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“I know it was because my fairy godmother came,” I said with a smile. “You are the most beautiful woman I know, Riah. I mean it.”
She wiped at her eyes. “I love you, honey.”
She held my hand for a moment before leaving. They took a cab to stay at a hotel for the night, and the rest of us got into the limo to ride to the after-party.
It was at this kitschy club not too far away from the theater. I couldn’t help but wonder how many people had stood in the same spot, and I was now a part of the building’s history. I didn’t have much time to reflect though, because the after-party was a huge whirlwind of being pulled between different people, getting introduced to actors and writers and producers and change makers I'd never in my entire life imagined I would be hanging out with. And then Charlotte said, “I have someone youhaveto meet.”
“Who is it?” I asked. I’d already met actors I’d only fantasized about on screen. Plus, I wanted a chance to catch my breath. To dance with Jonas and thank him for being by my side through it all.
A twinkle gleamed in Charlotte’s eyes. “It’s a surprise.”
I excused myself from Jonas and the rest of my friends and went with Charlotte to see an attractive guy standing by the bar. Even from behind, I could tell he wasrich, with the cut of his suit to the shimmering watch on his wrist.
But when Charlotte walked up to him and said, “Hello,” my mouth went slack.
“Mara,” she said, “I'd like for you to meet Bradley Mason.”
My eyes were wide as I looked between him and Charlotte. “Bradley Mason. The famous showrunner Bradley Mason. The guy who createdBuy Me Chocolate Not Loveand Book Club Conquest. That Bradley Mason?” I knew I was being a fangirl, but I couldn’t help myself. Iwasa fangirl.
He smiled easily, showing off bright white teeth and dimples through his carefully trimmed scruff. “That would be me.”
“I’m a huge fan,” I blurted, as though that weren’t incredibly obvious by my embarrassing read of his resume.
He took a drink of his scotch on the rocks, and the ice tinkled against the glass. “I have to say I'm a fan of your work as well. Do me the honor of having a drink with me?”
“If you want me to die and go to heaven,” I replied.
Bradley grinned over at Charlotte. “Is she always this charming?”
“Absolutely,” Charlotte said with a grin.
Bradley held up his hand, easily commanding the busy bartender’s attention. He sized me up. “You look like a martini girl. Dirty.”
And damn if I didn’t blush. “That’s right.”
Soon the three of us were sipping from drinks, and Charlotte said, “Bradley actually came to me with an interesting opportunity for you.”
My lips parted. Just meeting him was opportunity enough. I looked to him, wondering what could possibly be better than this?
He smiled and said, “I actually have a show coming out late next year, and we are set to begin working on the story next week. There is a plus-sized main character, and I don't yet have anyone on my writing team that can handle it quite like you did inSwipe Right.”
My brain short-circuited. “I didn’t write the script for the movie. I mean, I looked over it, but that genius wasn’t mine.”
“I meant the book.”
My eyes widened. “You readSwipe Right?”
“Of course I did. It was sexy and funny and incredibly powerful. Just like what I’m trying to accomplish with this show.”
“How strong was that vodka?” I asked, staring at my drink. “You really wantmeto help you write your TV show?”
He nodded.
“Me, with no GED and raunchy sex in my books?”
He chuckled again, saying to Charlotte, “She’s adorable.”
“Absolutely,” Charlotte said.