Page 19 of Touch in the Dark

“I’ll give you three months.”

“For what?” I lean back to look at him.

“To find someone for yourself and get laid.”

“Or what?”

“I’ll step up.”

I splutter out a laugh. He looks like he isn’t kidding. “You’d do that for me?”

“I love you, but you don’t do anything for me. It would be a hardship.”

“How kind of you to say.”

“But if knowing I’m willing to do something that will gross me out motivates you,” he laughs as I slap his stomach with the back of my hand. “Then I’m willing to put that on the line. For you.”

I dip my head. Whoever would have thought I’d have a friendship with this A-list Hollywood actor. He’s one of the sweetest people I know. And he’s right, I couldn’t subject him to sex with me.

“Fine,” I tell him. “But no interfering.”

“I’ll be in the Caribbean anyway,” he informs me. “I start shooting Blinded by Her in two weeks, the shoot is for five months. From there we’re going to New Zealand. But,” He taps my nose. “Before you go freaking out about it, I want you to stay here.”

“I can’t,” I protest, already knowing I’ll love to stay here. It solves a massive problem of finding a place for the duration of the movie.

“Don’t be stupid. It’s rent free, you can throw lavish parties. Plus, I need someone to look after the place.”

“You have staff.”

“Will you just graciously accept the offer already. This place is a magnet too. You’ll get laid if you bring people back here. For sure.”

“You’re insane.”

He holds his hands out on either side of him, like that is a title he is pleased to be bestowed with. He kisses my cheek. Then we’re descended upon. A whole group of people want to talk with him. I go to step away, but he keeps tight hold of me. Cleary he isn’t going to let me wander off alone and get into any trouble.

And for the rest of the night, after giving Chase the all clear when it comes to me, he barely leaves my side. I’m also irrationally happy Chase doesn’t seem interested in anyone else and the three of us end up sitting outside, getting drunk, talking about our childhoods.

The night may have got off to a rocky start, but it ends with my resolve to pick up my life, and a plan for the next six months, which may include the three-month deadline to get laid, but I’ll worry about that when I need to.

I’m going to be happy. Nothing can bring me down.

Chapter Six

Doris, my amazing grandma, is currently the centre of attention in the private dining room at Eleven Madison Park. When the guys realised it was her eightieth, they all wanted to celebrate with her. Archer arranged the private dining room we are in which is decorated especially for her. Up here we’re secluded enough we can be ourselves without worrying about prying eyes, despite the floor to ceiling window overlooking the dining room downstairs.

After the opera, the car brings us here where everyone is waiting. She scolds me for spoiling her, but I owe a lot to my grandmother. Without her, I would have ended up in foster care.

I have to admit, as gun shy as I’ve been about moving back to New York, I’m glad we did it, even if just for this moment, seeing the joy on my grandma’s face.

Jordan is his usual exuberant self and takes her hand making a big deal of Doris, giving her pride of place at the head of the table. The girls start cooing over the pearl bracelet Janie got for me as her birthday gift. Sitting beside Archer, I take a menu from the waiter who has appeared out of nowhere.

“Thanks for this, man. It’s made her day,” I lean back, unbuttoning the jacket of my suit.

I went the whole nine yards, getting dressed up, picking her up in a limo with flowers, even went so far as to splurge on a box at the opera. It about near broke my heart when she started crying. Didn’t last long, Doris didn’t like to show weakness.

“Hey, it’s Doris, she deserves the best,” Archer says, picking up a bottle of wine and indicating it at me. I nod and he pours me a glass.

“There are no prices on the menu.”

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