Change of Hart(78)

“Jason,” she squealed as she threw her arms around my neck and kissed me square on the lips, Hollywood style. “I’m so glad to see you! How are you, my friend?”

I hugged her back tightly before putting her at arm’s length and looking her up and down. “Look at you! You look beautiful! I see the movie industry is treating you well.”

She blushed and wrapped her arm around mine as we strolled into the restaurant.

“It really is,” she said. The hostess didn’t even wait for us to speak when we got to the stand. She took us straight over to our table in the back. “Oh Jason, I can’t wait for you to see this film. It’s so unlike anything I’ve ever done. I’m so nervous! And so excited!”

“I’m sure you are brilliant in it,” I said as I pulled out her chair for her to sit and pushed it back in. “Your big break is coming. These parts just keep getting better and better for you.”

“I know,” she said with a deep breath. “It’s surreal how fast the ball seems to be rolling now. I’m already lined up for two more movies this year and a few directors have called my agent asking me to audition. Can you believe it?”

We chatted more about the projects she was working on and she poked fun at me about the game. I didn’t let most people heckle me about football, especially after a loss. But Sara wasn’t a hard-core fan at all. In fact, she didn’t even live in New York full time. I was just impressed she knew there was a game at all, let alone what the score was.

After the waiter took our orders, we relaxed into our conversation more.

“So, where’s Elaine?” I asked, taking a sip of my water.

“She’s back at the house. There are a zillion things to coordinate for my schedule right now, so as much as she wanted to come to dinner with us, you know how it goes. When a manager has to choose between fun and organizing a project, they always go with the project.”

I grinned. It was true. Elaine had been Sara’s manager for a long time and kept her as organized as she could. Sometimes her OCD was a bit out of control. But hey, I was OCD about my job, too. So I wasn’t judging.

“So,” she said, leaning forward on the table, smiling sweetly. “I’ve seen it all over the internet. Tell me about this woman you’re seeing.”

I leaned back in my chair and smiled. “Addison? She’s great. What do you want to know?”

“Well, how did you meet her?”

I chuckled. “That’s actually kind of funny. I met her son first, at a pep rally at a local elementary school. He and I sort of hit it off. I met Addison when I invited him to come tour the stadium with me. And that was it.”

She cocked her head to the side and furrowed her brow. “That was it? What does that mean?”

I took a deep breath and thought for a minute. “I just don’t have any interest in anyone else, Sara. You know me. I’m so wrapped up in football that no woman has ever kept my attention for long.”

Sara raised an eyebrow at me and cleared her throat.

“Don’t go pretending to be all offended,” I joked. “You know you’re different.”

She smiled at me as I continued.

“But with Addison . . . I just can’t get her out of my head, ya know?” I leaned forward on the table so she could hear me without the people at other tables being privy to our conversation. “I just . . . I don’t know, Sara. I think she’s it for me.”

Sara’s eyes got wide and her mouth dropped open, right before she squealed and grabbed my hand. “You’re in love with her, aren’t you!”

I laughed and squeezed her hand back. “I so, so am. Can you believe it?”

She pulled her hand away and started clapping her hands excitedly. “I knew it!” she said, trying to keep her excitement somewhat contained. She liked her privacy as much as I did and didn’t like making scenes in public. “I told Elaine, I said, ‘Jason is never seen with a woman more than once. And he certainly has never called one his girlfriend. He’s in love, Elaine!’ I did! I said it! You can ask her!”

My smile widened as she spoke. “So I take it you’re happy for me?”

She leaned forward and grabbed my hand again. “So, so happy for you, Jay. You are a wonderful man. You deserve this.”

I kissed her knuckles in appreciation as the waiter came over to deliver our appetizers. I hadn’t had anything to eat since before the game, so I ordered several to tide me over until our meal came.

Sara and I continued to talk about anything and everything. It really was nice to be around her again. She was one of the few people that seemed to stay genuine despite her fame. I honestly couldn’t wait for Addison to meet her. I knew they’d get along just great.