Gold (BOOK 3) || PRN

II. Best Mistake

Sade plays as the main voice in my car today. My Jeep is clean and so is the Los Angeles sky. As she sings how much stronger love is than pride, I find joy in the solace of being able drive around alone. I begged and begged Mike and Ike to let me have this moment to myself. It all came down to the agreement of them tailing me on my every journey. Nonetheless, the only person in the car is me and I love it. I'm still the busiest bee, but I need my peace sometimes.

Today is turning out to be one of the better days I've had recently. I spoke to an ex almost-lover, Johnny, this morning. He called, said he had a dream about me two weeks ago and I've been on his mind since. All he wanted was to give me his well wishes and love from afar, briefly telling me about a movie he's doing. I thanked him and went on with my day. Buffy booked me my favorite room in the studio I use most. Since it's summer, my sister's come to visit for the week with Thaila and Eddie. How much she's been watching me since my blow up with Prince is another conversation for any day except today. Today, I am at peace.

I sing along to my car's radio, turning the corner out of the Burger King parking lot. A meal now resting in my passenger's seat, I tap my steering along to the music as Los Angeles does her doing of producing the kind of traffic that irritates me like no other. Burger King has always reminded me of Minnesota. It's what I ate most when there, especially with Prince. He didn't like it all that much but he still ate it. Looking back, it may have been simply because it was what I wanted.

As I pull into the studio parking lot, I take note of Buffy's car and the rental car sitting next to it. I know my sister is here. Today is different than her usual visits. Kendall is also here, a man who has never seen any of my homes outside of Chicago. When I walk in, Jeff is lounging in the chair at the board with his newborn baby, Dennis, and his wife, Debbie. I see that she's baked us a pie just as she promised.

I know I don't talk about him a lot but Jeff is one of my closest friends. When Debbie asked me to be his son's second godmother, I was beyond honored. It's a role I take quite sincerely.

Setting the food on the counter to free my hands, I reach to pick up Dennis. "Hi, bunny," I coo to the smiling baby in my arms. I glance up to my surrounding family. "Buffy, did you talk to John?"

Shooting got pushed back one more time in the wake the riots having the potential of starting back up.

"Yeah, the day after tomorrow is the final date. We'll be back on set by then for sure." I nod, carefully bouncing Dennis in my arms as I pass him back to his father. "The dinner is looking to be the 25th. John wants to have dinner with everyone. Are you going? I have to call in your RSVP by five o'clock."

"Yeah, I'm down." She stands up and exits to go handle that. "So, I'm thinking about moving when I get back..." Everyone's eyebrows raise as I brace myself for their reactions. "Maybe I'll stay here, maybe I won't. Parts of me want to go to New York, maybe."

The range of emotions I am met with is diverse enough for me to keep my options open. Kendall's the one who stays out of it, learning his lesson after a long year of talking too damn much. Buffy's wide eyes leave her stuck in shock. Since she's moved to Chicago to work for me, she's only spoke highly of the city. I don't know how attached she's become to the city but, surely, she knows I swear that no place beats home. Jeff remains in different, he's never cared much about traveling to join me when I call. There is a chance Dennis may chance his circumstances. Such a possibility isn't showcased on his face.

Of all of the faces I am met by, the most noticeable of the expressions is my sister's. My traveling in these recent years are the most time we've spent apart. When I left Minnesota and returned home, she was sure I was back. My stationary ways lasted somewhere in the ballpark of eighteen months because, eventually, I had to stay in Los Angeles longer than expected.