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REID

My girlfriend hasn’t told her parents about ing out but never going out, just like we did last fall Despiteto spend that time, I don’t want to be confined to my house with Dori She’s like a new toy that I can’t show off – which was a dick thing to slip and say, but she just rolled her eyes at me for it

As it is, John is the only friend I have who knows about h my co-star on my last film – Chelsea Radin – s the last few cast volunteer days at the Habitat house I’ from an alcove on the side of the house, Dori’s ponytail loose and her face flushed,courtside when he decides to bring upis identical to his regard for tact – non-existent

‘So when are you revealing this so-called relationship to the world already?’

The level of noise in Staples Center keeps our exchange confidential, but that doesn’t hteen thousand people – never ame to millions more Plus, he pronounces relationship in a tone most people reserve for STD When I shoot hiuise worked on his father for years before he figured out that John really was a next-generation version of hiirlfriend’ His voice dips at this last word – not like he’s obeyingto divulge at full volume

I stare at the three-point shot, lined up and missed We both curse

‘It’s Perez-worthy news, bro! What’s with the contain keep waiting

Kobe gets penalized for travelling – which never happens – and I sluhtly over s for the Lakers and Dori, both of who me, John smirks ‘C’h, that’s true When I don’t spill i ‘So it’s over? Is that it? Dude, I said it wouldn’t la–’

‘She hasn’t told her parents yet’

From the corner of my eye, I watch him frown in confusion and peer atfor the translation

Staring at the ga teen drama’

John arches a brow ‘Wait You’re serious That’s the reason? Because she hasn’t told her parents? I could line up a hundred girls who’d be jacked as hell to go out with you – once You’veeveryone she knows?’

I shrug, but it stings when he puts it like that Like I said – tact is not John’s thing

He shakes his head ‘Never thought I’d see the day soot Reid Alexander pussy-whipped – Ow! Dude!’ Glaring, he rubs his arirl that h, because noe’re on the screen over centre court Ti a private brawl that would unseat the Lakers and the Jazz as tonight’s priears and plays along with the horseplay ruse, shoving , man’ My on-camera smile doesn’t conceal the sharp threat in ave hi his face

‘I was talking about you,’ he growls in return, his fake s mine

BROOKE

‘Ms Cameron? Bethany Shank here I’ve located him’

I shouldn’t have answered her call in the middle of a pedicure, but when I saw her na No way that was going to voiceator, I expected her to find my kid I mean duh – of course I expected her to find him Even so, this news floors the hell out ofespresso

‘That was … fast’

The wo she isn’t listening to my side of this conversation, and I wonder if she can hear the thundering slao quickly once you gave o-ahead to conduct the search’

‘So what’s next?’ I’ve found him Despite my superficial confidence, my hands start to tremble I wish I was at home, alone, so I could lie down or pace in circles – anything but sit here withlike my mother’s inbred Pekinese, which pees if someone sneezes

‘There’s a lot of sensitive information here Too much to relay over the phone Would you prefer to come by the office tomorrow, or would you prefer that I come to you?’

Okay … he’s four Howthe bed Throws an occasional shit-fit tantrum Learned horite his name in preschool Has a normal life That last bit is all I care about: I just want to hear that he has a noro back to mine in peace

Part ofthis at all Except that for htmare about the baby I’d refused to see or hold before my attorney and the social worker transferred hi hi up atlike his heart is breaking, and I wake up buried in a landslide of guilt

There’s no reason for uilty – no reason Why the hell a? And why do I wake up with tears on my face?

I just want closure, finally Closure, and ht?’