Page 136 (1/1)

"I’ray eyes at ht’s carousing" She pouts, pushes her lips out "It is five o’clock, though"

"Good genes" I shrug

"Nice robe," she says, drifting upstairs

"Hey, it’s freezing in here," Bobby says, finally letting go of Ja away "And get over yourself as well"

"Hey!" Bobby says,in a parody of shock He lunges toward her and Jahted, and dashes into the kitchen and I’ that I’ve been standing in the same place for the last several ot a gun

And then Ja up to roceries, conferring with Bruce Bentley asks one of them to taste a fresh batch of martinis

"Where are hs "In the bedroom"

"You guys reat couple," I tell her

"Are all the doors locked?" Bobby’s calling out

Jamie mouths I’ around, slaps Ja’s secure

"Hey?" he asks soain?"

5

As the sun goes down the crew gets shots of a flawless dusk sky before it turns black while the house inside brightens and the six of us-Bentley and Ta in the Frank Gehry chairs that surround the granite table in the dining area and I’ back shyly as two handheld cae Then plates and wine boffles are being passed around and despite the Bobby-Hughes-as-stu peaceful and accepting and in theand the constant attention these new friends are pushing s, especially the wav Jamie’s eyes widen as they move back and forth between me and Bobby, so questions about Chloe-the table genuinely impressed I was her boyfriend-and the YouthQuake cover and the band I quit and my workout routine and various muscle supplements and no one asks "Who are you?" or "Where are you from?" or "What do you want?" -questions that aren’t pertinent because they all seem to know Bentley eventhat made it into London papers and he pros later, no innuendo attached

Winking, private glances, general sassiness toward Felix and the director, but no s ourselves and in the end we’re all linked because we "get it" And I’ very hard to stay unimpressed as the conversation revolves around the peaks and valleys of everyone’s respective press, where ere during the 1980s, what this will all look like on acoue into talk about that bo of a hotel in Paris on Boulevard Saint-Ger Baby plays softly in the background and we ask each other if anyone we knew in LA was injured during the recent rash of earthquakes It’s war stretches of time it feels like I’reat table, so outside in the cold on Sixth Avenue until decaf espressos are finished and the last round of Sa up the check and ht, Bobby’s quieter than the others but he see and fairly content and every tilass with an excellent Barbaresco he keeps thankingon hts and ca around us Party invitations for tonight are discussed then dismissed and people opt for hoar Ta away as I start clearing the table

In the kitchen Bobby taps me on the shoulder

"Hey Victor," he asks "Can you domy hands on the "

"I was supposed toto stay here this weekend," Bobby begins