Page 38 of Stone Promises

“Not the whole thing,” I say. “They still do delivery. Don’t worry, the people of New York can still have their favorite pizza tonight.”

“That must’ve cost you hundreds, or maybe thousands. Chad, you shouldn’t have.”

I’m not about to tell her it cost me over ten grand. “Don’t worry about it.” I can see she’s about to argue the point, so I add, “I didn’t do it to impress you, Mallory. I did it for me. I just wanted one night where I could go out and feel normal. Go to a regular place like everyone else and enjoy dinner like everyone else does, without cameras going off every ten seconds. Without having to pretend I don’t mind being interrupted twenty times when I’m trying to eat. Without having to worry about every goddamn facial expression and mannerism because they could end up plastered all over TMZ. This was our place, Mal. I wanted to bring you here for a normal dinner. Please don’t make me feel bad about it.”

She closes her eyes and takes a breath. Then she looks at me with a sad smile. “I’m sorry. I didn’t even think about what it must be like for you to have a night out. Of course you should be allowed to go to your favorite places without being mobbed. I don’t know how you do it.” She looks around the old familiar place we used to come to on special occasions. “Thank you for bringing me here. It looks the same, but somehow different.”

My eyes don’t leave her face. “I completely agree.”

She takes a drink of her beer, smiling at the taste. “You got my favorite,” she says. Then she nods at my glass of ice water. “You’re not drinking? Does it bother you that I am? I don’t have to.”

“It doesn’t bother me at all, Mal. I want you to enjoy yourself.” I point to the ice bucket next to the table. “I’m saving myself for the good stuff.”

She laughs. “Pizza and champagne. Now I know I’ve died and gone to heaven.”

That laugh. This girl. I’m the one who’s in fucking heaven.

Chapter Twelve

Mallory

He watches me take another drink, almost like he’s jealous of the glass. “Wait a second,” he says. “You said this place looks the same but different. I thought you said you’d been here since we were kids. In the car, you said the pizza is even better now.”

I shake my head. I haven’t stepped foot in this place since he left. It didn’t seem right. It wasourplace. “I haven’t been inside since we were kids. But my friend, Melissa, lives a few blocks over and sometimes we get takeout when I crash there.”

My phone rings. Darn, I forgot to shut off the ringer. “Sorry,” I say, switching the sound off. I notice Julian is trying to call me.Sonot a good time.

A waitress arrives, putting a hot loaf of sliced cheese bread on the table. She fumbles with it, almost spilling it in my lap, obviously nervous about serving the famous Thad Stone. “You really can’t get away from it, can you?” I ask after she leaves the table.

He shrugs. “Sometimes I put on a ball cap and glasses and go out and walk the streets, just to feel anonymous for a little while.”

I shake my head at the thought of it. “You have to disguise yourself just to take a walk? I have to ask, is it worth it? Is making movies worth all the lost freedom? I mean, you have enough money without it, so why do it if you don’t like all the attention?”

“Why didyoudo it?” he asks me. “Why did you act in all those plays in middle school and high school?”

I think about his question as I pick at a piece of bread. “I don’t know, I guess because I liked pretending to be something I wasn’t. Because I liked making other people happy when they watched me. And maybe because I thought I was good at it.”

He nods. “You weregreatat it, Mal. And that’s why I do it—for all those reasons and more. It’s the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. It’s something I can be proud of. I’d do it even if they didn’t pay me for it.”

My phone starts vibrating across the table. Chad motions to it. “Someone really wants to get a hold of you. You should answer it.”

“Okay. I’ll make it quick.” I pick up my phone and look at the screen. Darn, it’s Julian again. I shoot a guilty glance at Chad before I answer it. “Hey.”

“Hey to you, too,” Julian says. “What’s up?”

“Not much. Just getting a bite to eat.” I peek at Chad who is munching on a piece of bread.

“Having anything interesting? Or anyone?”He laughs.

I shift uncomfortably in my seat. This is not the time to tell him I’m out with Chad. “Uh, no, it’s just me.” I hate lying to him. But I don’t have time for him to give me a lecture.

“Want to meet up tonight? There’s a band I’ve been wanting to see that will be playing at Gringo’s later.”

“I can’t. I have to grade papers.” I look anywhere but at Chad. He’s stopped eating and I can feel his eyes burning into me.

“It’s Friday, Mallory. Can’t those wait?” Julian pouts.

“I know it’s Friday, but I have so much work to do. It’s just not a good night, Julian. Listen, I have to go, I’ll call you tomorrow, okay? We’ll make plans then.” It’s such an obvious blow-off, I expect him to argue, but he doesn’t.

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