* * *
Cal hands her the mic and picks up his trumpet, standing beside her.
* * *
CAL
I’ll be right here, and there’s hardly anybody still around. What you got to lose?
* * *
The first strains of “Body and Soul” begin. Dessi holds the mic awkwardly, flicking nervous glances around the club. She begins haltingly, and continues with growing confidence.
* * *
DESSI
My days have grown so lonely,
For you I cry, for you dear only,
Why haven't you seen it,
I'm all for you body and soul
* * *
I spend my days in longin',
You know it's you that I am longin',
Oh, I tell you I mean it,
I'm all for you body and soul
* * *
I can't believe it,
It's hard to conceive it,
That you'd throw away romance
Are you pretending,
It looks like the ending,
Unless I can have one more chance to prove, dear
* * *
My life a wreck you're making,
You know I'm yours for just the taking,
Oh, I tell you I mean it,
I'm all for you body and soul
* * *
My days have grown so lonely,
For you I cry, for you dear only,
Oh, why haven't you seen it,
I'm all for you body and soul
* * *
By the end, people are applauding and Cal gives her a hug onstage. Covering her face with both hands, Dessi laughs.
18
Neevah
“So what’d you think of Trey during the screen test?” Canon’s production partner, Evan, asks.
“He was great.” I sip my virgin mojito. “I mean, I thought so. What’d you think?”
“Totally agree.” Evan glances around the incredible rooftop restaurant, Open Air, where we’re having drinks and an early dinner. The Olympic-size pool is positioned as the aquamarine centerpiece of the roof, accessorized by lounge chairs and VIP curtained pods offering additional privacy. “Galaxy loves him, too. I’m not the one who needs convincing.”
“Let me guess. Canon.”
“You got it. It took him forever to cast your part. I don’t expect him to be that picky on Cal’s role, but it’s Canon, so . . .”
He leaves the comment unfinished like it’s self-explanatory, and I guess it is. Canon’s reputation for being exacting precedes him and makes him casting me, an unknown, that much more miraculous.
“He’s en route, by the way.” Evan glances at his phone. “He had to speak across town at this event where he was being honored.”
My heartbeat hiccups.
Stop doing that.
This crush, attraction—whatever it is—has to be put down before it causes any awkwardness and costs me this opportunity.
“I, um, don’t want him to feel like he has to rush to get here,” I say, twirling the miniature umbrella from my drink. “I don’t want you to feel like you have to entertain me either, hanging out tonight.”
“You kidding me? I need the break and you fly back tomorrow. It’s a chance for us to get to know each other. Besides, I love this place. I don’t come here enough.”
Graham booked me in The V, a boutique hotel in the heart of downtown LA. It screams class and money like a dog whistle. The rooftop restaurant is the cherry on the literal top of the spectacular building.
“This place is something else.” I take in the crowded outdoor dining space, which resembles a high-fashion photo shoot. “Does everyone in this town look like a supermodel?”
“It’s LA and this is a popular spot to be seen, so everyone always looks their best. You never know when you might be ‘discovered.’”
With my hair scraped back, wearing only light makeup and a simple sundress, I feel a little underdressed compared to everyone else on the roof. I expect Tyra Banks to pop up out from behind a potted palm tree any minute and order me to smize. I work in theater, in New York, so there are always beautiful people around, of course. These people, though, set against the balmy glamor of the LA skyline, glitter like a tray full of diamonds, everyone in on a beauty secret that makes them glow.
“Monk’s on his way, too,” Evan says, glancing up from his phone. “He texted me. He was in a session, but he wants to see you.”
“I wouldn’t be sitting here if it weren’t for Monk dragging Canon to see me in Splendor.”
“Things happen like they should, I guess.”
I’m not sure I’ve believed that in a long time. The things that hurt you most—it’s sometimes hard to accept that those are the result of fate or a deity’s deliberation. Much easier to believe the universe means us good, and good will prevail. Either way, I’ll always be grateful for Monk’s role in getting me here.
“This is actually my sister’s place,” Evan continues. “Well, stepsister.”
“This place belongs to your sister? Uh, stepsister?”
“Her family owns the hotel and the rooftop is kind of her pet project.”
“Some pet. This place is gorgeous.”
“It’s even better when it’s empty. It doesn’t open ’til five, so occasionally she lets us up here before the madness starts. Can’t beat a gorgeous view of the city and the best mimosas in town.”
“Nice. You said she’s your stepsister. How long have your parents been married?”
“Oh, they’re not anymore. That particular marriage only lasted about nine months. My father is, shall we say, indecisive. He just remarried again.” Evan raps his knuckles against the table. “Knock on wood, sixth time’s the charm.”
“Six? Wow. Is she your only stepsibling?”
“I have . . .” He counts on his fingers and squints. “Twelve.”
I laugh and gape at him. “How do you keep up?”
“I just start calling them by reindeer names,” Evan says, flashing an unabashed grin. “Growing up, there were only a few I actually lived with or got to know. Arietta and I stayed in touch even after our parents parted ways. I’m closest to her.”
“No blood siblings?”
“One half-brother. My father wasn’t married to my mother much longer than he was to Ari’s.” He grins over my shoulder. “Look who’s here.”
I glance toward the door, my stomach flipping at the sight of Canon. I was braced for standard fine-ass Canon, but wearing a dark gray suit with a slate blue button-up open at the collar, he is not playing fair tonight. The sun is not quite gone for the evening, so he still wears sunglasses as he scours the rooftop for us.
What in the GQ is happening right now?
I’m not sure what to do with this buzz transported through my blood like oxygen and dispatched to my tingling extremities. This low hum of attraction that thickens the air when I’m around him under the best of circumstances. Him showing up looking like this? Not optimal.