Kyle practically spit out his coffee. "
That's all she had to say about it?"
Now it was my turn to grin. "She also said my hair looked bad."
"You've got to be fucking kidding me," Kyle said. "Except I know you're not."
"No, I'm not," I said. Suddenly we were both laughing.
"Between your mom and my dad, really, it's no wonder that we ended up in this car together." Kyle was laughing so hard he was snorting. "They put the 'fun' in dysfunction."
"Right? It's so messed up, but it makes perfect sense. I mean, it would make perfect sense to our therapists. I almost think they deserve each other—Caroline and Pierce."
Kyle raised his eyebrow and looked at me. "They just might."
"I wouldn't wish Caroline on anybody though. Maybe not even your dad. You thought she was bad before? Now she's bad and gluten-free, wearing sanctimonious organic cotton yoga pants." It was my turn to snort. "You don't know what bad is."
"I think I have a pretty good idea," Kyle said, sounding as if he meant it.
Kyle
We pulled into the studio lot, and Lowell got out of the car. Even though she'd been laughing only moments earlier, she now looked pale underneath her makeup.
"You okay?" I asked.
She shrugged. "It's not like I can do anything about it if I'm not."
"Well, while I'm here," I said, throwing my arm around her shoulders, "you can lean on me. You should get your money's worth."
"You really need to think about a career in PR," she mumbled. "I know people. Hell, the way you're doing with the press, you know people."
An earnest young woman wearing a headset over her frizzy hair bustled toward us, clutching a clipboard. She nearly fell over when she saw me with Lo. "G-g-good morning, Ms. Barton." She tore her eyes away from me to Lowell.
Lo's face softened. "Ellie, for the millionth time, call me Lo. And this is… this is my boyfriend, Kyle."
Ellie tried to smile at me and failed. She just nodded and tapped her pencil. She seemed as though she'd had about ten cups of coffee already. "They're waiting for you."
"Oh, I'm sure they are," Lo said, sounding braver than she probably felt. "Ellie, will you take Kyle to my trailer?"
"Of course." The girl's face was ashen. "But they called a big meeting, and they've already been in there for an hour—"
"Don't worry about it," Lo interrupted. "I can handle Lucas and the rest of them. It'll be okay. Go get a doughnut from craft services. And an orange juice. You look like you're going to pass out."
I leaned toward Lowell and whispered, "Good luck. Go get 'em."
She nodded and pulled her sunglasses down enough so that I could see her eyes, which looked resigned. "Be good. Don't make Ellie work too hard. She's got me for that."
She walked off, and I mentally crossed my fingers for her. I also watched her fine ass and cursed the stupid director for ever telling her it was too big. Stupid git.
I turned to find Ellie watching me, a frown wrinkling her brow.
"She's my girlfriend, not that it's any of your business. And a doughnut would be lovely." I used the same tone that I used to use on the staff when they caught me doing something ill-advised and/or illegal.
"Of course," Ellie said but didn't move. She looked forlornly at the building where Lo was heading. "They're all waiting for her. Even one of the producers who hasn't been on set before." She sounded as if she thought Lo were walking the plank and a bunch of crocodiles were waiting in the water below.
"She's a big girl," I said, even though I felt a small spark of anxiety on Lo's behalf. "She can handle them."
Ellie nodded, looking as if she might cry.