Sex Says(44)

“That’s okay.”

She smiled. I did too.

“Because I’m not doing the videos. And the rules are pretty loose where I write.” At my apartment.

“Reed,” Rhonda started, her voice placating when she noted the serious set to my face. “Listen—”

“No videos. I can’t. But my column will be on time every time.”

“Reed—”

“Is that it?” I asked, standing from my chair and leveling her with a look that said it was.

Lines ruined the previously smooth skin between her eyes, her face pinched in anger.

“Fine. I can’t force you to do the video,” she acquiesced. The set of her jaw said she’d already checked with Human Resources to find out. “But you should know that this is going to seriously affect your success here.”

“Aw, Rhonda,” I cajoled. “Don’t you worry about me.”

With a rap on the doorframe, I made my exit. Her assistant, Lyle, looked like he wanted to high-five me on the way out, but I didn’t hang around to chat.

Down the hall and down the steps, I moved past the girl at the front desk with a wave and out the doors into the fading sun.

Sunset wasn’t exactly late this time of year, and sun wasn’t a guarantee in San Fran even when it was up. It depended on where you were, what side of the hill, and how badly the fog had settled into the city’s hold. Still, this was a fairly late meeting for the regular working world, and as much as I’d have liked to say it was in an attempt to convenience me and my lack of convention, I was pretty sure it had more to do with Rhonda’s demanding schedule she was always reminding me about. I’d tried to reschedule for tomorrow, but she’d flat out told me I’d lose my job if I didn’t make it in tonight. Hell, she’d probably planned to have me shoot my first video on the spot tonight, material be damned.

I stopped to light a cigarette and looked up from my lighter just in time to see Lola, moving a hundred miles an hour on a pair of roller skates, make an abrasive move, spread eagle, and go down hard right on her ass on the sidewalk.

I tossed the unsmoked cigarette down without a thought and jogged across the street after one cursory glance to check for traffic.

She was still trying to pull her shit together when I got there.

“Need a hand, LoLo?”

Lola stared at my hand, considering the offer with about as much enthusiasm as if I’d offered to share my plague with her. I was about to retract it and my hand when an annoyingly fake British accent-wielding woman approached us in a trumped-up tizzy.

“Oh my God, are you okay? Everyone just saw you fall. That looked so embarrassing!”

She shifted her attention from Lola to me rather quickly when she arrived.

“Oh! Who’s this?” she asked coyly of Lola, who was still sitting uncomfortably on the sidewalk.

I’d had enough. Reaching down, I scooped my hands under Lola’s armpits and brought her to her feet. She looked annoyed, but like there was no way in hell she was going to reference her feelings toward me in front of the fake Brit.

“Reed Luca,” I said, offering her my hand. She took it and held on an uncomfortably long time before I prompted, “And you are?”

“This is Simone,” Lola grumbled before she could answer for herself.

Yeah, right. If this chick’s real name was Simone, I’d pay you five hundred dollars.

Sensing Lola’s annoyance with absolutely everything transpiring in that moment, I turned my attention to Simone. “Nice to meet you. Practicing for a role?”

“Excuse me?” she asked.

“Your accent. I figured you were practicing for a role. Which is a good idea, by the way. It could use a little work.”

“I’m not an actor,” she protested, a little uncertainly but dialing up the charm.

“Oh. Well, I guess that’s probably a good thing, huh? Pretty tough field to break in to if you’re short on talent.”

Lola coughed to cover a bark of laughter.

Simone turned to her with fake concern. “Oh, dear. That cough sounds horrible. So unattractive too.”

“Know what, Simone?” I cut in. Her big doe eyes came back to mine. “It was really nice bumping into you, but we’re late.”

“Oh? What for?” she asked, and Lola looked to me again. I didn’t mind. This was one of my absolute favorite fucking things to do.

“We’re doing a huge shop for a thing we’re doing with Meals on Wheels. That’s actually why she’s on the skates.” I hooked a finger toward Lola with emphasis. Simone looked between us, and her eyes lit up. Time to squash that.

“Anyway, it’s too bad you’re not an actor because we were hiring a few extras for the whole TV spot, but we really do need people with experience.”