have him over sometime and invite you.” But honestly, Imogen, stuff like that isn’t nearly as much fun as you would think. Thomas has to network with all these people I don’t know, and I spend half the time sitting there with a blank smile on my face.”
She looked horrified. “Thomas just leaves you sitting there?”
“No, no, of course not. He’s wonderful. He introduces me to everyone and would never leave me on my own. But I…” I shrugged. “I never really know what they’re talking about, you know? The ins and outs of movies aren’t really my thing. And you know how terrible I am with celebrities. I’ll hear them say the same name over and over again, and it always takes me about ten minutes to figure out that they’re talking about that one amazing director everyone knows and wants to work with.” I shrugged again. “I should probably, like, study the industry so that I don’t feel so clueless.”
Imogen giggled. “Maybe Thomas’s next movie should be a book adaptation. Then you’d finally have something to contribute.”
I laughed. “Yeah, I’ll be sure to suggest that.”
“Well, what about when he’s not working? Are you guys spending time together then?”
“He hasn’t really had any free nights since we’ve been here.” I realized that I had pretty much spent the last five minutes complaining about things so terrible as having to attend glitzy parties in Hollywood. Imogen must have thought I was a giant brat. “Sorry, Immy. I’m done complaining now, I promise.”
“You’re fine. God knows I can whinge with the best of them when I get going.” She smiled at me. “Look, it’s natural that there will be an adjustment, right? You’ve just moved to a new place, neither of you knows anyone around here, and your schedules are totally different. Give it time.”
I nodded. “You’re totally right.”
“And when you do have time to spend together, make sure you take advantage of it. Go out and explore the city together—I bet that will help you feel more connected to the place.”
“You’re pretty good at this relationship stuff, Imogen,” I said as she happily slurped the rest of her margarita. “You could have a career as a very specific kind of celebrity relationship therapist.”
“Ooh, do you think so?”
I laughed at the eager expression on her face. “Well, I was joking, but sure, why not? I’m sure there’s a demand for that out here.”
After we’d split the bill for our lunch, we headed back up the pier. “I wish we could go down to the beach,” she murmured, looking longingly down at the people enjoying the afternoon sun.
“I have a better idea. Why don’t we head over to the Grauman’s Chinese Theater and do a little homework?”
Her face lit up. “Isn’t that where all the movie stars leave their handprints?”
I nodded. “You could help me learn some of their names. I’m sure Heidi would think that was an appropriate use of our time. Even if I didn’t have to meet people with Thomas, it wouldn’t reflect very well on her agency if some major star called and I didn’t even know who it was.”
Imogen laughed. “That would be a total disaster.”
“So are you in? Should we begin my celebrity education?”
She flung an arm over my shoulder. “You’re in good hands, little grasshopper. When I’m done with you, you’ll finally know the difference between Ryan Gossling and Ryan Reynolds.”
I sighed. “I can hardly wait.”
Chapter Five
“What is this?” Thomas asked, pausing in the act of backing the car out of the garage to scrunch up his nose in apparent distaste at the music I’d selected.
I smacked his arm across the center console of the Audi. “Watch the face, buddy. This is the music of my people.”
He visibly rearranged his face into something more pleasant. “I mean, it’s nice. Really nice.”
I laughed and tapped my fingers on the armrest as Thomas maneuvered the car out into traffic. “It is a little
She looked horrified. “Thomas just leaves you sitting there?”
“No, no, of course not. He’s wonderful. He introduces me to everyone and would never leave me on my own. But I…” I shrugged. “I never really know what they’re talking about, you know? The ins and outs of movies aren’t really my thing. And you know how terrible I am with celebrities. I’ll hear them say the same name over and over again, and it always takes me about ten minutes to figure out that they’re talking about that one amazing director everyone knows and wants to work with.” I shrugged again. “I should probably, like, study the industry so that I don’t feel so clueless.”
Imogen giggled. “Maybe Thomas’s next movie should be a book adaptation. Then you’d finally have something to contribute.”
I laughed. “Yeah, I’ll be sure to suggest that.”
“Well, what about when he’s not working? Are you guys spending time together then?”
“He hasn’t really had any free nights since we’ve been here.” I realized that I had pretty much spent the last five minutes complaining about things so terrible as having to attend glitzy parties in Hollywood. Imogen must have thought I was a giant brat. “Sorry, Immy. I’m done complaining now, I promise.”
“You’re fine. God knows I can whinge with the best of them when I get going.” She smiled at me. “Look, it’s natural that there will be an adjustment, right? You’ve just moved to a new place, neither of you knows anyone around here, and your schedules are totally different. Give it time.”
I nodded. “You’re totally right.”
“And when you do have time to spend together, make sure you take advantage of it. Go out and explore the city together—I bet that will help you feel more connected to the place.”
“You’re pretty good at this relationship stuff, Imogen,” I said as she happily slurped the rest of her margarita. “You could have a career as a very specific kind of celebrity relationship therapist.”
“Ooh, do you think so?”
I laughed at the eager expression on her face. “Well, I was joking, but sure, why not? I’m sure there’s a demand for that out here.”
After we’d split the bill for our lunch, we headed back up the pier. “I wish we could go down to the beach,” she murmured, looking longingly down at the people enjoying the afternoon sun.
“I have a better idea. Why don’t we head over to the Grauman’s Chinese Theater and do a little homework?”
Her face lit up. “Isn’t that where all the movie stars leave their handprints?”
I nodded. “You could help me learn some of their names. I’m sure Heidi would think that was an appropriate use of our time. Even if I didn’t have to meet people with Thomas, it wouldn’t reflect very well on her agency if some major star called and I didn’t even know who it was.”
Imogen laughed. “That would be a total disaster.”
“So are you in? Should we begin my celebrity education?”
She flung an arm over my shoulder. “You’re in good hands, little grasshopper. When I’m done with you, you’ll finally know the difference between Ryan Gossling and Ryan Reynolds.”
I sighed. “I can hardly wait.”
Chapter Five
“What is this?” Thomas asked, pausing in the act of backing the car out of the garage to scrunch up his nose in apparent distaste at the music I’d selected.
I smacked his arm across the center console of the Audi. “Watch the face, buddy. This is the music of my people.”
He visibly rearranged his face into something more pleasant. “I mean, it’s nice. Really nice.”
I laughed and tapped my fingers on the armrest as Thomas maneuvered the car out into traffic. “It is a little
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