“Not sure, kid. I haven’t seen him around much. One of the ladies at the hairdresser’s said he was moving up north somewhere.”
“The ladies at your hairdresser also thought I had knocked up his girlfriend.”
She laughs and
rests her hand on my arm. “I’m sure they both miss you. The three of you were inseparable.”
I don’t want to discuss them anymore, either. They have moved on, and so have I. I have a new life out here and new friends. What happened between us is a thing of the past. It’s time to forget about them and go on with life out here.
I excuse myself when Ava asks to play Barbies and hands me a boy Barbie, ducking to my room to call Morgan.
“Hey, I’ve only got five minutes because I’ve got lawyers coming in. Some moron took pictures of Scarlett in an exclusive spa and wants to sell them to the press,” she answers all in one breath.
“Uh-oh. If it’s any consolation, she’s got a great body. If you’ve got it, flaunt it.”
She keeps quiet over the speaker, and perhaps my words weren’t the right choice. I don’t know how to save myself from here. “So, Lex and Charlie are having a barbecue. Are you free? I’d really love for you to meet them.”
“My dad is here,” she replies.
“That’s okay. I’m sure Charlie won’t mind.”
She remains quiet, then responds in a worried tone, “Uh… okay. So, I guess you’ll meet my dad.”
“Okay, and so for my next piece of news… my mom’s here,” I say slowly.
“Okay.” She follows with, “Is that good or bad?”
“Good, I guess, because I miss her. Bad, maybe, because she, uh—”
“She’ll whip out a baby photo of you in the nude wearing a handbag?”
I laugh. “Ironically, I do have a photo like that. I’ve never brought a girl home…”
More silence.
I hate silence.
“Are you saying you’ve never been in a relationship?” she asks, somewhat shocked at my admission.
“Yes,” I admit, not ashamed of my playboy nature.
“Wow,” she exclaims over the receiver. “After all these years, how do you get out of staying with a woman?”
“Easy,” I answer. “I just wasn’t interested. I didn’t exactly mingle with women wanting a relationship.”
There’s noise in the background. Morgan apologizes, saying goodbye and hanging up the call. A few minutes later, I get a text.
Morgan: Don’t for one minute think you’re getting out of that conversation.
It was bound to come up, and if life has taught me anything so far, I need to start being honest with everyone including myself. Sure, I have a past. Don’t we all? But I’ve left it all behind. My baggage didn’t carry itself here to Los Angeles, and I’m certainly glad that Morgan is equally baggage free.
***
The food smells delicious and true to Charlie’s word, Lex is excellent at the barbecue. There are many guests who Charlie introduces me to, from her neighbors across the street to Lex’s parents and sister. I politely say hello, making small talk like the well-mannered son my mom raised me to be.
Eric brought his couch surfers. Basically, it’s a bunch of Swedish men crashing in his apartment. I ask no further questions on that matter.
And, of course, Kate, who has conveniently positioned herself next to the table with the punch wearing a big sun hat.