See Jane Date by Melissa Senate Read Free Book Online Page B

flipped a few pages. “Let’s see…August second, August second…I’m free!” she announced, slapping shut the book. “I’m in town for two months to work on the first few chapters with Janey’s expert help, and then I’m flying back to Santa Barbara to write, write, write. So pen me in!”
    I was shocked. Why would Natasha Nutley, faux celebrity, want to waste six hours of her fabulous life at Dana Dreer’s wedding to Larry Fishkill? Even if it was at the Plaza?
    â€œIt’s all right if I bring a date, isn’t it?” Natasha asked Dana. “Sam’s flying out from the Coast for the entire month of August, so…”
    Dana beamed. “Of course!”
    I stared at Dana. Her ex-baby-sitter, who she hadn’t seen in ten years, could bring a date, but her own cousin couldn’t? Dana probably figured that any date of Natasha’s was either famous, recognizable or at least fabulous enough to add glamour to the guest list.
    â€œSo I’ll get to meet Jane’s boyfriend and your soon-to-be-husband!” Natasha said. “I just love romance!”
    Now it was Dana’s turn for shock and staring. “Jane’s boyfriend?”
    â€œHe’s not going with you to the wedding?” Natasha asked me.
    â€œWell, I—”
    â€œJane!” Dana said, hands on hips. “Why didn’t you tell me it got serious! Mom said you were seeing someone, but I didn’t realize…of course bring him!”
    I swallowed.
    â€œSo it’s settled,” Dana declared with a clap of her hands. “You’re both bringing your men. I’ll seat the four of you together at your own table. Good thing I’m having lunch with my caterer—I’ll add three to the list right now!Wow—I can’t wait to tell everyone that Natasha Nutley is coming to my wedding! Mom and Grammy are going to flip!”
    More air kisses. And then Dana finally flitted off.
    Natasha leaned her elbows on the table and rested her face between her palms. “I’m dying to hear more about your boyfriend. Where’d you meet him? What’s he do?”
    My palms were sweating. I rubbed them against the napkin on my lap. “Natasha, your life is the one interesting enough for a memoir! Not mine. Wow,” I added, glancing at my watch. “It’s getting so late! I think we should order and get started on planning Chapter One. The outline noted that you want to start with the acting class you took as a kid, but I think you should open with meeting The Actor, then work your way back. You know, unfold your life story as it’s relevant.”
    â€œYou’re the editor!” Natasha trilled with a smile, opening her menu. “But I want to hear about the boyfriend over dessert. He sounds yummy!”
    Glad she thought so. Because I’d have to eat every made-up word.

Three
    F lirt Night Roundtable Discussion No. 8,566,932: the Supposed Boyfriend issue. Amanda, Eloise and I leaned forward at our little circular table across from the bar at Tapas Tapas as an Angelina Jolie look-alike set down our drinks.
    Amanda waved away a stream of secondhand smoke with one hand and stirred her Tanqueray and tonic with the other. “Hey, maybe you could pass off Jeremy Black as your adoring boyfriend! The wedding’s practically a work thing now that Natasha’s going. I’ll bet he’d go with you. Ask him, Jane!”
    I couldn’t even handle asking Jeremy if he’d had a good weekend at our Monday morning editorial meetings. I was suddenly going to invite him to a family wedding?
    Deep sigh. “I can’t.”
    â€œBull’s balls!” Amanda insisted. “You’ve been dyingto go out with him for years. It’s the perfect opportunity. I’d ask him.”
    Did I mention that Amanda Frank—who threw around phrases like “bull’s balls”—looked like a shorter (but even