Page 70 of Even After This
She stares at him, eyes squinting, forehead scrunched as if she’s trying to work out a complicated math problem in her head.
Hannah giggles through her own handshake with him, but she’s holding herself together well for someone who truly is infested with the plague of adolescence.
Taylor gives him a “hey man” type of greeting, and both guys turn to observe the room of giddy girls.
Not taking her eyes off Harlan, Molly grabs my forearm and tugs me to her. “You weren’t drunk that night at the Broadmoor. You totally danced with Harlan Holcombe.”
“Aunt Meredith was drunk?” Taylor voices his question to his mom, but Hannah blurts out another giggle in response.
Great. More to sort out later. No need for my niece and nephew to think their aunt is a lush.
Still clutching my arm, Molly gawks. “Dear Lord. It’s like staring at the sun. He’s so pretty, my eyes are burning.”
“Mom,” Hannah hisses as her entire body lurches in our direction. “Stop talking. I’m begging you.”
Harlan’s lips twitch, and he glances at me.
Molly gasps, faces me, and clutches my bicep. “Are you dying? Is this some kind of Make-A-Wish thing?”
A small burst of laughter escapes my mouth as my gaze locks with Harlan’s, and I shake my head.
“Should I leave the room?” Harlan asks Taylor.
“No. Stay here.” Taylor widens his stance and crosses his arms. “This is when it gets good.”
Molly peeks at Harlan, then back to me. “What I can’t understand is how you were normal enough to meet him.”
Yanking my arm from her hold, I glare at my sister. “I did just fine, thank you very much.”
Harlan stares down to his boots while his shoulders shake.
“What?” My arms go out in question. “I think my issue has to do with the little amount of time I spend with famous people.”
“Oh, please.” My sister folds her hands in a praying position. “Please, Meredith—”
“If I had gotten more time with Rachael Ray—”
“Aaaaaaanndd here we go.” She sighs.
“—I think she would have understood my Adult Easy-Bake Oven design. We would have bonded and become best friends.”
“No, sweetie.” Molly pats my hand. “That was never going to happen. No amount of time changes the fact that in a sixty-secondbook signing, you pitched the idea of the microwave to a beloved chef.”
Harlan grimaces. “That’s rough.”
I grab a dish towel and wrap it around my hand. Traitor. Does no one understand my ingenious concept?
Molly offers Harlan a tight smile. “That’s when we came up with the rule.”
Harlan’s gleaming eyes sear into mine. “So...”
“Yeah.” Molly nods. “She can’t do famous people. Hence the Famous People Probation.” She steps toward Harlan and swirls her finger in the air, directing him to turn around. “So we’re going to have to ask you to leave.”
“Mom!” Hannah’s hummingbird presence takes a splat into a window.
Molly shrugs. “Or give up your super successful career, disappear for about five years, and reenter our lives as a carpenter. Then you might have a shot at being her friend.”
“I think I’ll take my chances.” Harlan’s amused brown eyes cut to Molly, then return to me. “Besides,Peoplemagazine passed on me this year. Which means I’m not as famous as I was when I met her. Things should go a lot smoother now.”
