Page 16 of The Ex-Best Thing
Well, I have one big one, but once the diss track goes live in two days, it won’t be a secret any longer.
That’s the end of the questioning. I dig in, pulling the perfectly fried fish to pieces. It’s crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Benny’s right. It’s amazing.
We finish eating and walk down the path to the beach. I kick off my shoes and leave them near a spongy-looking plant, then head for the water. Benny’s hands are in his pockets. Wind whips my synthetic hair over my face, so I pull a scrunchy from my purse and tie it back in a low ponytail. At least the wig clips are keeping it on.
Next shopping trip: get a hat.
“How’s your family doing?” Benny asks, like he’s been thinking of this question since we left the picnic tables. “I watched the last season, but that was a few years ago. And there was the offshoot in New York, but I know your show doesn’t cover everything.”
“Or anything, really,” I remind him, not sure how I feel about the fact that he’s been watching our show.He’s beenwatching our show!?Twenty-seven-year-old men are not exactly our prime demographic. He’s still waiting, so I continue. “It’s not scripted, exactly. I won’t go that far. But you know how staged it can be.”
“Yeah, I remember the producers and all their suggestions.” He gives me a look, and I wonder if he’s thinking of the time we both ended up at the same restaurant at the same time with separate groups of friends in LA, yet ended up leaving together. We were kids, but they orchestrated a lot of our social situations until we got together officially.
I tuck a loose hair into the scrunchy, putting those memories back in the past. “Did you see that Noah got married?”
He nods.
“He and Cat have the sweetest baby girl. I don’t know if they’ve announced it yet because I’m staying off my phone. Her name is Stella, and she’s the most perfect angel. They still live in Sunset Harbor.”
“That’s a pretty name.”
“She’s named after Cat’s mom.” My feet sink into the sand. “They’re currently babysitting my Pomeranian.”
“Peanut.”
My stomach clenches.
“I follow you,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck again. I’m beginning to think this is a tell of some sort.
“I didn’t realize you had any social media.”
He shrugs. “It’s fairly new. I slipped into your notifications unseen with all your other fans.” Benny laughs. “You probably don’t even manage your own socials, do you?”
“I have…some…help.” I’m unable to fight my grin. “I can’t do everything myself.”
“No, of course not.” His smile is indulgent, but I still think it’s well meant.
I need to talk about something else. “Olive is still datingDash Malone, and we’re taking bets on when they’ll get married.”
“They’re going to have some crazy famous babies.”
“And Zoey is living in New York and happy, as far as I know. My parents got a divorce a few years ago, so things in my family have been weird since then. Zoey has taken on a mom-ish role among us, which is mostly annoying since we still have a mom who does the same thing.”
“Sounds like everyone’s doing well.”
“I think they are. We’re all a little jealous of Noah and Cat.”
He looks sidelong at me. “You want a baby?”
“No, I want…” But I don’t tell him. It’s weird how comfortable this is. I can feel myself opening up more than he probably wants or needs to know. There’s a small voice of caution in the back of my head telling me not to divulge too much, but this is Benny Rhodes. He used to know the people I’m updating him on, and he won’t run straight for the nearest clickbait site to sell the info. He’s so off the grid, I’m surprised his house has electricity.
I give him a bright smile, hoping he allows the subject change without a hitch. “How are your parents?”
“Still in LA. They love their life there.”
“Still? I figured they’d be in Montana.”
“No, I ran there by myself. Well, with a few bodyguards to start.”
