Page 65 of Dirty Love

“Ah, right.” He’s running for President, although nobody here takes him seriously. “Well, welcome. Are you staying for the show?”

“We are, yes.” She points to the hallway. “My step-daughters are big fans of your opening act, so they’re meeting them right now. I thought I’d come in and say hello to you.”

We couldn’t be more opposite, this woman and me. She’s wealth and class and sophistication, and I’m…best known for being bisexual.

But she’s beaming at me, and I know that look. No, she doesn’t want in my pants. That’s a similar look.Thisis the look of an adoring fan.

Well how about that. I beam right back at her. “I’ve got a few minutes, if you want to sit and chat?”

“I’d love that.”

It turns out Ginnifer Best is a little bit awkward, and a whole lot nerdy. I know her official back story. She was a teen beauty queen in Florida, and her parents were friends with Victor Best and his previous wife. When his wife fell ill with breast cancer, nineteen-year-old Ginnifer joined the family as an au pair to their two pre-teen daughters.

And when he was widowed two years later, he married his nanny within three months.

Their son, Thomas Jefferson Best, was born eleven months later.

I remember how young and innocent—and overwhelmed—she looked in those early days under constant media scrutiny. Now she’s poised and polished on screen, but right now as we talk about the pressures of living out of a suitcase and managing a business from the road—because she has a successful fitness and health website, too—I see glimpses of that innocent girl, thrust into a life she wasn’t fully prepared for.

I know all about that.

Hang on for the ride, honey.

“Can I tell you a secret?” she asks, leaning in.

“Of course.”

“I used to singFlyto my son when he was a baby. I know it’s dark, but…there’s something about it that makes it a lullaby. Is that weird?”

Hot, unexpected tears burst behind my eyelids and it takes everything in my power to not let them fall. “No,” I whisper. “That’s sort of how I wrote it. Nobody’s ever picked up on that before.”

“Really?” She looks down at her hands and flutters them. “Then they aren’t listening closely enough. It’s beautiful. Anyway, I should let you finish getting ready, and we need to take our seats…”

I stand, and when she leans in for a hug, I let her. We’re both wearing heels, but she’s got a solid six inches on me, and my cheek presses into her shoulder.

For a society lady, she gives really good Mom hugs.

I realize with a weird, painful start that I don’t actually remember when I had an embrace like this. Shit, I’m totally going to cry on her thousand-dollar silk blend t-shirt.

And I’m still hugging her.

I drop my arms and step back, and we both laugh.

“This is going to sound weird,” she starts to say at the same time as I open my mouth.

“What are you guys doing tomorrow?” I ask, thinking I could invite her and her step-daughters to do something age appropriate, since after the show is not a good idea.

She shakes her head. “We’re actually flying to Vegas. Victor’s going to meet us there for the weekend, but we have two days of girl stuff planned.” She bites her lip. “I know we just met, but…do you want to come with us? When is your next show?”

“Monday in Salt Lake City.” I give her an incredulous look, because this is kind of serendipitous. “And most of my band and crew are already going to Vegas. I wasn’t planning on it, but…plans can change.”

We exchange contact information, and she reassures me there’s lots of room on their private plane for me to come with them.

Even for a rock star, this is kind of surreal, but okay.

I think I’ve found my first friend who doesn’t want to fuck me, fuck me over, or use me for my music connections. Not at all how tonight was going to go down, but even better.

During the show, I dedicateFlyto her, and point into the darkness. Ginnifer Best, the universe is conspiring in the weirdest of ways, but I think I like it.

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