She took his arm as they headed to the table, and Astrid rolled her eyes at the giggling girls hanging all over the guys, stepping over legs and stripper heels to get to the liquor.

Ash jerked his chin at me. “What’s up, man? Haven’t seen you much the last couple of weeks.” He took a drink.

“Not much.”

“Then where the hell have you been?”

I played up whatever I could to assuage him. “Had a photoshoot the other day with W.”

“Oh? Fashion or something else?”

I smirked. “Eligible bachelors.”

A laugh burst out of him. “Of course you did. So, that was one day. And how about the rest of the time?”

I shrugged, not knowing what else to add because there wasn’t anything except the truth. “I’ve got a new girl.”

Ash smiled mischievously. “Now we’re getting somewhere. How hot is she?”

“I can’t judge her on that scale. She’s a good girl.”

“Oh, fuck man. I love the corruption of a good girl,” he said knowingly. “What’s her story?”

“She just moved here. Needed someone to show her around.”

“Yeah, I bet she did.” He chuckled. “Astrid doesn’t suspect, does she?”

“You know she doesn’t care. I’ve told her all about it.”

He shook his head. “Astrid Thomas and all the side ass you want? It’s the dream.”

His dream, maybe. I shook my head, amused as I sipped my scotch.

His eyebrow raised with one corner of his mouth in a smile as he looked behind me. “Don’t look now, but Ali Banks is currently strutting this way with mischief on her mind. And by mischief, I mean blow jobs.”

I laughed, even though I was annoyed. I’d hooked up with the actress a few times, which was plenty. Let’s just say that some actresses are always acting. I hadn’t called her in months, but for some reason, she hadn’t gotten the hint.

“Hey there, handsome.” Her voice was silky, and she slipped her arm around mine.

I turned to her, plastering on The Smile. At least Batman got a legit mask. “Hey, Ali.” I kissed her cheek, and she smiled up at me.

She was gorgeous — long, copper hair in shiny finger waves, ivory skin, big, green eyes, and a wide, sexy smile. She really was a fantasy on legs, a model before she started acting. But that smile was just as plastic as mine.

Her fingers gripped my bicep. “Where’ve you been, Coop? I haven’t seen you in forever.”

Ash raised his glass. “Hey, Ali. No, I’m good too. Great to see you.”

Ali shot him a flat look. “Hey, Ash,” she said, sounding bored, but when she looked back at me, she lit up. “Really, though. I’ve missed seeing you. Have you been in New York or on vacation?” She didn’t wait for an answer, just kept talking. “I’ve been dreaming of Italy. As soon as we’re finished filming, I think I’ll take a sabbatical there. Maybe you could come meet me for a weekend.” Everything about her was suggestive — her eyes on me, the curve of her lips, her body pressed into my side — even if her words hadn’t been crystal clear.

“Sounds refreshing.”

Ali smiled, her eyes on my lips. “I’ll text you about it.” She got even closer. “So, what are you doing tonight?”

I looked her over. Even with her breasts against my arm, her long thigh against mine, those big, green eyes of hers looking up at me hopefully, I wasn’t interested at all. She looked too polished. Too perfect. I thought of Maggie’s wild hair, the peppering of freckles across her cheeks and bridge of her nose. She didn’t even have to try — Maggie was effortlessly beautiful, unlike Ali, who looked like she’d had a makeup artist and a stylist put her together, which I was certain was the truth.

Even more appealing: Maggie would never throw herself at a man the way Ali did.

I smiled apologetically. “Ali, I’m here with Astrid.”

“Oh.” She blinked and let me go, putting a little space between us just as Astrid walked up, smirking.

“Hey, Ali.”

Ali threw on the brightest smile in her repertoire, I was sure. “Oh, hey, Astrid. I didn’t see you were here.”

“Obviously.”

She lasered her charm on Astrid, touching her arm as she beamed. “I saw your Barney’s ad in Times Square. So hot.”

Astrid gave her a flat, bullshit smile. “Thanks. Jean-Pierre does amazing things with a camera.”

Ali laughed, the sound practiced. “Please. You’re so gorgeous. I bet you even look good with the front camera on your phone.” She waved a hand at Astrid and turned back to me. “I’ve got to head back, but it’s good to see you, Coop.”

I motioned to her with my drink. “You too, Ali.”

Her smile curled a little in the corners. “I’ll see you around.” She turned to walk away, hips swaying.

“Bye, Ali,” Ash called, too loud, laughing when she didn’t turn around.

Astrid shook her head. “Shameless.”

TRUTH OR DARE

Maggie

THE NEXT MORNING, I FOUND myself standing in the entry of the shelter between Susan and Brian, amongst a handful of volunteers and residents as our benefactor walked through the front door with her assistant by her side. And the second I saw her, my heart took a swan dive out of my chest and hit my shoes with a splat.

She was tall and beautiful, with thick, jet black hair cut just above her shoulders, eyes sparkling and blue, just as I remembered. Her shirt and pencil skirt were tailored, lips red as she smiled warmly at us. It was a smile I was very, very familiar with.

It looked exactly like her son’s.

Cooper’s mom blinked at me, her smile stretching wider with recognition. “Maggie! It’s been years, how are you?”

I smiled back, stunned as she embraced me. We’d met when Cooper and West graduated from Columbia, had dinner together. “I’m well, Mrs. Moore. It’s good to see you.”

“Please, call me Catherine. It’s been too long. Cooper told me you were in town and looking for a job.”

Everyone was staring at me as I stood in front of my new boss — my booty call’s mother — smiling like an idiot as my thoughts spun around like they were on the Tilt-A-Whirl.

“Oh, did he?”

“He did. We’re so lucky to have you. Between Cooper and Susan’s glowing recommendations, I’m just so thrilled that you’ve landed in our laps.” She turned her attention to Susan. “Lovely to see you, Susan.”

“Hello, Catherine. We’re so happy to see you, too.”

“I’m glad to be here. Hello, Brian, and everyone.”

I was still smiling, barely listening as she said her hellos, feeling like a deer in headlights. Cooper had something to do with me being hired. I was all of a sudden certain of it.

She turned to everyone after a moment. “Let’s head to the kitchen and get started.”

I followed them into the kitchen and sat down, listening to everyone discuss their updates with my mind on Cooper, my discomfort waning as my anger blazed. I didn’t need his help to find a job — I didn’t ask for it, and I didn’t want it, but he did it anyway. He told his mother about me, maybe even called Susan. The thought that I hadn’t gotten the job on my own filled me with fury.

Part of the reason I’d wanted the job was to get away from Cooper, and now I found myself working for his mother.

It came to my turn, and I stood in front of a group that included my fuck buddy’s super rich mother and a very hot chef who was eyeing me like an amuse-bouche. I did my best to ignore all that and smiled through my plans for the program in a short presentation, outlining my philosophy and means to teach the range of readers I’d be working with. I hoped it was enough, hoped I’d make a difference for the children, maybe bring some sunshine into their lives after enduring so much hardship.