Page 161 of Movers and Shakers

“Because you’re pictured pulling Lila Wilde into a car, with the caption, ‘Her new savior,’ which is really fucking sexist, by the way.”

“Who the fuck printed that?”

“Did you forget the part where you deny it’s you?”

“Would you believe me if I did?”

“Absolutely not. Your disguise isn’t going to work on meorTom.”

I let out a long sigh. “First of all, no one was supposed to see me.”

“That’s how it always starts,” she said. “But that’s not the biggest problem here. What does Rose think about all of this, Barry?”

“Rose?” I asked. “Why would she care?”

“Because you said you’rewithher,” Ruth snapped. “You’re my brother and I’d like not to have to kill you for cheating.”

I’d completely forgotten I had said that, but then again, I never thought I would be in LA helping Lila practice for her tour.

“She knows, Ruth. Of course she knows. She’s fine with it.”

“And does she know about your past with Lila?”

“Yes.”

“Really? I don’t get how she wouldn’t be worried about this.”

“You can even call her up and ask her when she’s free. I’m an open book.”

“Maybe I will. Give me her number.”

I pulled the phone away from my ear to send a message. “Sent it to you through text.”

“Thanks. I’ll follow up with her soon. Why are you in LA anyway? I thought you were done with Lila.”

“She . . . she needed help on something with her tour, and considering I know most of her songs, I was a good stand-in while they look for someone else.”

A gross feeling settled in my stomach. I hated not telling the whole truth to Ruth. She didn’t deserve to not know the whole story, but this also wasn’t my secret to keep or not keep.

“Interesting. Where’s Rose?”

“Here too. We’ve figured it all out. Everything’s fine.”

“It better be,” she warned. “And besides, I have more questions for you. Mom called.”

“God, what could she want?”

“She wanted to know if you and Wilfred had met. Obviously, he isn’t talking to her, and I didn’t say anything either. ButIwant to know more at least. So, how did it go?”

“I already told you it went fine.”

“Come on, other than threatening to kill you if you cheat on your girlfriend, I haven’t done anything to warrant you going back into your shell. Can’t you talk to me? You’ve been so tight-lipped about Wilfred to meandTom. Even at the party.”

“There isn’t much to say.” Another lie. Wilfred might have been the coolest person I’d met in a long time, and despite how busy I’d been, I’d wondered what he would think of all of this. Would he be proud? Or would he be like the man who I thought was my father?

I shook the thought out of my head the moment I had it. Wilfred was not like Todd Murray in any way. It was almost unfair to him even to think that.

Ruth sighed. “Fine. Then, is there anything we can catch up on? I’ve mostly been talking to Tom, and he’s only been talking about kids and marriage, which is fun for a while, but I need him to propose already so I can start planning with Selena.”

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