Regardless of her performance, Tyson always looked at Summer with pure respect and intense admiration.
“Thank you,” I say now, holding his gaze, then smiling at Hannah just before we all take our first sip of champagne.
As Tyson looks out over the horizon, I admire his profile. At some point I think you stop noticing the way your friends look. You just see them as who they are. But in this moment, he looks so handsome.
I feel a wave of affection for him—along with a deep appreciation for his friendship. I’m just so glad he’s in my life. That he and Hannah both are.
He suddenly turns and looks at me. “What?”
I shake my head and smile. “Nothing.”
“Then why are you giving me that look?” he asks, almost seeming self-conscious.
I lower my gaze and run with it. “Your jacket,” I say.
“What about it?”
“It’s wrinkled.”
“It’s linen,” he says, smoothing one lapel, then the other. “Linen can be a little wrinkled.”
“Hmm. Well, it’s a lot wrinkled. You might want to iron it or something.”
“You might want to mind your business,” he says.
“You might want to get a life.”
He stares at me a beat, shrugs, then says, “Why the fuck you ain’t eat it cold?”
I burst out laughing as Hannah looks at both of us, confused. “Eat what cold?” she asks.
“A ham sandwich,” I say, still laughing as Tyson beams back at me.
“Huh?” Hannah says.
I try to explain the viral video Tyson shared with me a few years back. It was an argument between two little boys in which one burns his sandwich and the other asks him why he didn’t just eat it cold.
“I still don’t get it,” Hannah says.
“It’s like the ‘Charlie bit me’ video,” I say. “You have to see it to get why it’s funny.”
“Oh,” she says, nodding.
“Trust me,” I say, smiling at Tyson and enjoying our inside joke. “It’s hilarious.”
Chapter 19
Tyson
I’m so proud of Lainey. I always have been—more than she probably realizes. As much as she half-asses a lot of things in her life, she really is talented. I have her entire series recorded, and when I’m doing laundry or other housework, I play back the episodes. Her scenes always shine, and she never fails to make me laugh out loud.
But I sometimes wondered if I was a bit biased. Or simply enjoying the novelty of seeing a friend on the screen. Now I know that’s not the case. If anything, it means she’s even better than I thought she was, and I’m so damn happy for her big break. Part of me also hopes that this will be the catalyst she needs to start taking her life a little more seriously.
After a champagne toast on our balcony, we head out to dinner. For the second time in one day, Alessandro has scored us reservations—this time at a fancy restaurant inside the Capri Palace Jumeirah. Afterward, we are meeting Hannah’s new friend at a nearby piano bar.
The girls are both wearing black dresses. Hannah’s is knee-length and, according to Lainey, “very Audrey Hepburn.” Lainey’s is short, tight, and, I must admit, hot.
As we enter the hotel lobby, Alessandro rushes up to Lainey to congratulate her. He is a perfect gentleman, calling us a taxi and even coming outside to open the car door for us. But as Lainey climbs into the backseat, I catch him staring at her legs. It’s harmless—and I can’t blame the guy for copping a discreet look—but I still feel protective of her. I also find myself hoping that she doesn’t drink too much tonight and put herself in a bad position.
It’s clear what’s on her agenda, though. As we pull out of the hotel driveway, she immediately says to Hannah, “I hope Archie’s friend is cute.”
“If he disappoints, you are more than welcome to Archie.”
“No chance! He’s all yours—”
Hannah laughs. “Hardly,” she says. “I don’t even know if I’m interested.”
“Stop it. He’s gorgeous.”
“I think you like him more than I do! You should take him.”
“Say it one more time, and I will,” Lainey says with a laugh.
I shake my head and smile at her. “Are you ever not shameless?”
“Are you ever not self-righteous?” she says, smiling back at me.
“Okay, you two,” Hannah says. “We’re celebrating tonight, remember?”
