Page 55 of Stay for Me
“You did say that.”
“Why do I feel like you’re mocking me?”
Catherine laughs. “Because I am. You know, in the last few years, you’ve never talked about a woman like this. Yeah, sure, you had those random hookups, and that one actress—whatever her name is—that you sort of liked, but I can hear a difference.”
If she were in front of me, I’d flip her off. “We’re friends, I like her kids, and we’re working on the play together.”
“Okay. Whatever you say.” I think she’s going to drop it, but then she says, “If it weren’t something you were thinking about, you wouldn’t have brought it up.”
“Nothing is going to happen.”
“I know. I believe you, Jacob. Truly. I mean, I don’t at all, but—”
“But you’re a pain in my ass.”
She snorts. “Yes, and you’re a walk in the park. Anyway, enough of this, I just got the email that Noah is on the line. I’ll start the video call.”
A few seconds later, Noah Frazier and Catherine’s faces are on the screen.
“Jacob, it’s great to see you again.”
“Noah, same.”
He smiles warmly. “How are things?”
“Good. You?”
A little girl’s head pops up from behind him, smiling mischievously. He turns. “Aubrey! I am on a call, shut the door.” His voice is firm, but she looks totally unfazed.
She walks in and does what he says. “You promised no work today and that you’d take me to the store.”
“And I will, but you need to give me some time.”
She tilts her head and then her eyes see the screen. “Is that Catherine?”
“Hey, sweetheart,” Cat says. “Where is your mom?”
“She’s out with Aunt Nicole. Noah promised he’d take me to the store so that I could get something Mom said I couldn’t.” Aubrey rests her elbows on the desk and then props her head on her fists so she takes up the whole screen.
Catherine chuckles. “How happy I’m sure she’ll be.”
She shrugs.
My phone pings with a text.
Catherine: Noah’s girlfriend is my cousin-in-law. That’s how Aubrey knows me. I used to represent Noah, but when they started dating, he went to another publicist.
Me: So, Noah left your company for another one, and now you have to work with him again because you represent me? How is that working for you?
Catherine: It happened years ago, so calm down. Besides, I would have broken the contract with him either way because of conflict of interest.
Aubrey speaks again. “Wait! You’re the Navigator, aren’t you?”
I smile. “I am.”
“That’s cool.” She turns to Noah. “Can we please go before Mom gets back?”
“I’m sorry about this, guys,” Noah says and then mutes the call as he talks to her.
