Which is really the brunt of the problem between Eloise and me. We’ve been growing apart ever since we came out west together. She moved to Hollywood and went big time and I went . . . nowhere. I try not to think about Eloise. I don’t want to admit how much I miss her. She was my best friend our whole lives, but it’s been a few years since I’ve felt like I could truly confide in her. Where did we go so wrong?

Alex follows me outside and we walk up the street, back toward the Saloon.

“You’re not just Jane. You’re smart and kind and beautiful. You don’t need a degree or fame to be of value. We are not our accomplishments.”

“Says the really accomplished guy who founded his own company and will probably be a billionaire by this time next year.”

“Ha.” He waves a hand. “That’s what I’ve done, it’s not who I am. It’s not necessarily all yachts and parties and people fawning all over me all day long.” He rubs his chin. “According to my parents, I work too hard. And unlike you, I don’t have any siblings to distract them from my life.”

“They’re very involved?” My parents are overly involved. I mean, they were. It’s strange that it’s been months since I talked to them, at least for me. The last time I heard from them, I ignored Mom’s call and she left a detailed message offering well-meaning “suggestions” for my meeting.

“Oh yeah. I’m sure they’re still traumatized from when I was sick but,” he shrugs, “they do their best to be present and not oppressive. They call me weekly and visit over the holidays, and I visit whenever I can. Most of their calls lately are demands for me to take time off work. Do something, anything, other than work. They bought me tickets for a tourist bus, one of those double-decker things. I still have them in the glove box of my car, where they’ve been for the past six months. They’re going to expire if I don’t use them soon.”

I smile. Eloise and I did that tour when we first moved here. Before things got weird.

“Hey, Pickle Juice!”

We both turn in the direction of Leon’s shout.

“I really need to hear that naked lightsaber story,” I mutter.

The car honks at Leon, dividing Alex’s attention between his friend and me, his brows furrowed.

“How did you know about the naked lightsabers?”

Oops. “Um, I think you mentioned it earlier.”

His head shakes slowly, eyes narrowing on my lying liar face. “No, no, I’m sure I didn’t.”

“We got another gig booked next month.” Saved by Leon, who slings an arm around Alex’s shoulders.