Hidden Hollywood

The women cheered.

Julia beamed. “Let me get a pen.”

“This is so cool!” Charlotte exclaimed. “The trifecta! Ladies, keep your signed book in a safe place. It’s going to be worth millions one day.”

Claire smiled. Doubtful. But it would be a very special memento of their brief time together. She snagged a book for herself. “I want you all to sign mine.”

Mad returned a few minutes later and grabbed a book for herself, peeking in at the signatures. “Awesome. Thanks, Claire.”

“You’re welcome,” Claire said. “Make sure you sign mine. It’s making the rounds.”

“You’re okay,” Mad said with a big smile.

Her heart squeezed, her eyes suddenly stinging with unshed tears. “You too,” she managed.

Hailey returned, cell phone in hand, and stopped next to Claire to announce, “He says the sex is free, but they have to ask him. He wants a clear affirmation of desire and consent.” She flushed bright pink. “So that’s the deal. That’s nice, I think.”

“Oh my God,” Charlotte exclaimed. “He seriously said that?”

Claire had no idea what to say to that. She stared at Hailey blankly.

Hailey cleared her throat and then coughed. “Those were his exact words.”

A disturbing thought suddenly occurred to Claire. “Wait. The sex is free? What isn’t free?”

“Uh…” Hailey looked around like someone else might answer.

“Did you offer to pay him to take me out?” Claire asked, incredulous. Not only was this a setup, but Hailey had to pay the guy to take her out? Unbelievable!

Hailey put her hand reassuringly on Claire’s arm. “He’s the warm-up guy. I have to give him some incentive.” She smiled brightly. “Anyway, you’ll like him. I’m sure you’ll be thanking me later.”

Julia looked up. “I’d give Josh my book club stamp of approval.” She stamped the table with an imaginary stamper.

The women all followed suit, stamping an imaginary stamp in their palm. Even Mad.

Book club approved.

Claire slumped in her seat. She could have anyone. There was no door closed to her.

Except for the door with a regular-guy date behind it. Could she really have a little fun adventure and no one would get hurt? She missed being her old self, missed not worrying about what she said or how she looked. And she really missed moving freely without the paparazzi, enjoying nature. She looked up to find the women all smiling encouragingly at her. She so wanted to say yes.

No, it was impossible. She was tequila dreaming. The rational part of herself knew better. She could never have the regular-girl experience and definitely not with a paid escort.

“I can’t go out with someone paid to be with me,” she finally said, and the women sighed in disappointment. “You see how that could look bad if it got out?”

Hailey worried her bottom lip. “I’ll see if I can work something out. No, I know I can. Don’t worry, Claire, I’ll take care of everything.”

Claire rubbed her forehead. Two (or was it three?) swigs of tequila made thinking tough. “Let me think it over.”

Mad produced a second bottle of tequila from her bag—no worm in this one—and started a game of “Never Have I Ever” that had them rolling on the floor. Because Mad had done some weird-ass things—setting up plastic pink flamingos on the principal’s front lawn, dressing up like Darth Vader for prom, disguising herself as a boy and kicking ass on the Police Athletic League’s baseball team. At the time, they’d wanted girls to stick to softball. She was tough and smart and Claire had a bit of a girl crush. Not the sexy kind, just the let’s hang out kind. And because she liked Mad so much, she was warming to the idea of a fun date with her brother. Sight unseen.

Yikes! She must’ve had too much to drink.

Finally, it was late and they were all fighting back yawns. They said their goodbyes. Everyone left with a signed book, and Claire had her own signed memento clutched to her chest to ward off the returning ache of loneliness as she watched the group leave without her. The women chatted; occasionally one would grab the other’s arm, smiling and drawing close as they spoke. She swallowed down the familiar feeling of being on the outside. She had grown up a military brat, transforming herself to fit in at whatever new school she found herself in. Great training for an actor. Hard on her tender heart.

“Ciao!” she called. “Thanks for coming.”

“Ciao!” a chorus called back, sounding exactly like her. She smiled. She liked that they felt comfortable enough to joke around with her now.