Totally and Completely Fine(51)

“Money isn’t a problem,” Gabe said. “And we appreciate you.”

“Why don’t you hire a professional seamstress?”

Another wordless conversation.

“We tried,” Gabe finally said. “No one’s available to come here and get it done in the time we need.”

I doubted they’d looked far before settling on this brilliant plan. I squeezed my eyes shut, already knowing how this was going to end, but wanting to delay the inevitable as long as possible.

“Let me guess,” I said. “I’m your only option.”

“Kind of,” Gabe said.

This time, when I looked at the sketches, I did so from a construction mindset. The truth was that they weren’t wrong about the necessary skill level. If they had suits, I could make them look like they were falling apart. I could probably knit a scarf and a pair of fingerless gloves that would be perfect for one of the characters.

I could picture it easily.

“Dammit,” I said.

Chapter 29

Now

“Your mom is going to make the costumes for the play,” Gabe told Lena, who was picking at her casserole.

She looked at me, and I nodded. She shrugged.

Things had only gotten frostier between her and Gabe since Chani had moved into his apartment. As far as Lena was concerned, there wasn’t a single member of the press that could be trusted.

“It’s going to be spectacular,” Ollie said. “You should stop by the theatre next week, Lena. We’re going to be installing the stage lights.”

“Okay,” she said, still staring at her plate.

“Maybe you could come watch a rehearsal sometime,” Gabe said.

Lena ignored him.

His face fell.

“We might need some volunteer ushers,” Ollie said. “Do you think you and your friends would be interested?”

“Maybe,” Lena said.

I saw Chani pat Gabe’s arm as his frown deepened.

“Isn’t Eve a big fan of SXS?” Ollie asked.

That was the show that had first thrust Ben into the spotlight—a sexy, modern BBC retelling of Sense and Sensibility where he’d played the charming and rakish John Willoughby. It had been so popular that even teenagers in the States had become obsessed. Eve included.

“Yeah,” Lena said.

“We can introduce her to Ben,” Gabe offered.

Still no response. At least Gabe wasn’t giving up. I shot him an encouraging smile across the table.

“Hollywood certainly loves stealing actors from the UK,” Chani said.

“Only the best ones,” Ollie said with a toss of his head.

“Of course,” Chani said, keeping her smile in check. “I mean, he’s no Mr. Darcy.”

Ollie had played Darcy back in the day.

“Darcy versus Bond,” he said. “Who’s more iconic?”

“Darcy,” Lena and Chani said simultaneously.

“Thank you very much,” Gabe said, but he didn’t seem upset.

Bond had been complicated for him.

“I suppose you think I did you a favor,” Gabe said. “Since Bond is such a crap role.”

Ollie laughed. “It’s not a crap role,” he said. “And I would have been amazing, but you were the right choice.”

Gabe rolled his eyes.

“Things would be different if they cast it now,” he said.

Clearly Ben hadn’t confided in Gabe about the possibility of getting the role.

“Everything is different now,” Ollie said. “You don’t even have to come out—people are just out. Like Ben—it’s always been part of his bio.”

Lena’s eyes focused on Ollie.

“He’s gay?” she asked.

It was the first real interest she’d shown all night.

“He’s bi,” Ollie said. “Another thing that people didn’t talk about when I was starting out. You were either straight or you were gay, and there was no question which one was preferred.”

“We’re old,” Gabe said.

“Speak for yourself,” Ollie said. “I’m still fresh as a daisy.”

Lena and I were left alone as the guests cleared the table. Her face was scrunched in a frown, her shoulders tight and tucked in toward each other. I took pity on her.

“Want me to bring a brownie to your room?” I asked.

The relief was immediate.

“Is that okay?” she asked.

I nodded. “I know this is hard for you,” I said. “But you might want to give her a chance.”

We both knew I was talking about Chani. Lena’s lip curled.

“She’s important to your uncle Gabe,” I said.

That did nothing to deflate the sneer.

“He’s trying,” I said.

“Can I go now?”

I sighed. “Sure,” I said. “I’ll bring the brownie up in a bit.”

* * *

—

Gabe was at the foot of the stairs when I came back down post–brownie delivery.

“Ollie and Chani are finishing the dishes,” he said.

I raised an eyebrow. “You’re not helping?”

“I helped,” he said. “I took out the trash and put the leftovers away.”