Page 390 of How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother
Summer:Just kidding. One more. Harry Styles. The internet says he and Flint are FRIENDS, Audrey. FRIENDS.
Lucy:Okay. You’re safe. I stole her phone. Love you, Auds! Have fun!
Chapter Twenty-Three
Flint
The cast and crewofTurning Tidesare set up in three different hotel rooms, with a fourth room available to us when we need coffee or food or just a break away from the reporters who will be cycling through in ten-minute intervals.
As expected, I’ll be interviewed with Claire. We’re the stars of the movie, so it only makes sense, but I’m not looking forward to an entire day sitting right beside her. At least Audrey will be there, visible to meandClaire. I just have to hope that will be enough to make her behave.
So far, I haven’t even seen her.
The hotel room door opens, and I look up, expecting Claire. We’re supposed to start in less than ten minutes, so she should show up any second. Instead, it’s the director ofTurning Tides,Lea Cortez, who comes in. She smiles wide when she meets my gaze, and I stand, hurrying over for a hug.
“Oh, it’s so good to see you!” she says, squeezing my shoulders before letting me go. Her eyes flit to where Audrey is standing just behind us, then she leans forward. “Excellent timing, Flint,”she says knowingly. “You happened to get a girlfriend just in time for the premiere, huh?”
The question doesn’t surprise me. Lea is fully aware of what Claire has been up to the past few months, and she knew my team was trying to figure out a way to make it stop.
“Let’s call the timing fortuitous instead of suspicious,” I say, reaching for Audrey’s hand.
She steps forward and slips her fingers into mine.
“Lea, this is my girlfriend,” I say, not even tripping over the words. Maybe because now, they feel true. “Doctor Audrey Callahan.”
Audrey reaches out and shakes Lea’s hand. “And this is Lea Cortez. Director ofTurning Tidesand my very good friend. She and her wife, Trista, were my neighbors when I lived in Malibu.”
“You’ve caught yourself a good one,” Lea says to Audrey, her tone warm. “Are you a doctor of medicine? What’s your specialty?”
“Not medicine,” Audrey says. “I have my PhD in wildlife biology.”
“Oh, I love that.” Lea snaps her fingers. “Actually, have you ever done any consulting? I’m reading this script right now, andoh,it’s so gorgeous. Historical. West Virginia mountains. A little bit of coal mining, a little bit of falling in love. But there’s one character who’s this activist, in opposition to the mining industry for environmental reasons, and I’m feeling like the science is a little thin. Would you be willing to take a look? Give me your professional opinion?”
Audrey’s eyebrows lift. “Oh. I…sure. I’d be happy to.”
I give Audrey’s waist a reassuring squeeze. This is the first I’ve heard of the script Lea’s reading, but Audrey would be a perfect consultant. The woman knowseverythingabout everything.
“Truly? That would be amazing,” Lea says.
The door behind us opens again, and this time it really is Claire. Her gaze meets mine for the briefest second, then she looks down, a flash of trepidation crossing her features.
It isn’t what I’m expecting, and I narrow my eyes.
“Okay. Looks like we’re getting started. I’ll see you on the other side.” Lea heads across the hall to where her interviews are taking place, and I pull Audrey into my arms. She settles against me with an easy comfort that warms me from the inside out.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I say, smiling down at her.
“I’m glad I’m here too.”
“We’re ready to roll,” a voice says from behind me.
“They’re just waiting on you, Flint,” Joni calls.
I look at Joni and nod, then lean down and kiss Audrey, lingering long enough to cause a few snickers and whispers to sound across the room. “Promise you’ll stay where I can see you?” I ask when I finally pull away.
She leans up and kisses me again. “I promise.”
I pass Joni on my way to the middle of the room where Claire’s waiting for me, and she grabs my arm, halting my progress. “So we’re kissing now?” she whispers under her breath.
