Lucy, of COURSE I am not going to TALK to him. Newsflash, but I actually remember what happened. No worries—I am older and more mature and I know what I want and more importantly, I don’t want to get myself into another toxic relationship, especially with M, because I soooo learned my lesson. Yes, I remember walking around NYC like a freakin’ zombie. But for the record—it wasn’t really out of the clear blue. Every time the subject of long-term commitment came up, which okay, you have to admit it came up more than once, and then you also have to admit I was usually the one bringing it up, M was pretty clear that he wasn’t into it. So get a load of this—he called Nicole Redding NICKI. What do you think that means??? And oh yeah, even in high heels, she still doesn’t even reach my elbow, which only added to my general distress for this really miserable day, because there I was looking like a giant gym teacher from some Ukrainian village—but anyway, right when she came prancing up, he had just said, and this is a (nearly) direct quote: “I’ve thought about you a lot. Great things. Killer things, and I wish—” I wish! AUGH!!! What did he wish? WHAT DID HE WISH?!?!?!
Subject: Re: Re: Re: YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE!!
From: Lucy Frederick <[email protected]>
To: Leah Kleinschmidt <[email protected]>
Time: 11:50 pm
Just stay away from him, because that guy will hurt you again, trust me. I always thought there was something not right about him.
P.S. David’s mom is really going to drive me NUTS. We don’t want more than 200 people at the wedding. Big, but not huge, right? Well David’s mom sends her list over, and it’s 148 people long!! Like my parents don’t have friends they want to invite? What about me and David? By the way, how do you feel about puce? As a bridesmaid color, I mean.
Chapter Six
TRUDY, who had embraced the new Dumpster chic so popular in Hollywood, was waiting for Leah the next morning, dressed in jeans split at the knees, a skirt over the jeans, a camisole, and a poncho, one arm crossed over her middle, the other extended with a smoke dangling precariously between two fingers. She was wearing rhinestone, cat-eye sunglasses today, undoubtedly purchased from Goodwill, her favorite shopping venue, and her lips were pressed together in a little rosebud of displeasure.
Trudy was a hoot. She complained constantly about her kids, but she was fiercely protective. She was very pretty, and wanted to act, but didn’t believe in acting classes or trying to improve her craft and told Leah she was wasting her time and money on her classes. “Either you got it or you don’t, sugar,” she’d say with a wink. Well, Leah didn’t have it, apparently, and she was continuing with class.
“Hey,” Leah said as she gathered her backpack and locked the one door on her car that would actually lock.
“So why did you run out yesterday?” Trudy demanded, dispensing with her typically enthusiastic greeting.
“I had something I had to do.”
“Do, as in shopping? Or do, as in stunt hunk number 4? Because Michele and I saw him take off after you when you left.”
“Oh,” Leah said, uncertain what to say to the evidence presented to her, and shrugged.
“Shut up,” Trudy cried, tossing her smoke aside and grinding it out with the heel of her very cute sandals. “What is going on with you and that guy? First of all, he’s beautiful, and second, do not hold out on me. I mean, you obviously know him. He’s been here one day. Nobody scores that fast, not even that skank Melinda. Come on, give it up, I’m a single mom with three kids, and this is as close as I get to sex.”
“Please,” Leah said with a roll of her eyes. “You have a boyfriend. Admittedly, not a great one, but a boyfriend nonetheless—and don’t forget you have complained that he wants it too much and you’re exhausted. I, on the other hand, don’t have sex, and damn sure not with the stunt guy.” Not that the thought didn’t keep crossing her mind, but she wasn’t insane. As far as she was concerned, Michael would never touch her again. Ever. “All I know for certain is that he is indeed the fourth stunt guy,” she added, and ducked her head, started digging through her backpack to hide from Trudy.
“Ohmigod, I’m so going to kick you or something,” Trudy said in a huff. “Why are you being so damn coy all of a sudden? Don’t give me, ‘he’s the fourth stunt guy,’” she mimicked.
Leah sighed and glanced up at Trudy’s cat-eye sunglasses. Trudy took them off and looked at her pleadingly. “Okay,” Leah said, relenting. “While it is true that I used to know him, I don’t know him anymore.”
Trudy squealed with glee and quickly put her arm around Leah’s shoulders. “Do tell, darling, and don’t leave out a single detail!”
“Don’t get excited. It was years ago.”