He shook his head. “It’s a real celebrity haunt. There’ll be photogs there. I thought you might just like a drive around town—your own private Hollywood tour. You can’t visit the city and never step outside my gated community.”
“I’d be okay with just being with you.” As soon as I said it, I realized how cheesy it sounded. But it was true. I’d come to LA to see him, not the sights. “But this is really thoughtful of you. Thank you.”
Each side of the road was flanked with green—trees and shrubs and grass. “It’s cleaner than I expected. And greener.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, this end is nice. It changes as we go along. You’ll see.”
We sat holding hands, looking out the window, the scent of a Los Angeles night filling the car as the trees buzzed by. Without warning, the greenery disappeared, and flags on both sides of the street welcomed us to West Hollywood.
“And this is the beginning of the Strip.”
Billboards took the place of the landscaping. Car horns honked in the distance and our trip didn’t seem so private anymore. “Should we close the window?”
Matt shrugged. “It’ll be fine. I have my hat if things get busy.” He leaned forward and pulled out a navy-blue Yankees hat from the pocket in front of him.
“The Yankees? You know you’re in LA, right?”
“I used to go when I was in New York. Can’t turn me now.”
“You know it’s not an invisibility cloak though, right?” I asked. A piece of clothing wasn’t going to transform him from Matt Easton to some tourist from the Midwest.
“Let me worry about being recognized. I promise, it won’t happen.”
I needed to trust him. This was his town, his fame. And it was as important to him as it was to me that we weren’t seen together. “You ever been on one of these billboards?” I asked, pointing up to a huge sign that had Jennifer Aniston on it.
“Yeah, once or twice. It’s a weird feeling, driving past one. But good. It means the movie’s getting publicity if you’re thirty feet high.”
I shuddered, though a movie billboard was probably different than having your naked body plastered around campus. Matt had signed up for it, agreed to it, even aimed for it. But I wouldn’t ever crave people’s eyes on me like that.
“That’s the Viper Room, a club that you might have heard of,” he said, leaning toward me and pointing to the right.
It sounded familiar, but I couldn’t remember why. “We’re not going there though?”
“No.” He chuckled.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing really. I used to go a lot. But you’re right. It’s not really your scene. And I mean that in a good way.”
I didn’t say anything, but this part of LA was less glamorous than I’d imagined it to be. I wasn’t sure what I’d expected, and maybe things would look different in the light of day, but it looked run down in places.
“That’s the Comedy Store,” he said and I slid over a little, some of my hair catching the breeze and escaping out the window.
“Hey, look at that,” I said, glancing back at Matt to make sure he’d seen what I’d seen. “A train. Is that a restaurant?”
“Serves great hot dogs.”
“It’s super cute.”
“We can get takeout from there if you like.”
Of course, we couldn’t actually just go to dinner. It was almost as if we were in a bubble, cut off from the rest of the world. It was a romantic thought, but it was also a little odd. I’d never noticed how limited Matt was while we were in Maine, probably because I was in my world and my day wasn’t impacted by Matt’s stardom. But going to a restaurant should be the most natural thing in the world. It bothered me that we couldn’t be normal, or spontaneous. “Maybe,” I replied.
“Oh, and that’s Chateau Marmont—an old Hollywood icon.”
“That place?” I asked, staring at the white building on the left, hidden by the trees.
“Yeah. I like that place. Maybe we’ll go one day. You know, when this Audrey thing is over.”
I smiled but didn’t say anything. Even when the Audrey thing was over, I didn’t want to be together in public. I thought he understood that.
We kept going and the restaurants gave way to banks and offices. I wasn’t sure if we were going somewhere or were just driving around.
“And this,” Matt said, “is Hollywood. You know how you can tell?” he asked as we pulled over.
“How?”
“The sidewalk.”
I poked my head out of the car to see stars all over the sidewalk. I grinned and turned back to him. “That is so cool.”
“That’s Grauman’s Chinese Theater,” he said, lifting his chin.
“Oh, yes. Of course,” I said, recognizing the striking building from watching the Academy Awards. “Have you been to the Oscars?” I asked.
“Never been nominated or invited. I’ve been to the after parties, but never the ceremony.”
I wanted to ask whether or not he wanted an Oscar, but surely every actor did.
“We’re going to drive along up here for a couple of blocks.” He pressed a button and told David to go to the next place. Matt had obviously put some thought into this trip and it was kind of adorable.
After a few minutes, the car slowed to a stop again. “I thought you might want to visit your namesake, Lana Turner, and then I have a map and we can go and see anyone you like.” Matt’s eyes were lit up. “You brought your phone, right? For a picture? David will take one for you.”
“I can selfie,” I said. “You okay to stay here?”
He nodded and I could feel him watching me as I slid out of my seat. Even at this time of night, there were people around. He’d definitely attract attention if he followed me.
I found Lana Turner’s star quickly. I couldn’t help but be a little sad my dad wasn’t here for this. He was the Lana Turner fan. But I knew wherever he was he’d be smiling down, happy if I was happy. Which I was.
I was full to the brim.
So much so I couldn’t quite believe any of it was real.
Matt
“You’ve heard of the Hollywood Bowl, right?” I didn’t want Lana to think I saw her as some hick who knew nothing about the world, but I remembered coming to Los Angeles and everyone pointing out all these places as though I should know what they were or understand their significance when I hadn’t had a clue. I really wanted to show her LA tonight. I just wished we didn’t have to hide.
“A concert venue, right?”
“Yeah. It’s outdoor, and I really like it. And here we are.”
“Stay,” I said as I opened the door, got out and rounded the trunk to her side. As I opened her door, she said, “We’re getting out? Like, you’re getting out? What if someone sees?”
“It’s closed tonight,” I said, helping her down from the Range Rover.
“Closed?” She frowned.
I held my hand out and guided her to the entrance. “To the public, but I thought it might be fun to explore.”
“We’re breaking in?” She sounded genuinely concerned.
“No, they’ve let us come after hours. I know a guy who knows a guy.”
“Oh, to be a famous movie star,” she said and giggled, poking me in the ribs.
“Hey, I said it had its perks.”