“It’s eight. How the fuck do you want me to sound?”
“Isn’t it nine?”
“Somewhere else, maybe. Not in fucking Chicago.”
I smile and flop back onto the plush pillows. “Oh, I forgot you moved.”
“Yeah,three years ago.”
“Well,soh-ree.How’s the Windy City?” My foot taps, bleeding off excess energy.
“Are we really doing this right now?”
“Why not? I miss you. Let’s catch up.”
“Tee… entertaining you isn’t my job.”
“I know. It’s your privilege.”
There’s a low groan that borders on a growl. Then a sigh. “Fine. Let me get some coffee.”
“Eight’s not that early for you. Ms. Lawyer. Which means you’re hungover. Oooh, that’s gotta be a good story. Spill.”
“Fuck off.”
“Love you too, bitch.”
Shuffling and clunking noises filtered through the phone as Avery gets her coffee. My eyes glide out the window and over Auckland, more happy that she picked up and is humoring me than impatient, at the moment.
“Chicago is fine,” Avery finally says.
“That bad, huh?”
“No no, you’re not going to call me just to enjoy my misery.You’rethe one on set in New Zealand calling me at…” There’s a pause as she does the math. “Three AM? Jesus, Tee. That bad?”
“It’s just some insomnia. And it’s been ages since we talked. We haven’t hung out since Mor’s wedding.”
“That’s not my fault.Somebody’sbusy being a movie star.”
“Hey, speaking of, do I have you to thank for this super-fancy-hotel clause in my contract?”
There’s a pause, then a sadistic chuckle. I can picture Avery’s exact smug expression as she takes a sip of her coffee.
“I fucking knew it!” I punch the pillow next to me. “You asshole. Now the whole crew thinks I’m a spoiled brat.”
“Aren’t you?”
“That’s beside the point.”
“Payback for that blind date you sent me on with your cousin. Shestillmessages me to tell me how her azaleas are doing.”
My laugh is just as vicious as Avery’s. “Ah… That was such a good one.”
“You should be more embarrassed to be related to her.”
“Eh, her dad married into the family. We don’t share a gene pool.” I flick a piece of lint off the comforter next to me.
“Sure, sure. Whatever you say.”
