Taylor: Sorry, sorry.
Taylor: Okay. I’m calm now. What happened? Is there something going on between you two?
Simone: I don’t know…
Taylor: You don’t know? But you’re fucking each other?
Simone: It was a mistake, I think. I’m not going to let it happen again.
Taylor: Or you could let it happen again? Maybe see where things go?
Simone: I already said it was a mistake, Taylor. If you make a mistake twice, it’s not a mistake anymore.
Taylor: Whatever! I think you should just let whatever happens, happen.
Taylor: You’re on your honeymoon, after all. ??
Taylor: Which reminds me. Bring me back something cute! I’m so jealous of your fancy hotel life.
Simone: Next time I’ll smuggle you in my suitcase. Promise. ??
* * *
I was so grateful to be back in Los Angeles.
It felt like I was back in touch with reality, too, since the fake honeymoon was over. Harry was by my side as we took his car to my apartment, but whatever spell we’d been under while at the resort seemed to have been broken.
“I didn’t approve any of those headlines, Paul,” Harry said as he tucked his phone against his ear. “Right, so I don’t understand why I’m seeing them live on the site. Did the writers’ room do this? Or was it one of the managers?”
I happily sighed as I leaned against my seat. This was the Harry I was used to, all business, all the time.
Which was perfect, because there was no way I could ever fall in love with a guy like that.
“I’m not going to fire anyone. Who said anything about firing anyone? Just give me a name.” Harry tapped on the glass divider, getting his driver’s attention. “Did you get the flowers? Are they in the trunk?”
Flowers? What flowers?
“Yes, sir. They’re in the trunk.”
Harry nodded just as the car parked outside of my apartment. A few seconds later he’d hopped out of the car, walking toward the trunk. I followed him out, curious about what exactly was going on. Before I had the chance to ask any questions, Harry was thrusting a gorgeous bouquet of flowers toward me.
“For your mom. Again.” He smiled slightly. “I think we might’ve gotten off on the wrong foot last time. I’m hoping for a bit of a redo.”
“That’s really sweet, Harry, but my mom already knows what the deal is between us. You don’t need to try to impress her—”
“I just want her to like me. That’s all.”
I playfully rolled my eyes before reaching for Harry’s hand. We walked up to my apartment, soon knocking on the front door.
“Mom? Mom!” I called out as I tried to open the door. Realizing it was locked, I began to dig around in my purse for the key. “Weird. When she knows I’m on my way home, she’ll usually leave it unlocked. Or just wide open.”
“That sounds a little dangerous.”
“For other people, maybe.” I chuckled. “Trust me, my mom can handle herself.”
“Maybe the caretaker we hired for her over the honeymoon started keeping the door locked?” he suggested. “I know your mom can handle herself, but it still seems like a safety hazard—”
“Simi?” My mom pulled open the door, her expression filled with confusion. “You’re here? You’re back?”