She laughs. “You’d have to dig deep to find the niceness.”
“But I know it’s there, and Ryan is just one of many famous people—athletes, movie stars, politicians, you name it—they will all be watching you perform in coming years. So get up there and kill it tonight!”
“I’m terrified.”
“Pretend it’s just me, Phil, and Bruce,” I say. “We’ll always be your number one fans. Just don’t forget us when you’re famous.”
She pulls me in for a tight squeeze. I don’t miss the way her hands tremble as they clench my back, or the way her voice cracks when she speaks. “What would I do without you?”
“Well, you wouldn’t have met Ryan Pierce, that’s for sure.” I grin, stepping back. “You’re welcome for that.”
“Lisa, you’re up next. Six minutes to go.” A male head pops into the bathroom. “Finish your business and get out here.”
“Bruce, stop sticking your head in the ladies’ room,” Lisa says.
The woman in the stall gulps another breath.
“And I don’t know who you think you’re fooling in there, Christine,” Lisa calls to the stall. “I can see your shoes and I know you’re trying to eavesdrop. Get out here, I need a vodka soda before I go on stage, please.”
Our friend, the bartender at the Laugh House, coughs from the toilet. “Coming right up.”
We file out of the bathroom, Lisa giving me a nervous glance before heading off into the wings, waiting for her name to be called.
“Everything okay?” Ryan asks.
There’s a fresh glass of wine on the table, and I help myself to it. “Fine and dandy. She’s going to rock it.”
“I know she will.”
“But if she bombs, you’re still going to whistle like she won the World Series, you hear me?”
“Do you know what sport the World Series is for?” Ryan asks, eyebrow raised.
“Does it matter?”
He throws back his head and laughs, the sound covered by applause for the comedian on stage completing his set. Ryan claps along, both of us hooting and hollering as the MC takes the mic and introduces Lisa. That’s when I stand, wave my hands, and do a sort of butt shake dance. Yes, I’m weird. When I finally sit back down, I look over at Ryan to see if he’s embarrassed yet.
Instead of focusing on the bright lights, the onstage action, or the waitress asking if he’d like a refill, Ryan’s eyes are fixed on me, and they’re shining with something that looks like desire.
I guess he didn’t mind my dance moves.
Positively boiling inside with happiness, I sit down, grab Ryan’s hand, and together, we watch the show.
CHAPTER 13
Ryan
I’m an idiot.
Friends? I told her I wanted to be friends?
I’ve never seen anyone more alive. Her smile, her laugh, the way she moves her hips when she’s whistling for her friend on stage—it’s all driving me insane.
I need her, even if it’s only for a night.
Look, I get it—I’m selfish. I live in Minnesota and she lives in Los Angeles, and long-distance relationships never work, especially in careers like ours. Comedians travel all the time, and so do athletes.
I should leave her alone. I should tell her I’ll go to the wedding with my mom’s annoying bimbo-bunny. I should quit with the pizza ordering from her dad’s place before I get so out of shape I’m kicked off the Stars.
But I can’t do it. I already said it—I’m selfish, and I want her.
Maybe not tonight, maybe not tomorrow—I’m patient, you see—but sometime, I need it to happen.
As much as I want her, I think she wants me too. If I can show Andi what sex is supposed to be like, maybe she’ll forget about those other assholes who’ve come before me.
One hot night together would be a win for both of us, right?
CHAPTER 14
Andi
“You did ah-mazing.” I grab Lisa at our designated meeting spot outside the club, each of us locking hands around the other’s forearms, doing a little girlish dance in the style of Ring Around the Rosie. “You’re a star, Lisa!”
“That scared the shit out of me.” Lisa’s eyes shine like two beams of light, and I can feel the nerves, the exhilaration, the adrenaline sizzling in the air. “I hated it, but I loved it. Damn, I don’t know what’s happening. I am going crazy! This is amazing!”
A shadow moves at my elbow. “You’ve reminded me how much I like going to comedy shows.” Ryan slides one arm over my shoulder, the casualness of his gesture feeling natural. It’s nice; I could get used to it.
Before my traitor of a brain wanders to dangerous territories—like wondering if Ryan Pierce might actually enjoy the company of the world’s worst delivery girl—I pat Lisa on the shoulder again. “Congratulations. That was an awesome show. You nailed it, really.”
“I have to agree.” Ryan grins. “So, when’s your next show?”
“What?” Lisa blinks up at him.
“Your next show,” I say, patting Ryan on the chest, not sure how or why we’ve become so comfortable so quickly. I turn back to Lisa. “When is it? We’ll be there—or, I mean, I will, and maybe Ryan too, if he wants to come?”
“Of course,” he agrees. “That’s why I asked.”
Lisa opens and shuts her mouth a few times. “That’s a good question. Bruce, you got any more openings this week?”
Bruce the bouncer shrugs. “They don’t tell me those things.”
Lisa can’t wipe the shit-eating grin off her face. “It feels different, Andi, when there’s more than one person in the audience—different in a good way. And they laughed! At things I said! Can you freaking believe it?”
Another laugh bubbles up in my giddy friend.
“Of course I can believe it!” I tell her. “They loved you in there. I’ll be surprised if you don’t get a call to do the show next week. Hell, I’ll be surprised if they invite Luke Donahue back at all. I think you might’ve replaced him.”
“You think?” That flash of desperation, the self-doubt that never quite leaves a comedian’s soul, appears in her eyes. “Anyway, I’m not gonna worry about it now. A few of the others are grabbing a drink at the bar. You guys wanna come?”
I flick my eyes up to Ryan and wait for his answer.
“I have an early meeting in the morning, so I can’t make it,” he says, “but Andi, if you want to stay, I’ll call a cab and leave you my car, or vice versa.”
“Of course, I understand,” Lisa says. She releases me from the best-friend pact with a whisper. “Go with him. Thanks for coming in the first place.”
“We wouldn’t have missed it.” I stop, clasping a hand over my mouth, wondering where on earth that we came from. Praying Ryan didn’t notice, I continue quickly. “Your first big show was a success. You should celebrate all night long.”
Lisa gives me one last hug and a knowing look, then disappears among the catcalls from her friends waiting at the bar.
I turn to face Ryan. He’s wearing a grin the size of a banana.
“Where are we going next?” he asks, looping his arm through mine.
“Shut up,” I say. “I thought this whole thing was fake, anyway.”
“I didn’t say I’d fake date you,” he says. “I have to convince you to spend a weekend—or at least a few hours—with my family. I might as well make it worth your time.”
“You’re right,” I say. “I could use a ride home, then.”
“You got it, sweetheart.”
CHAPTER 15
Andi