Page 20 of High Notes & Hail Marys

The table has thinned out considerably. Sandy slides down the bench.

“You good?” he asks, concerned. “You didn’t tell me you were sick.”

His worry touches you, along with his attention. Nobody’s in the immediate vicinity, so you shrug one shoulder.

“I’m really not. Just under the weather today and wanted Jameson off my jock.”

Sandy nods sagely, like that’s a completely valid problem-and-solution set.

“Anything you want to talk about? I’ve gotta attend a quick meeting before film, but I’ll have some time later.”

Against your will, which is currently grumpy, you crack half a smile.

“No, thanks,” you reply. “Means a lot, though.”

He laughs. Leans across the table and fuzzes your stubbly hair.

“I love your face, Kai. Always. I got your back.”

With that, Sandy gathers his things and leaves the vast room as well.

The interaction has emboldened you enough to flip your phone back over. Seeing a text from Sterling sends an anxious zing through your core. You chastise yourself for acting like a middle school girl and open the message. It’s practically a novel—Sterling is, above all things,wordy.

Sterling:Shit. Kai, I am SO sorry. Fraser is animpatient asshole. I TOLD him to hold off on getting in touch until you and I had talked, and I wanted to do it tonight. Lawyers suck. He cornered me in a meeting the other day (unrelated to my personal life) and pressed me on whether the papers needed to be drawn up. I told him in no uncertain terms that our relationship was going to progress on OUR terms, not his, but gave him the okay to get things in place. Maybe I was just hopeful? Idk. He messaged Maeve yesterday and told her that the documents were ready. I didn’t feel good about rushing the discussion. I can’t apologize enough. This is incredibly shitty. Are you mad? I would be mad. We should still talk. Don’t sign anything. I’m gonna bitch at Fraser myself. He majorly overstepped. Please don’t be mad. <3

Your immediate reaction is gratitude: thankgodyou didn’t send a pissy message. You flip your phone over between your hands a few times, letting your brain marinate in this new information.

On one hand, it still sucks that the guy you are seeing comes with so much baggage that an overzealous lawyer spoiled your discussion about taking the next step in your relationship. You’re still wrapping your head around that: thebaggagethat comes with being close to a superstar. Having lawyers, PAs (not to mention PAs’ assistants), publicists, and bodyguards as intermediaries between you and your partner. You haven’t even looked at the goddamn NDA in question. Itwill undoubtedly raise even more concerns and questions in your mind.

At the same time… yeah, youlikethe idea of taking the next step with Sterling. Him being your significant other. And not in the shallow way that the media thinks. Something real.

(That little heart at the end of the message. That’s a new one.)

Suddenly ravenous, you gather the scattered remains of your wrap into the middle of the tortilla and bundle it up into a lumpy roll that is more like asuggestionof real food. Something sloppy, concocted by a preschooler with a play kitchen. You take a massive bite. It is actually delicious. You dump all the remaining fruit into the bowl of yogurt and mix it up.

You lick your fingers and wipe them on a paper napkin before typing a reply.

You:we’re good, talking tonight sounds great

You:if i have a new position i expect to receive a signing bonus

Sterling attaches a “HAHA” react to the second message, and then a thumbs-up to the first. You know he’s busy, so you don’t try to chat. After quickly inhaling your lunch, you clean up and head in the direction of the screening hall. You’re glad you brought the protein bars with you.

Film review is going to last until around four. You don’t know it yet, but when you emerge from the darkness of the hall, blinking in the lights like a caveman, you are going to run into a very confused uniformed deliveryman pulling a wheeled cart. Sitting atop it will be an Edible Arrangement fruit display that looks like it was meant for a large corporate party. It will be about three or four feet long. Chunks of melon and pineapple arranged on jutting skewers, along with strawberries. Some carved out in flower shapes, sticking out of the long, low arrangement like an abstract garden. About half of the arrangement enrobed in chocolate. A massive banner will stretch from one side of the base to the other:

Congratulations on your promotion, Kai!

“Are you Mister Reinhart?” the guy will ask. “I’ve been pulling this thing around for about half an hour. This place should come with a guide-map.”

You’ll just laugh and shake your head.

“Let’s put it in the kitchen,” you’ll suggest. “Follow me. I think Taco Tuesday just got even better.”

Chapter Seven

User xXLovelyLila6708Xx:Okay, guys, I have a THEORY on why Kai and Ster haven’t been papped together. Everyone knows that A-listers keep the photogs on payroll. Right??? Well, it makes SENSE that they haven’t wanted to be photographed together. They are keeping it lo-key. Ster must have really serious feelings, because he wants Kai ALL TO HIMSELF. #graylingthoughts

User Gr@yl1ngQweeen:why am i watching these gawdawful american football matches if sterling isnt even going to show idk what these lads are doing throwing that ball around in all those pads just play rugby ffs why are some kicks worth 1 and some 3? D8

---