Page 58 of Size King

“How old are you?” Emma asks me.

“I turned thirty last month,” I answer. “What about you, ladies? You can’t be older than twenty-five, surely.”

“You nailed it right on the head,” says Emma. “I just turned twenty-five.”

“I’m at my second time of turning twenty-five,” says Jillian.

“Ah,” says Luke. “Did either of you go through a quarter-life crisis?”

Sometimes, Luke asks peculiar questions. Fortunately, they roll with it.

“I didn’t, but I did freak out when I found my first grey hair,” says Emma candidly. “I’m going to live to be a hundred and fifty, so I haven’t spent a quarter of my life yet.”

“I got really drunk and slept with my ex,” says Jillian. “That was my quarter-life crisis.”

“Hey, we’ve all been there.” I chuckle.

“I’ve regretted it every day since it happened,” she says. “But that’s in the past. Tell me more about yourself, Mason.”

I notice Luke and Emma engaging in their own private, flirtatious conversation. It is every man for himself, sink or swim.

“I was born and raised in L.A.,” I tell her. “A few years back, I decided to move to a little town up past the San Bernardino Mountains called Wrightwood. I started my own delivery business, and it’s been expanding every year.”

“That’s really cool,” she says. “How do you and your friend know each other?”

“We’ve known each other since high school,” I say. “Our families are both in the entertainment industry, so we flew in similar circles.”

“Really?” she asks, intrigued. “What do they do?”

“Well, theywerein the industry. They died a while back.” It’s a lie, but it’s simpler than the truth.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” says Jillian.

“We weren’t close,” I say. “So how do you andyourfriend know each other?”

“We went to school together,” she answers. “She came out here a few years ago. She’s been modeling for a while. Today was my first time at an L.A. photo shoot.”

“No kidding,” I say.

“I just moved out here, actually,” she continues. “I flew in earlier today.”

“Are you serious?” I laugh. “That’s really cool! Well, welcome to Los Angeles! I hope you like it.”

“Thanks!” she says. “Things are moving pretty fast for me. I’m on the verge of signing my first full modeling contract. I’ll hopefully be working with Emma.”

“You got hired to be in K-Plus?” I say, impressed. “Things reallyareworking out for you. Let’s have a toast!”

I raise my glass, which she reciprocates. Before I can improvise a clever toast, Luke and Emma interject.

“What are we toasting?” Luke asks with excitement, clearly drunk. “Is it a fucking celebration?”

“We’re making a toast to Jillian,” I reply. “To getting a great contract going with K-Plus, and for getting off to a great start on her new life here in California. Cheers!”

We clink our glasses together and all down the remainder of the liquor we have on the table.

“That’s crazy,” I say, shaking my head. “Here one day, and you’re already taking over. Leave some for the rest of us!”

“You don’t even live here anymore, so it’s all mine,” she says, winking.