Page 35 of How to Kiss a Movie Star
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“So sheisstill your ex.”
I sigh. “Definitely. But apparently, she’s happy to let the world think she isn’t.”
“That really sucks.”
“Whatever. I don’t want to talk about it. How are you? How’s the baby?”
Lennox smiles wide. “She’s great. Sleeping like a champ. You should come by and see her some morning. She’s growing so fast, man. It feels like she’s different every time I see her.”
“Yeah? I’d like that.”
Maybe this has been my problem. Instead of thinking like a bachelor, looking for nights out with my brothers, I need to think like a dad and show up for breakfast and playdates.
We eat in silence for another minute until Lennox drops his fork, his plate clean. He nods toward my phone. “So what are you going to do about Claire? Is this one of those situations where you’ll get in more trouble if you respond?”
“Maybe. It’s more complicated because ofTurning Tides.I don’t want to start something and have it reflect poorly on the movie.”
“Who cares about the movie? She’s yanking you around, and that’s not cool. If it were me, I’d take back control however I could.” He stands and motions toward my plate. “You finished?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
He takes my empty plate, stacking it with his own, then heads toward the door. “I’ve got to get back to work, but seriously, come by anytime. You’re always welcome.”
He leaves me in his office, promising he’ll send in dessert if I have time to wait around a few more minutes. I reach for my phone—I’m not about to turn down one of Lennox’s desserts—and scroll back to the picture Claire posted.
Lennox is right. I can’t let her keep doing this.
Making sure I’m logged in to my public Instagram account, I post a comment on Claire’s picture.I remember this night! We’d just filmed our last scene together for #TurningTides. So many happy memories! See you at the premiere!
Then I text Joni and ask her to send over Audrey’s address.
If this is ever going to work, there’s one enormous hurdle I have to leap over first.
I have to get Audrey to agree.
Chapter Nine
Audrey
WhenIfirsthearmy sisters scream, my mind automatically jumps to the worst possible scenarios.
Something is on fire. A murderer has broken in to kill us. A tree has fallen on the house and crushed our living room.
It only takes five seconds for my brain to decide that, knowing my sisters, it’s something much less sinister. A giant spider. A wasp caught inside the kitchen. Or—I don’t know. A mouse, maybe? This is areallyold house.
But then my sister’s screams turn into squeals and move down the hallway toward my bedroom.
“Oh-my-gosh, oh-my-gosh, oh-my-gosh,” Summer says as she and Lucy appear in my doorway. Lucy has a hand pressed to her heart, and both wear matching expressions, their eyes wide.
I stay on my bed, where I’ve been reading for the past hour. They look happy, not worried, which means there probably isn’t a murderer chasing them, so I don’t see a reason for me to get out of my very comfortable cocoon. “What?” I motion between them. “What is this? What’s happening?”
“Um, Flint Hawthorne’s on the front porch.”
“What? No, he’s not.” I still don’t move, but my heart starts hammering in my chest.
“Yes,he is,” Lucy says. “We just watched through the living room window as he climbed out of a very shiny truck, and now he’s on the porch.”
