Page 90 of So in Love
“Seriously?I didn’t know that.”He wrote the answer on the puzzle.
“She retired from movies like twenty-some years ago, but she’s still around the business because of him.They’re really nice.”
“You’ve met them, of course.”He shook his head and twirled his pen between his fingers.
“I have.Alaina was in a movie with him several years back.He’s great.”
“Jealous.I love him.A Fish Called Wandais one of my favorite movies.”
“I thinkFrench Kissis my favorite of his.”This felt good.A casual, fun conversation like they’d had a hundred times.She looked at the puzzle and another question jumped out at her.“Thirty-three across is moth.”
He dropped his gaze to the paper and read, “Creature onThe Silence of the Lambsposter.”He filled in the squares.
Her eye strayed to the puzzle again.“Thirty-eight down is libido, I think.”
“Topic for Dr.Ruth.”He blinked at her.“You’re pretty good at this.”
“I had a little help—two of the letters were already filled in.”
“Still, this is the Sunday New York Times Crossword Puzzle.”
She shrugged.“So I’m good at movies and sex.”
He laughed.“I’d say you’re fantastic at the latter, but I’d also argue you’re good at more than that and movies.Stop discounting yourself.”He pinned her with an intent stare.“Really.I happen to know you’re also pretty good at penning million-dollar screenplay treatments.”
She felt heat flush her cheeks and glanced away.“Yeah, well.We’ll see how that pans out.”
“Why?From what I read yesterday, sounds like this is Hollywood’s hottest project right now.”
“Yeah, maybe,” she muttered.She’d texted Kim last night and asked her to send the treatment to Alaina who’d stayed up late reading it.They’d talked about it until they hadn’t been able to keep their eyes open.
“Tell me about it.Do you have offers or is it just buzz at this point?”
“There are offers.Plus, I gave it to Alaina.She wants it too, but she’s going through proper channels—meaning my agent.”
“That’s fantastic.I’m really proud of you.”
She couldn’t help but feel happy and flattered and…proud too.“Thanks.”
“You may be wondering why I came.”He reached down to a bag on the other side of his chair and pulled out a bound booklet.He set it in front of her.“I brought you this.”
It had a blank, pale blue cover.She couldn’t imagine what it could be.She turned her head to him, feeling a tremor of disappointment.“This is the reason you came?”
“One of them.”He nodded toward it.“Open it.”
She opened the cover and her breath caught.It read, “The Diary of Rose Stowe.”
She stared at the words a moment before lifting her gaze to his.“Where did you get this?”
“I told you I had a friend from college who was looking into the Stowe branch in San Francisco.She found this and sent it to me.I got it yesterday.”
“And you brought it to me.”She was incredibly humbled.“What, did you take a red-eye?”
“Yep.”
Her insides churned with a mixture of excitement and dread.“Have you read it?”
He nodded.“I think you’ll love it—after you’re done crying.”
