Page 12 of The Rom-Commers

He’d lived a whole lifetime since then—most notably, coming out in college, and calling me proudly to declare that I was the last girl he would ever date.

“I’m honored,” I said.

“Right? Exactly. No woman will ever replace you.”

I wasn’t entirely sure what Logan’s life was like these days, but Iassumed it was full of awesome parties and awesome food and awesome people. So I was highly surprised when a decidedlynotawesome guy named T.J. called on speaker before we’d even left the airport grounds.

“Lo! Gan!” This guy T.J.’s voice boomed, seeming to rattle the interior of the car. “What’s up? Did you pick up that girl?”

“I have her here.”

“Don’t tell her she’s a career-killer,” T.J. said.

I frowned at Logan.

“T.J.,” Logan said, “you’re on speaker.”

“I am?” A pause. “That’s fine. I’ll own it. The last thing the great Charlie Yates needs to do right now is to siphon off all his testosterone and write lady movies with the girls.”

Logan poked at the controls on his dash and said, “You know what? I’ll call you back.”

But before he could hang up, T.J. added, “And by the way, this job should have gone to someone who’s actually had some work produced.”

“Bad connection!” Logan said, as he hitEND.

Then a long silence as the seams in the concrete moved rhythmically under the tires.

Finally, I said, “That felt a little hostile.”

“He’s not even supposed to know about you. But my assistant has a thing for him.”

“A screenwriter, I presume?”

Logan nodded. “He wrote and directedBeer Tower. AndBeer Tower II: The Reckoning.”

I’d never heard of either of those movies.

“They were huge on YouTube,” Logan said.

“Were they… good?”

“Hell, no!” Logan said. “But he synthesized a ton of horizontal integration. The sponsorship from Solo Cups alone put it in the black.”

“How have I never heard of this movie?”

“You’re not exactly the target audience.”

“Did he want the Charlie Yates job for himself?” I asked.

“Can you blame him?”

“He just seemed douchey.”

“He’s not used to not getting things.”

“Why is that again?” I asked.

“Because he’s third-generation Hollywood royalty. And he’s ridiculously well-connected. AndBeer Towermade ten million dollars—beforeBeer Tower IImade twenty.”

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