Page 102 of Sizzle Reel

Kiki greets us at reception, and her whole face lights up when she sees, well, me. She hugs me over the desk.

“Where the hell have you been?” she says, glancing at Valeria.

I shrug. “Got myself a guardian angel.”

“So you’re not her personal assistant?”

I look at Valeria again. It’s a weirdly grounding moment. Yeah, I guess that must be what people would think. Being back here, seeing all the same faces, I know the fairy-tale aspect of this affair with Valeria (God, I love calling it an affair even if it barely was) is gone. I’m at peace with that, though.

“No,” I say. I put a hand on her biceps. “Just her hype lady.”

Valeria smiles and looks at Kiki. “Unpaid hype lady. We’re very opportunistic here.”

“Nate will be down to get you soon, Ms.Sullivan,” Kiki says.

Valeria and I move to the couches in the lobby. Two sweaty, suit-clad interviewees are reading over their résumés. I really don’t miss it here. I look over at the café and my palms start sweating. There’s no discreet way to wipe them on my shorts.

“You don’t have to wait for me,” Valeria says.

I take a deep breath. “It’s okay. I’m here to support.”

“Lune, you can’t even come into the room with me.”

I shiver a little hearing her call me Lune. She’s become as close as family. “Really. I can wait.”

She puts a hand over mine. “It’s going to be fine. You two are best friends. That’s not so easy to throw away.” She presses her hand against my upper back. “Go. Before your brownie cake melts.”

I need to learn how to make Romy happy in some way that doesn’t involve making two trays of these brownies in less than three months.

I smile, but it comes out more like a wince. “Brownies don’t melt.”

“But I will if you don’t leave and win your person.”

She squeezes my hand before I walk off. The café is maybe twenty feet away, and in order to get there I have to pass by the other Laura Owens painting. That has to be a good sign. One more breath and I’m in.

Romy is the only one in there. She’s wearing her barista uniform and wiping down the counter. She’s in the uniform I’m only now fully acknowledging makes her look so cute. We’re alone. I have no excuses. No excuses and—

Romy looks up, her eyes going watery. She blinks a few extra times.

Nowhere to hide.

I force a smile. “Hi.”

Her green eyes fall to the bags in my hands. “Did Valeria end up making you her personal assistant?” She doesn’t sound mad, just confused. It’s good. It’s a good sign.

I approach the counter and set my bags down. “These are actually for you.”

“Me?” Romy frowns, leaning away from me.

“Yeah.” I exhale. “For you. But that’s not the important part.”

The only noise in the room is the crinkling of my bags.

“Can I pitch a movie for us to make together?” I ask. “Just one more, for old times’ sake?”

Romy glances around the room. “As long as no one comes in here. I’m at work. We can’t do this at home?”

“Nope.”

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