just for one night out.”
“No, you aren’t. You’re buying quality secondhand clothes for every night that’s not a school night. I’m taking you to my favorite consignment stores before dinner. You don’t have to spend big to live large. Mantra.”
“See, but to me, living large means staying in to read a six-hundred-page book and eating an entire bag of white cheddar popcorn.”
He slaps his hands to his face like Macauley Culkin on the Home Alone poster. “My darling Emilia. What has life done to you?”
Good question.
I guess I’m not opposed to doing some harmless LA Cute Guy Sightseeing.
Okay, I’m so ready to do some semi-harmless LA Cute Guy Sightseeing.
Franklin entwines his arm with mine. “We are going to take Atticus for a quick walk, and then—cue Lizzo song—I’m taking you shopping for our nights out.”
Atticus is already up, tail wagging and looking back and forth between us. He’s such a good, sweet dog. Never any trouble. If I could find a guy like Atticus, I would date him in a heartbeat.
“Fine. But you better not abandon me for a hot guy.”
“When have I ever done that?”
I give him the side-eye.
“Aside from all the times I’ve done that.”
We make our way out of my cozy bedroom toward the front door. “You aren’t going to make me look fierce though, are you?”
“Only if I get my time machine working and we travel back to 2008. I’m thinking more of a sexy boho nerdy chic vibe. Like very Hi, I’m on my way to Coachella but I have to stop off at the library first.”
I can’t help but smile at that.
“Yeah, you like that, don’t you?”
Yeah. Maybe I am ready for this. Maybe I’m ready to meet someone new tonight.
The New Me.
I wrap my arms around Franklin’s waist and give him a squeeze, grateful to have this well-groomed, well-intentioned asshole to remind me that I’m not running away from a life that I don’t want anymore. I’m heading into a life that I want, and it starts tonight. With a sexy boho nerdy chic outfit. And sushi. And one or two shots of whatever. Whatever it takes to make me feel like I can fly again.
2
Alex
I can’t even remember the last time I walked into a club with a sense of excitement instead of dread. I can feel the bass thumping in my bones, but in my head all I hear is Danny Glover’s voice. Because I’m getting too old for this shit. Joke’s on you, last year’s US Weekly list of Hollywood’s Most Eligible Bachelors. Your token single dad director doesn’t even look forward to meeting horny drunk women anymore at the ripe old age of thirty-two. Should have just given my spot to Leonardo. He needs all the help he can get, and he doesn’t keep wet wipes and juice boxes in his glove compartment.
I’m just here to see a couple of my favorite people. Every few years, Barry Weiner decides to celebrate his birthday baller style. The fifty-something man created the Disney Channel show that launched the careers of such beloved stars as Shane Miller, Nico Todd, and yours truly. So we endure ear-splitting music, insane valet parking fees, and hearing the same old stories and jokes over and over again, to pay homage to him. He always invites a bunch of film and TV industry assholes along with his former cast and crew for a little reunion and a lot of alcohol at the bottle service table of some trendy bar or club.
At least Barry reserved tables up on the mezzanine, away from the DJ and the dance floor. I’ll have one beer, stay for half an hour, and then I’m going home. I haven’t been to this venue on the Sunset Strip since it was rebranded, and I already hate it. I will never let my son come here when he’s old enough. I don’t even care if that’s a double standard. He can do as I say, not as I do.
…
Fuck, I’m old.
I pass a group of five women on my way up the wide staircase. They’re all wearing tight shiny mini dresses, they all look airbrushed, and I’m pretty sure they were in kindergarten when I graduated high school. The giggling suddenly stops, and they suck in their cheeks while tossing their hair to one side. It’s the club girl salute. I nod, say, “How’s it going?” to no one in particular, and continue up the stairs, resisting the urge to offer them cab fare and