Page 21 of After the Red Carpet
She squeezed him tighter and said, “I love you too.”
“Relax. Like I said before, she’s adjusting,” Michael said, inspecting his reflection in the mirror and smoothing his hair.
“Yeah, but by now . . .” Finn muttered.
“What?” Michael asked, picking up a bottle of hair spray and giving his coif a spritz.
“I had hoped that she would feel like it was her home by now. Every time she calls it ‘Finn’s house,’ my heart breaks a little. The thought of losing her again is unbearable.”
“Why don’t you just talk to her about it?”
“I can’t. Last time, I pushed her before she was ready, made her promise things she wasn’t ready to say. I won’t make that mistake again. It has to come from her. That’s the only way it will feel real to both of us.” He sighed heavily and added, “Her side of the closet is mostly empty, and there’s a part of me that wonders if it’s so she can make a break for it more easily, if she decides she can’t do this.”
“Ella never struck me as a clotheshorse. She probably doesn’t give a shit about that kind of stuff.”
“You’re right,” Finn said. “I’m probably just twisting myself into knots over nothing. Besides, she told me she had some shopping to do this week.”
“Well, there you go.”
Finn huffed. “It’s funny. I couldn’t care less about clothes or the Hollywood scene or any of that superficial junk. We’re alike in that way. It’s something I love about her. I don’t know why this has even become something in my mind. It’s like I’ve made it symbolic of something, but it’s all just in my imagination.”
“You’re just a little on edge because of how she dumped you before,” Michael said.
“Gee, thanks,” Finn said.
“Sorry, that came out wrong. She set a date. That says everything you need to know.”
Finn nodded. “You’re right. I’m being ridiculous. Actually, she said she can’t wait to get married.”
“See, there you go. You’re golden.” Michael smoothed his hair one more time. “I just hope Lauren doesn’t get any ideas when we’re at your place tomorrow night. You know, about getting married.”
“You love her, you live together, you have a kid. You really won’t marry her?”
Michael shrugged. “I like to keep my options open.”
Finn chuckled and shook his head. “We really are different creatures. There’s nothing I want more than to know Ella and I will always be together.”
“THANKS FOR COMING WITH ME,”Ella said to Marni as they snaked through narrow pathways lined to the ceiling with bolts of fabric on either side. “I’m still learning how to get around in LA. This fabric shop is a gem. Look how beautiful these imported silks are.”
“No problem. You’re saving me from a meeting with a high-maintenance freelancer. There’s nothing like a mid-morning escape from the office to clear one’s head.But tell me again, why the hell are you going to all this fuss? In my experience, no relationship is worth it.”
“Well, Finn is worth it. Besides, you know how much I enjoy doing this kind of stuff.”
“Yeah, but making your own chair cushions or slipcovers or whatever? Isn’t that a bit much, even for you?” Marni asked. “The guy lives in a palace. Can’t you have one of his minions do this?”
Ella smirked. “I’m meeting his closest friends for the first time, people I may be seeing for the rest of my life. I want it to feel like . . .”
“Like India?” Marni asked sarcastically, gesturing at the bolt of embellished fabric Ella was touching.
“No, I want it to feel likeme.” Ella paused and said, “Finn and I are building a life together. I want to bring all of me to it, the best of me. When I meet his friends, I hope we have some fun and really get to know each other. Creating the right atmosphere matters.”
“And you’re willing to go to the ends of the earth to make that happen?” Marni asked skeptically.
“I’m willing to go the extra mile, or in this case, to a fabric store in Venice Beach.”
“Don’t you have a book project you’re supposed to be developing?”
“I will. Eventually,” Ella replied.
