Page 22 of The Last Dance

‘Likewise.’ I hang my bag on the back of my chair and have a seat across the table from her, noticing that there aren’t two, but three places set at the table for four.

‘Oh.’ She notices my attention to the third place-setting. ‘My boyfriend will be meeting us here in a few. We’d already planned it when you called last night.’

‘Ah.’ I nod.

I’d say it was odd considering this is basically a business meeting but, like she said, this whole thing is kinda last minute. I’ll take her help however I can get it so if her boyfriend needs to join us, then so be it. Maybe I’ll get lucky and he’ll be some sort of celebrity himself.

‘Your uncle said you were new to town. How do you like it?’ I ask, hating small talk but having learned that it’s part of the business I’m in. Sometimes the best stories can come from the conversation that takes place before the actual interviews.

‘Well, I haven’t really seen that much of it yet. We’ve only been here about a week. But I’ve finally convinced my other half to show me around this afternoon. I’m really excited.’ She grins, as if she really is super-excited to see a city that I imagine to be a lot less exciting than someplace like Los Angeles.

‘I’ve always had fun here.’ I shrug.

‘What do you like to do?’

‘Oh, gosh. Well, concerts, shopping, the Saturday Market is always interesting, the Rose Garden is gorgeous, and people-watching, this is a great city for finding anything and everything weird.’

‘Keep Portland Weird, so they say.’ She laughs.

‘Thatisthe city’s motto…’ I laugh with her. And it truly gets weirder around here by the day. I love it.

‘What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen here?’

‘Um… besides the naked bike ride?’ I blow air into my cheeks with a laugh. ‘That one is probably the most mortifying actually. Especially when you happen upon it without realizing it’s going on.’ What is the weirdest thing I’ve seen though? Got it. ‘One night on my way home, I rounded the corner and saw a couple of Storm Troopers headed my direction. Like, totally authentic as if they walked right off theStar Warsset. That was a little weird.’

Karmen laughs with me. ‘Did you think you were under attack?’ She giggles. ‘I’d think it was normal if you were on a movie set but walking through the city, yeah, that’sdefinitelyweird.’

‘Yeah. My advice is to prepare yourself for anything around here.’

‘I’ll keep that in mind for sure.’ She straightens her silverware in front of her. ‘So, you said you’re looking for a celebrity story?’

‘Basically.’

‘I think I have the perfect thing. A friend of mine is playing tonight at the Crystal Ballroom. Do you know it?’

Do I know it? Of course I know it.

‘Of course, what band?’ I pull a notepad from my bag to take notes.

‘She’s brand new, Lyssa Coleman. She’s not exactly a celebrity yet, but she’s definitely headed in that direction. She’s doing a short opening for the actual opener. It’ll be her first big show.’

‘How cool. Is she local?’

‘She is. Born and raised in Oregon City. She’s an old family friend.’

‘Great. Sounds exactly like someone we’d feature.’

I think.

I actually glanced through Josh’s column last night and most of his stuff is on local no-name celebrities that are still exactly that. No wonder he hated his job. It’s no fun.

‘Perfect. If you want to meet us there at seven-ish to do a one-on-one interview? I can even get you a ticket to the show.’

She said us. I wonder what us she’s referring to. Her and Lyssa or her and the mysterious boyfriend that’s yet to show up? Maybe she’s playing out the boyfriend thing to get me out of here sooner when he calls with an emergency. Sounds exactly like something I would do.

‘That would be amazing. Thank you so much. I really appreciate this.’

‘Are you ladies ready?’ A waiter stands near the empty place setting ready to jot down anything we say.

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