CHAPTER FIVE
“That’s them,” Paula hissed to Sam over their up-to-now serene lunch the next day. They were eating in a small cafe off of Main Street in the funky art and antique district. He’d been telling his mother about a possible upcoming movie project and enjoying a chicken and avocado wrap. “Don’t turn around!”
Placing his sandwich back on his plate, he wiped his hands on the paper napkin. “How can I know who you’re talking about if I don’t turn around?”
His mother leaned farther over the table, her gaze darting around the restaurant like she was a spy for MI-6. “I will tell you who it is. It’s Chad and Monica. Look at them acting like they don’t have a care in the world.”
Paula practically spat out the last sentence, the color high in her cheeks. Sam hadn’t realized until this very moment just how much his mother didn’t like these two people.
“I can’t look because you won’t let me turn around.”
Rolling her eyes, Paula gave him a look that he recognized from his youth. Part exasperation and part love.
“Fine. You can turn around but don’t be obvious about it.”
“I’m an actor. I think I can pull this off.”
If he couldn’t, the Golden Globe committee was going to want their statue back.
With his elbow, he knocked his spoon off the table and onto the floor so he had to reach down to retrieve it. It gave him the perfect opportunity to take a quick look.
The couple wasn’t difficult to identify. Their expressions were a little too smug and their clothes were a little too fancy for this casual establishment.
“So that’s Riley’s ex.”
The guy was good-looking enough if you liked the boyishly handsome type. Blond hair and blue eyes, tanned skin. Sort of the lifeguard type if you didn’t look too closely at his physique. He was probably charming too – when he wanted to be – and had good table manners honed in some expensive school where he’d met all the right people from all the right families.
Sam had seen the type in Hollywood, wanting to bankroll indie flicks with daddy’s money while rubbing elbows with A-listers. They liked the parties and the glamour and the lunches at The Ivy. The work? Not so much.
“He’s a little prick, cheating on Riley,” Paula muttered, her lips so tightly pressed together they’d almost disappeared into her face. “Is there any way I could convince you to kick his ass?”
Sadly, no. As much as this Chad guy probably needed it, Sam didn’t want the bad publicity.
“Mother, your language is shocking. You would have washed my mouth out with soap.”
“Maybe I’ve seen too many of your movies. You don’t hold back in those.”
No, he didn’t and that’s why they were usually rated R. At least the Thunder movies were.
Paula’s eyes went wide and she quickly schooled her features into a neutral mask. “Don’t look now but they’re coming over here. Because of you, I’m sure.”
Now his mother was simply exaggerating. She was quite popular in town and had tons of friends. Anyone would want to cultivate a relationship with her.
“Paula,” the young woman exclaimed, a big smile on her face. “What a surprise seeing you here today. Is this your son?”
No, he was her new boy-toy boyfriend. Who else would he be?
But Sam knew the drill and he was too well-trained by his PR people to show even a smidgen of his real emotions or thoughts.
Holding out his hand, he gave them his best “I’m just happy to be part of this amazing ensemble cast” smile. It had a touch of charm and a smattering of humble, all wrapped up in friendliness and approachability.
“Nice to meet you,” Sam said, shaking first Chad’s hand and then Monica’s. “I am Paula’s son, Sam.”
“We’ve seen your movies,” Chad said, his arm wrapped around the woman’s waist. She was about Riley’s age, somewhere in her early thirties, with pale blonde hair and dark brown eyes. Quite slim, she was a tall woman, probably five-ten or eleven even without the heels she was wearing. “We’re big fans and it’s such a thrill meeting you.”
Sam murmured the appropriate words of thanks while Monica dug her cell phone out of her handbag. “Would you mind if I took a picture of the two of us? My friends will never believe this really happened.”
Of course he would take a few selfies with them. This was standard operating procedure.
The photos were taken. One with only Monica. One with Monica and Chad. And finally, one with all four of them, smiling like they were old friends.
Her hand flying to her mouth, Monica’s smile grew even wider. “I just had the most wonderful, amazing, and completely fabulous idea. Are you going to still be here this weekend? Chad and I are having our engagement party on Saturday night at his family’s home. You absolutely must come. Please say you will. Having you there would just make everything perfect.”
Because everyone needed a movie star to round out their guest list and to make others jealous.
Chad seemed to think well of the idea, slapping Sam on the back like they’d known each other for years. “We just won’t take no for an answer, will we, honey? It’s the social event of the season. Everyone will be there.”
Not everyone. Riley wasn’t planning on attending.
Sam was still formulating a polite way to say no when his mother piped up. “He’ll be there because he’s escorting Riley.”
Sam had to stop himself from slapping his own face.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the camel. What was Paula thinking? She’d been there yesterday when Riley had turned down their offer and now she was saying that he was Riley’s date? This was fast becoming a cluster that would certainly come back and bite them on the ass. Multiple times.
His mother was now smiling happily but her statement had wiped off the smug grins worn by the town’s power couple. Chad’s mouth had fallen open and Monica’s forehead had furrowed as if Paula was speaking in a language she didn’t understand. Swahili perhaps.
Chad was the first to find his voice, albeit slightly squeaky. “You’re taking Riley?”
There was silence for a moment as everyone waited for Sam to reply. Riley had been quite clear with her wishes last night. She didn’t want any part of their playacting, preferring to deal with this on her own.
But his mother…shit. Paula had inserted herself into this bitch of a situation and now he had to do something. He had to say no. He wasn’t escorting Riley.
Except that he couldn’t throw his mom under the bus like that. Not ever. So he tried to play it off as best as he could. He was a professional, after all.
“I’m not sure Riley plans on attending,” Sam hedged. “There’s so much going on this weekend.”
To his chagrin, Paula wasn’t backing down. Apparently, her motto today was go big or go home. “If she decides she wants to go, you’re taking her, though.”
She’d thrown down the gauntlet. He’d have to pick it up. Sort of. He gave the wishy-washiest answer he could.
“Whatever Riley wants is what I’ll do.”
Riley was going to be pissed the hell off when she found out what Paula had just done.
“Wow,” Monica said, twisting the strap of her purse with her fingers. “I didn’t even realize you two were seeing each other. How long has that been going on?”
Yeah, Mom, how long? You got an answer for everything?
Waving the question away, Paula acted like it was no big deal. “They met a while ago. I’m surprised Riley never told you.”
Although she made it sound as if she wasn’t surprised at all.
“I haven’t seen her much lately,” Monica said, a flush creeping up her cheeks. “But this is…great news. Just fantastic.”
Monica sounded and looked like they’d just told her that she had a terminal disease. The young woman was not happy in the least.
To Chad’s credit, he appeared to have recovered more quickly and seemed to be genuinely happy about the news. “Riley’s a great girl. You’re a lucky man.”
Now Monica was unhappy and pissed off, too. From where Sam sat it didn’t look like she’d expected her Prince Charming to have anything nice to say about his ex-girlfriend.
“I am a lucky man.”
He could say that with utter truthfulness and confidence. He’d been incredibly fortunate in his life.
“We hope you can come,” Chad said. “Paula, you’re going to be there, aren’t you?”
“Wouldn’t miss this for the world,” Sam’s mother assured them. “It should be quite an evening.”
Paula had pretty much ensured it would be.
The hovering hostess finally wrangled the couple to their table, leaving Sam and Paula alone. He didn’t often find himself angry with his mother, but she’d just put him and Riley in a really shit-sandwich situation.
And she’d known it when she did it.
Luckily, Monica and Chad were far enough across the crowded cafe that they couldn’t hear the conversation.
“I cannot believe you did that, Mom. Riley specifically said no.”
His mother dabbed at the corners of her mouth with her napkin, acting far too calm for the circumstances. “You’re angry with me.”
It was a simple sentence but so very true.
“I’m livid,” he said between gritted teeth. He hated being mad at Paula, but this little stunt was beyond the pale. “Riley has enough problems in her life without you adding to them. That poor girl just wants to be left alone. She was planning to skip the party and hold her head up around town, dealing with this like an adult. Now you’ve thrown her into the lion’s den and she doesn’t deserve any of this.”
“You’re right,” she nodded in agreement. “Riley deserves much better than she’s gotten in the past. She’s too sweet to demand it for herself. That’s why I want to help her. You can do that for her.”
Sam had a feeling that when backed into a corner the lovely and kind kindergarten teacher could come out swinging if she needed to.
“She doesn’t want us to do this.”
“She doesn’t know what she needs. She’s making decisions based on emotions, not logic.”
From what he’d seen it had been the exact opposite.
Rubbing his now throbbing temples, Sam shook his head. “Are you sure you didn’t just describe yourself? Because Riley made a well-thought out argument yesterday and so far, all I’ve heard from you is that you don’t like these people. That sounds emotional to me.”
Paula’s eye sparkled with unshed tears. “Okay, fine. You win, son. Are you happy now? I’m a sentimental fool of an old woman and I want Riley to be happy. You didn’t see her like I did. It wasn’t so much that she was heartbroken over that cad, it was that she was so hurt that one of her best friends could betray her like that. She trusted Monica. Frankly, we all did. I know that Riley had her doubts about her relationship with Chad so I think she felt it was all for the best, but I know that she was deeply hurt by what her friend did. I think she finds it hard to trust now and I don’t blame her. I’m having a tough time, too.”
Clearly this was as much about his mother’s hurt as Riley’s.
“You’re not a sentimental old fool, Mom. You’re just incredibly softhearted. But you didn’t think this all the way through. Riley doesn’t want any part of this. Ultimately, it’s her decision.”
“Leave her to me. I’ll talk to her.”
Heaven help Riley Bridges. When his mother was determined to do something it almost always happened. The poor kindergarten teacher didn’t stand a chance.
He might as well capitulate gracefully.
“Then I’m going to need a tux.”
Paula patted his hand and smiled. “Son, I already called your assistant. I’m way ahead of you.”
That wasn’t anything new.