“That’s the book Lee mentioned,” Drew said, starting to feel like he and Abby were fangirling over Lee instead of the other way around, which made a nice change.
“Maybe you can introduce me at some point?” Abby asked.
“Of course. I invited Lee to come with us to Nikky’s concert on Friday.”
“Yes, that’s perfect,” Jessica said, putting her phone down and grinning at Drew like he’d uncovered a juicy secret. “This whole thing will have so much more plausibility if we’re all seen hanging out together at first before it’s just you two getting caught in a compromising position by the press.”
Again, the good feelings Drew had built up came crashing down with Jessica’s borderline sordid suggestion. “Lee brought up some good points about how this whole thing is the definition of queerbaiting, which is exactly what I’m trying to avoid right now.”
“Oh, yeah, good point,” Abby said. “But you like him, right?”
“I do,” Drew confessed. And why the hell did it feel like an actual confession instead of just a statement of fact? “He’s cool. I won’t mind hanging out with him and getting to know him better at all.”
“Then this is perfect,” Abby said with a shrug, reaching for her drink.
“This is more than perfect,” Jessica said, back to scrolling through her phone. “I’ve got an email from my agent. This is awesome.”
Drew should have been used to Jessica’s abrupt topic changes, but he still felt a pinch, like she was taking something away from him.
Which was a ridiculous thought, really. He was just telling Abby that the author she liked was actually a nice guy and that they would all hang out. It wasn’t like he was sharing life-changing information. If Jessica booked the film she was so eager to land,thatwould be life-changing information.
“Did you book it?” he asked, trying to be the good, attentive boyfriend.
Jessica ignored him for a second, chewing her lip and frowning at her phone. “I have to give Gail a call,” she said, standing and stepping away from the table. “It looks like they want me to do a chemistry read with a few other people.”
It was sort of an answer to his question. Maybe not.
Lee would have engaged him in actual conversation instead of being self-absorbed and walking away.
Drew frowned at the speed with which that thought had hit him. He’d known Lee for all of two hours, tops. He’d known Jessica for over five years. It should have been clear which one had his loyalty.
“So you really liked him, did you?” Abby asked, her smile as mysterious as ever.
“Yeah,” Drew answered, distracted and puzzled by his thoughts. “He’s cool. And he handled the fans like a natural.”
“That’s great.” Abby took a bite of chicken, then went on with, “It’s always good when you can be with someone who takes your fame in stride.”
“Like I said, he’s not nobody himself.”
Abby nodded, her smile spreading wider. “I can’t wait to meet him.”
Abby didn’t haveto wait long. Friday rushed at them after an incredibly busy week getting ready forSleuthto start filming. Drew was needed at the studio almost constantly throughout the week for everything from costume fittings to dialect coaching to hair and make-up tests. Abby stayed with him as his manager through a lot of it, and Jessica hung around like she usually did, talking up the production team and not-so-subtly hinting that she’d love to work with the director someday.
As busy as he was, Drew found time to text Lee whenever he could.
“How are the dragonkeepers doing today?”
“Not dragonkeepers anymore. I’m working on an outline for a romance about a big-deal celebrity falling for his make-up artist now.”
Drew happened to be in the make-up chair at that very moment. He glanced up at the buxom, butch woman with spiked, silver hair and laughed.
“Sounds like a winner.”
“I hope so. I could use a breakout book to take me to the next level.”
“Maybe you’ll get ideas for a rockstar romance at the concert on Friday.”
“Rockstars are cool.”