Hollywood Scandals (32 page)

“
Well, it’s over now. You can leave,” I said, biting the inside of my cheek to keep those damned tears at bay.

Cal gave me one last look, then spun around, marched across the street.

My feet suddenly wanted to run after him, apologize, beg forgiveness even though I wasn’t exactly sure what I’d done wrong. How that whole conversation had slipped away from me so quickly, I didn’t know. But nothing about it had been what I’d wanted to say.

Only I didn’t run after him. I stood with my arms wrapped around my middle as I watched Cal climb into his Hummer, slamming the door shut behind him so violently I was surprised it didn’t fall off its hinges. Then he roared the beast to life and gunned the engine, his tires squealing as he raced out of the complex like he couldn’t wait to be rid of me.

I took a deep breath. I counted to ten. I told those tears if they dared to fall down my cheeks they were dead meat.

"Tina?"

I sniffed hard. "Yeah?" I answered, my voice only marginally shaky.

Aunt Sue came up behind me. "I ordered a large pepperoni. Cal's not staying for dinner?"

Do not cry. Don’t you dare cry!
"No." I cleared my throat, swiping the back of my hand over my damp cheeks. "No, Cal's gone."

"Oh. That’s too bad. Well, I hope you're hungry at least?"

I turned, pasted a smile on my face, and lied through my teeth. "Famished."

One pizza and three hours later, I’d tucked Aunt Sue into bed with a paperback Nora Roberts, and slipped on a pair of sweats, snuggling into my own bed. But, as drained as I was, I wasn’t quite ready to fall asleep yet.

There was one more person I had to talk to first.

I grabbed my laptop from my bag and booted it up, barely waiting until the welcome screen had cleared before opening an IM window and hoping he was still up.

He was.

My heart lurched as soon as I saw his little “online now” icon. I quickly typed.

Hey, Black.

Hey, Bender. I’d almost given up on you.

Sorry. Rough day.

There was a pause. Then,
Your column in the
Informer
this morning have anything to do with that?

Yeah.

Tell me.

So, I did. Everything. From the ridiculousness of our makeshift funeral for Mrs. C to the chase through the many lands of Small World and Millie’s amazing Sword in the Stone rescue. Black interjected with a lot of
Wow’
s and
Are you okay’
s. The only thing I held back was the fight with Cal and the growing bruise it had left in my chest. Though, I guess I mentioned his name enough in my narrative that the first thing Black said when he responded was,
So,
how do you feel about this Cal guy?

I bit my lip.
I don’t know,
I said, truthfully.

You like him?

I stared at the screen for a moment. Then typed,
Yes.
And for some reason my fingers added,
More than I should.

There was a pause. A long one.

You still there?
I typed.

We should meet.

I froze. Staring at the words. A mix of excitement and fear washing over me. I had never intended to meet Black. He was my secret. My escape from real life. My fantasy.

But as I looked at that little blinking cursor, I realized he’d also become the closest thing to a best friend that I’d ever had. Cal was wrong. I wasn’t all hard armor, and I did let my guard down. With Black. I’d confided in him, been comforted by him, was more honest with him than I probably was with anyone in my life.

So, as much as a protest was backing up in my throat, I felt my fingers typing,
When?

Tomorrow. Noon.

I swallowed a dry gulp. That was soon.

Where?

Griffith Park.

How will I know you?

There’s a bench. On the south side of the merry-go-round. Wait for me there.

This was so
You’ve Got Mail
. But I found myself nodding at the computer screen anyway. I took a deep breath. My stomach churned like I’d just eaten bad Mexican. And I typed the word,
Okay.

No sooner did it show up on the screen than Black signed off, his little “online now” icon quickly disappearing as if afraid I might change my mind.

He was a very perceptive man.

I turned off my laptop, setting it on the floor as I snuggled into my empty bed. Only I didn’t go to sleep. I was way too keyed up.

Tomorrow I was meeting Black.

* * *

I awoke early the next morning, that mix of fear and excitement still churning in my belly. I padded into the kitchen to find a note stuck to the coffee maker from Aunt Sue. Apparently the entire complex was buzzing with the news about Lani’s arrest, and Aunt Sue’s presence was requested at the senior center for breakfast. I smiled, picturing Aunt Sue as the belle of the senior ball for the foreseeable future.

I made myself a cup of coffee and took it into the living room, dragging my laptop with me. I booted it up and began typing up all of my notes from the day before. But instead of formatting it into the killer story it was, true to my word, I emailed the whole thing to Allie. As much as it pained me to give the blonde my story, I actually had a feeling she’d do it justice.

Instead, I pulled up a screen and focused on my own column, typing out the headline:

DISNEYLAND SECURITY NOT UP TO SNUFF WHEN IT COMES TO CELEBRITIES

Hey, I’d promised not to sue them over it. I hadn’t said anything about keeping my mouth shut. Besides, I was still a little miffed at having that damned Small World theme
still
stuck in my head. Seriously, if the CIA needs a new torture technique, they need look no further than those singing dolls.

I finished typing up my column, emailed it to Felix, and jumped in the shower. Once I was clean and smelled like “Forest Rain” (or so my shampoo promised), I contemplated my closet, anxiety rumbling through my stomach as I tried to pick out the perfect “meeting Black for the first time” outfit. I tried on a sundress and heels, but, after a quick turn in the mirror, discarded them. Too girly.

I slipped on a tank top and a pair of khaki capris, but they felt a little too trendy. Again, not really me.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure why I cared so much. I kept telling myself I was likely meeting some greasy-haired, goober-faced dork and was, in reality, in for an inevitable let down.

Still, I tried on a third outfit, finally settling on jeans, my hot pink converse, and a purple T-shirt with a flaming pink skull on the front. Maybe not the trendiest or most feminine, but it was totally me.

I took a little extra time doing my hair, even gelling the ends, and put on some mascara and lip gloss before grabbing my Strawberry Shortcake purse and heading out the door.

While meeting Black was all I could think about, it was only ten. So, I took a cab to the
Informer
’s offices, figuring I’d put in an appearance with Felix first. Not something I was entirely looking forward to, considering the number of unanswered messages he’d left me yesterday, ranging from, “I saw the column. Call me back if you value your job,” to the less subtle, “When I get my hands on you, Bender, I’m gonna…” trailing off into a variety of swear words that totaled at least $6.50.

Still, I made my way up to the second floor, and bravely knocked on the glass door to Felix’s office before pushing inside.

He was bent over his desk next to Allie, heads together, both staring at something on his computer screen. When I walked in, both immediately looked up, guilt marking their faces at being caught in such close proximity.

“
Ah, so, um,” Allie said, clearing her throat loudly, “I’ll, uh, have final copy to you by noon.” Then she quickly slunk out, head down even though it did little to hide the blush covering her cheeks.

Which left me alone with Felix.

I sucked in courage. “Hey,” I said, giving a little wave.

“
Bender. I was wondering when you’d show up.”

“
Sorry,” I mumbled. “It’s been a long couple of days.”

“
No kidding. Cal just filled me in.”

“
He was here already?” I asked, that bruised feeling hitting me again at the mention of his name.

Felix’s eyebrows drew together. “Yeah. Just left. Why?”

I shook the feeling off, telling myself it didn’t matter. The job was done. Cal was gone.

I cleared the lump of regret from my throat. “No reason. So, um, I got your messages yesterday.”

He narrowed his eyes at me. “You know I oughtta fire you for that stunt you pulled.”

I gulped. “Yeah, about that…”

But he didn’t let me finish, instead, plowing ahead. “But considering the story of the century Allie just showed me, I won’t.”

I shut my mouth with a click. “Oh. Good.” Wow, saved by the blonde. Who’d a thunk it?

“
I must say, I’m incredibly impressed. And surprised. Turns out you’re one hell of an investigative reporter.”

I couldn’t help it. A big goofy grin spread across my face. “Really?”

“’
Really?’ Are you kidding? You’ve single-handedly solved two murders in the last week. Listen, how would you like a bump from gossip to real news? I could use someone as savvy as you on Hollywood’s front lines.” He paused. Then winced only a little as he added, “I could maybe even consider a small raise.”

Wow. Felix talking raise was like The Grinch talking Christmas cookies. I took a moment to savor this rare occasion. However as flattered as I was, I shook my head.

“
Thanks. But no thanks.”

Felix opened his mouth to protest, but it was my turn to plow ahead. “Hey, I’ll admit I rocked this story.” There went that goofy smile again. “But, my love lies with gossip. My column is my baby. And I couldn’t imagine seeing her in anyone else’s hands. Besides, the celebs in this town trust me to rake ‘em, break ‘em, and make ‘em. I can’t let them down.”

Felix shut his mouth, a rueful grin tugging the corner of his mouth. “Okay. You win, Bender. Gossip it is.”

“
Thanks. Oh, but I will take you up on that raise,” I added.

Again the slight wince, but he covered it well. “Done. And in celebration of my star gossip columnist not only still being alive, but also getting us a story that’s sure to boost circulation by at least twenty percent, I’m taking you to lunch.”

Wow. Felix offering to shell out cash twice in a row? Had Hell frozen over? “Seriously? As in, you’re buying?”

He nodded. “Absolutely.” Then he crossed the newsroom, grabbed the Swear Pig from my desk, and turned it upside down, dumping a pile of quarters onto his desk. “There’s got to be at least twenty bucks here. Where do you want to go?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Tell you what, I have somewhere to be today. How about a rain check? Cool?” I asked.

Felix shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

I turned to go.

“
Hey, Bender?” Felix called.

I spun around. “Yeah?”

“
Nice work.”

I grinned. “Thanks, boss.” And he better believe that I was going to cash in on that free lunch that I’d paid for.

But not today.

Today, I had other plans.

* * *

Giffith Park covers more than ten square miles at the east end of the Santa Monica Mountains. One of the largest parks in North America, it’s home to such attractions as the Los Angeles Zoo, the Griffith Observatory and Planetarium, and the famed Hollywood sign.

The merry-go-round was located near the Los Feliz entrance, close to the zoo. I found it easily by following the squeals and shouts of happy children carrying over the vast expanse of lawn. I walked around the perimeter, finding an empty bench on the south side and sat down.

I jangled my knees up and down. I tapped my fingers on the armrest. I whistled off key along with the organ music being pumped in time with the twirling horses.

I looked down at my watch. 12:01. He was late. Okay, one minute late. Which was hardly anything. I decided to cut him some slack and waited.

I blew out a big breath, trying to calm my tightly wound nerves. I tried do tell myself this was nothing, that it would more than likely be a singularly awkward encounter, and we’d both be relieved to go home and forget about each other.

But I knew that was bullshit.

Black had become my best friend. My confidant. As screwed up as my feelings toward Cal were, they were just as screwy toward Black. I mean, how could you fall for someone inside a computer? You couldn’t. No more than you could fall for someone who was just doing his job, just looking out for you because he was being paid to, and then walked away as easily as anything when it was all over?