even on screen, seeing Reece with Gabby might just break my heart now. I’m a long way from where I was a few months ago when I watched the movie of his on the plane. I haven’t seen one since.

“Oh, and Gabby’s tits are to die for.”

The chip goes down the wrong way, and I let out a choked cough, patting my chest as I try and recover from the chip and Delaney’s words.

“I told Josh if I ever got plastic surgery, I’d get my boobs redone to look like Gabby’s, and he took me seriously. He was all—”

“Delaney.” I can’t breathe for laughing.

Her eyebrows knit and she deepens her voice. “Delaney. You don’t need new tits. I love yours the way they are.”

Her impression of her husband is so accurate, all it does is make me laugh harder. “Of course he’s going to say that. He loves you.”

“And then of course Reece put his two cents worth in and told me it was a great idea. That just set Josh off all over again.” She leans back on her pillows, tears in her eyes as she laughs as hard as I am.

“You do such a great impression of Josh.”

Delaney’s smile’s as wide as I’ve ever seen it. “You should hear Melly. Her accent hasn’t changed, but she’s learned to imitate her father and it’s so funny. I’ll call earlier next time so you can hear it.”

“I’d love that.” I rub my neck. “I miss you guys.”

“We all miss you. It’s like I’ve lost a limb without you here.” She wells up, and I know how deep Delaney feels things. She’s always been the Robin to my Batman.

“It’s weird not being around you. I’m just glad we have Skype, and one day I’ll come and visit.”

“I’m hoping once this movie’s done, we can come for a holiday. We’ll go to the house down south, but there’s no way I won’t be seeing you.”

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