The Lucky Ones by Anna Godbersen Read Free Book Online

suppose they might be more or less like brothers now, but for a long time they were more akin to Mr. and Mrs.”
    Letty’s eyes got wide, and her mouth made a circle around her confusion. How could that be, she wanted to ask, when they were two men and everyone could see it? But Sophia gave her a wink, and Letty understood. To be let in on this gossip triggered a small spasm of satisfaction within her, and as they swept down toward the lobby she was reminded of Sophia’s earlier prediction that they would be fast friends. A great chandelier hung over the crowd on the first floor, dappling their faces, many of which were turned up in expectation at the descending movie stars. She was feeling so important that it only surprised her a little when the first person to approach their group of three thrust his hand in her direction.
    “Why, you must be Letty Larkspur! I’ve been dying to meet you.”
    Letty gave the tall, blond gentleman—whose blandly handsome face was somehow familiar to her—a goofy smile but managed to simply nod in a vague way instead of saying anything in reply. Saying little created mystery—that was the advice Sophia had echoed earlier, while they’d gotten dressed.
    “I’m Laurence Peters,” he went on. “I played the part of the tennis champion’s rival, remember, in the middle of the picture? The one who throws his racket down in a huff?”
    “Yes, of course. I didn’t recognize you without the visor.”
    “You look stunning!” he gushed.
    Sophia cleared her throat, and Laurence’s eyes darted from Letty to her patrons, who were drawn up quite impressively and regarding him with skeptical eyes.
    “Well, uh—” Laurence faltered, as though he were embarrassed by the sudden realization of his true place in the firmament. “Will you be going on to Jack Montrose’s party, I hope?”
    This time Letty didn’t respond immediately because she had no idea who Jack Montrose was, or why she would be going to his party. But Sophia answered for her. “Of course we’re going to Jack’s party,” she said haughtily. Then she put her arm around Letty and drew her toward the exit.
    “What kind of a party is it?” Letty asked, as they stepped out and the cameras began to flash again.
    “The kind of party people like us go to.” Sophia laughed and shook her hair out.
    “In order that we might be bored stiff,” Valentine put in, less enthusiastically.
    “Darling, don’t say that!” Sophia’s smile grew bright and her grip on Letty tightened. “Someone might overhear you and think you mean it.”
    Valentine gave an apologetic half-smile to Letty. “I want to go over my lines for The Good Lieutenant , and anyway, my costume screen test is tomorrow and I want to be well-rested.”
    “You see, my dear, he’s vainer than I am!” Sophia was signaling to their driver and did not see the fretfulness her comment caused in Valentine’s brow.
    “But don’t leave us!” Letty blurted without thinking.
    “You ladies will have much more fun without me.” Valentine’s smile returned now, and he bowed gallantly in Letty’s direction.
    “Darling, don’t be ridiculous, we will miss you every second.” Sophia turned and kissed her husband as her cream-colored limousine approached. Then she removed her glove so she could use her thumb to wipe the lipstick off his lips. “That is too dark a shade for you,” she laughed. “Better now. But listen, lover, will you take a taxi home? Suddenly I am in such a hurry to get to the party…”
    Letty wasn’t sure if this suggestion pained Valentine, or if she felt pained for him, or if what she was really feeling was disappointment. She wanted to talk to someone about the movie, and Valentine was the only person, as far as she could tell, who had been watching it.
    “Of course, my dearest,” he replied. He kissed Sophia, and then Letty, on the cheek before striding off along the sidewalk, in the direction of Park Avenue, as though he were just any