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“Of course, that’s why I’m here. I’m sorry. I don’t really know how to behave.”

This is where Juan usually comes to my verbal rescue, but he seems entranced with Austin beyond the point of speech.Great.

“It’s lovely to see you again, Nora,” Mimi says, filling the awkward silence. “You look amazing.” She sounds like she really means it. “I was hoping that after my son is done fawning over you, we could have a private chat. There are a few things I’d like to discuss.”

“Oh. Okay.”

“Not business, I hope.” Juan has gathered himself. “You look fab as well, darling, by the way.” Only Juan can get away with calling my new boss ‘darling’ mere minutes after meeting her.

Austin bursts into a chuckle, then looks at his mother expectantly.

“All pleasure, and ditto,” Michelle says.

Is that a flash of awe crossing Austin’s face? Maybe he hasn’t met a lot of people who speak to his mother without much deference.

“Seriously, though, Nora.” Austin’s focus is back on me. “I watchedHigh Lifeso much in my teens, it kind of felt like you were a friend. You were always there. And always hilarious, but sexy at the same time. Like this absolutely perfect human.”

That was my character, I’d like to say, but don’t. There’s no point in bursting Austin’s bubble and I’m sure he knows the difference by now. It’s just one of those things people say.

“Imani!” Stella shouts behind us. “You don’t call. You don’t text.” Stella throws her arms around my friend. When Imani comes with me to the set, she and Stella are thick as thieves.

Stella greets us all, then immediately falls into a deep conversation with Imani—the way two people sometimes do but has, in all my fifty-one years, never happened to me.

Juan is already relentless with Austin, and Mimi’s son enjoys his attention to such an extent that he seems to have forgotten why he came to this party in the first place.

This leaves Mimi and me standing next to each other in silence.

“How about that chat now?” Mimi asks.

“Sure.”

I nod hello to a few people but don’t stop for chitchat as we make our way to the backyard. Juan was right. This is a proper party. It wouldn’t be the first time Stella has lured me to her and Kate’s house under the guise of a small dinner party, only to spring more than a dozen people on me.

“Your friend seems to have taken a shine to my son,” Mimi says as she finds a chair.

“Looks like it.” I can hardly apologize for Juan. As Mimi said earlier, Austin’s a big boy. “Handsome men in their twenties always have that effect on Juan.”

“How old is he?” Mimi sounds trepidatious.

“Forty-four.”

She scrunches up her lips and nods. “Austin’s last boyfriend was in his late fifties, so… Anyway, I’ve been told too many times to stay out of it, so that’s what I will wisely do.” Her smile isn’t brimming with confidence.

I don’t tell her that Juan isn’t the type of man to want a long-term boyfriend. I’ve known him since the last year of myHigh Lifedays—for almost two full decades—and I can still count his relationships that lasted longer than a few months on the fingers of one hand.

I sit next to Mimi. A waiter stops by to offer us a cocktail. I happily accept one while Mimi asks for water with a slice of lime.

“Juan’s a good guy,” I say, whatever that might mean in this context. He’s definitely an excellent friend to me, but I’m not a gay man in my twenties.

“I’m sure he is. You brought two plus-ones.” Mimi’s smile widens.

“I usually do.” I don’t explain myself further. I stopped doing that a long time ago.

“I wanted to make sure we didn’t get off on the wrong foot the other day,” Mimi says. “When I barged into your table read and demanded you and Stella have lunch with me, I got the distinct impression that didn’t go down too well with you.” She puts a hand to her chest. “I apologize if that’s the case.”

The waiter has returned with Mimi’s water. She takes a few sips.

“It’s okay. I’m used to that kind of alpha behavior from people like you.”