Page 51 of The Fun Part
They launch into excited business talk, where they mostly rave about each other’s artistic vision. Olivia chimes in with her practical business advice.
Harper wanders over to the rail, looking down at the dance floor. Nathan joins her. She glances at him, but he says nothing. Just keeping her company. They were childhood best friends. He even took her to the prom. I could never get her to say what exactly her issue is with him.
I pull my phone from my purse and do a quick Google search on Cal Davis purely out of curiosity. My stomach drops. A lot of images here of Cal with beautiful women at galas, games, restaurants, outside the Harvard club.
A bit more digging, and I see he played ball for a college team down South before the minors. After baseball, he went to Harvard law. I guess we never really took the time to get to know each other that well. Mostly surface fun stuff. But that’s what I wanted, right?
I wonder which one of these beautiful women lived with him. I can only imagine how I compare to these glamourous women. I’m more the girl-next-door type. Obviously he’s not going to go out of his way to fake date me or real date me. He’s got his pick!
“Earth to Mackenzie!” Shayla waves her hand in front of my face.
“Huh?”
“This is Rick and Max, my costars.” I look up at two guys standing next to Shayla. One tall and thin, the other average size but jacked with muscle. Neither one compares to Cal. Not that it matters.
Max offers his hand and gives me a firm handshake. “Mackenzie, nice to meet you. I’m Max Urban fromBlaze. You might know me fromSeekertoo.”
Barf. Next he’ll bring up his IMDb page on his phone, showing off all his TV and movie credits. To say I’m not impressed by Hollywood types is an understatement. I grew up in Claire Jordan’s orbit. It’s not as glamorous as it looks from the outside.
“Rick,” the other guy says. “This is my first gig.”
“Cool. Nice to meet you both.”
Harper and Nathan join us, greeting the new guys. “I know you,” Harper says to Max. “I loved you inSeeker.”
His chest puffs out. “Want to get a drink?”
“Let’s dance!” She grabs my arm. “Rick, join us.”
“Anyone else want to join us?” I ask.
Nathan watches Harper, whose eyes are glued to Max and whatever he’s bragging about. “No, thanks. Have fun.”
I grab Olivia. “Come on, lady. Work break!”
“I like working,” she grumbles, but she still follows me.
“Yay, Olivia!” Shayla cheers.
We go downstairs, and Rick pulls me into the throng of writhing bodies, immediately dancing too close. Where’s Harper? Too many tall people block my view.
Rick puts his hand on my waist, shifting close. I shift back, out of reach, and turn toward Olivia, who’s dancing in a strange box step, her eyes firmly upstairs, where Claire and Nathan watch us from above.
A couple of dances in, I’m tired of evading Rick’s hands. I find Harper again and speak close to her ear. “I’m going home. Can you get a ride back with Owen?”
“It’s early!”
“I’m done.”
“Oh, fine.”
“Keep an eye on Olivia.”
We both glance over to where Olivia does a slow gyration, her hands swirling in the air. She almost looks like a genie coming out of her bottle. So cute.
I weave my way through the club, desperate for fresh air. Finally, I’m out the door. I take a refreshing breath of the cold night air. Just then I notice a man carrying a box crossing the street. My heart leaps to my throat.
Cal.
