"Not always," Blake said. "Sometimes not knowing is a good thing." He cleared his throat. "Is there anything else you want to know?"
"Was Natasha friends with your mom?"
"No. My mother was critical of how Natasha treated Phillip and Rex. She also didn't like that Natasha needed so much handholding from my dad when it came to acting. I remember her saying a few times that if Natasha was that big of a star, she should be able to figure out how to act on her own."
"Do you think your mother would consider helping me? I haven't reached out to her yet—"
"Don't," he said sharply. "Mom has been a disaster since my dad died. She's finally getting to a good place. She doesn't need to go back in time. And, as I said, she didn't like your grandmother. They weren't friends. You should talk to Natasha's actual friends, if they're still alive."
"Okay." She was disappointed in his answer, but he had been somewhat forthcoming.
"I'm afraid I have to run," he said, getting to his feet.
"Of course. Thanks for your time," she said as she and Jax stood up.
"No problem. Say hello to your dad for me. Tell him I still remember the night we made tequila sunrises in the pool room. He'll know what that means."
"It's difficult to picture my father engaged in teenage drinking," she said in surprise. "He has always been a stickler for the rules."
"Not always," Blake said. "He had a wild side. I think he got that from his mother."
"He'd prefer not to think he got anything from her," she said, as she followed him to the door. "Thanks again."
"Sure thing."
They walked back to the car in silence, her mind swirling with the snippets of information that Blake had given her. As Jax started the car and exited the driveway, she said, "This was kind of a wasted trip, huh?"
"I don't know about that."
"Blake didn't know much."
"Or he didn't want to say what he knew," Jax said, shooting her a pointed look.
"What does that mean?"
"He was lying, Maya."
"How do you know he was lying? What was he lying about?"
"The story he told you. He's eighteen years old. He's drinking a beer and smoking weed. He's home from college, and a beautiful Hollywood movie star tries to kiss him, and he says no." Jax shook his head. "Didn't happen that way."
She stared back at him. "You're right. What teenage guy would say no? But why would he lie? It wasn't to protect her reputation."
"I don't know. But the reason is important."
She frowned. "How am I going to find out the reason?"
"Maybe your father would know."
"I'm not going to talk to him."
"Blake wants you to talk to him. He wants you to remind him about a night they made tequila sunrises in the pool house. That night is important, Maya."
She looked at him in bemusement. "How do you know?"
"Because he wouldn't have mentioned it otherwise. I don't think he agreed to see you because he wanted to be helpful. I think he wanted you to get a message to your father."
"But…none of it makes sense. Does it?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. But that's what I came away with."
"Maybe I should be taking you to all my meetings. You picked up on things I would have completely missed."
"Because I was listening—you were talking. I'm also further away from the subject."
"Well…" She settled back in her seat as she thought about his comments. "The last person I want to talk to right now is my dad. I think I'm going to let the pool house story hang for a bit." She paused as her phone buzzed. She pulled it out of her purse and her gaze widened. "Someone is calling me from the Firebird Club."
"Answer it."
"Hello?"
"Maya Ashton?" a female asked.
"Yes, this is she."
"This is Sylvia Graham, the manager at the Firebird. I'm calling for Constantine Dimitrov. I passed your message along to him, and he'd like to know if you can meet him for a drink tonight at the club."
"Yes. What time?"
"Six o'clock."
"I'll be there. Tell him thanks." She swallowed a knot of excitement as she glanced at Jax. "That was Sylvia."
"Seriously? Why was she calling you?"
"Constantine wants to have a drink with me tonight at six. I never thought he'd agree to see me. This could be very good."
"Interesting," Jax murmured. "I have to say I'm a little surprised."
"Me, too, but this could be the break I've been looking for."