It Had to Be You by Georgia Clark (iphone ebook reader .TXT) 📕

her brain and her heart and her life. To be the smart, rational person who focused on getting someone to listen to the half dozen new songs she’d been working on, in the rare moments she could concentrate.

And so, after yoga, when Zia asked her how things were going with the Brit in question, she answered honestly. “Fine. But I’ll be glad when it’s all over.”

They were sipping cups of mint tea on one of the communal sofas in the yoga studio’s foyer, still in their workout clothes. Next to them, other yogis chatted and checked their phones.

“I thought you really liked Zach,” Zia said.

“I do,” Darlene replied carefully. “And because I do, and because I’m not actually his girlfriend, I think we need some more boundaries.”

“More boundaries?” Zia teased. “I didn’t think you had any.”

Fair point. “Obviously we’re going a bit method on all this.”

“Yeah, you’re crazy into him, and he’s crazy into you.”

“But that might not last.” Darlene drew breath, aiming for even and objective. “Zach is… distractible. If we focus on seeing the contract through and only being a couple when we absolutely have to, then I get to make my EP, and Zach gets his trust, and we haven’t made a lot of false promises to each other.”

“Sounds very sensible.” Her roommate sipped her tea, looking doubtful. “But I also think Zee-Bot is pretty great. He adores you, and he’s so open about it.” Zia narrowed her eyes. “Is that really all that’s going on?”

Darlene pressed her lips together and nodded. The only thing worse than feeling like Zach Livingstone could crack her like an egg would be anyone knowing it. “How’s everything going with your boyfriend?”

Zia sighed. “Good. But we have our issues, too.”

Darlene made room for two young women dressed in matching leopard-print Lululemon, scooting closer to Zia. “Like what?”

“I know Clay cares about me. I’m his girlfriend, it’s all official. But we haven’t made any progress on going public.”

“Why not?”

“There’s always some reason why now isn’t the right time. And being someone’s secret is really, really hard.” Zia ticked off her fingers. “No public dates, no public affection—we don’t even leave the apartment at the same time. I can’t go to any of his events or visit him on set. Haven’t met any of his friends, apart from his manager. I haven’t even told my sister about him. Not that that’s going to be easy. Actually, not having to tell her is the one silver lining of still being a secret.”

“Why?”

“My sister is broke. Broker than usual, and I have no idea why. I have a feeling she’ll be jealous. And mad I haven’t told her sooner.” Zia slouched further in the sofa, picking at her cuticles. “It’s like we’re having an affair. Like what we’re doing is wrong.”

Darlene liked Clay. But as Zia’s words sank in, she realized she liked the idea of Clay, an idea that was muddied by her own feelings about fame and talent and success. “How much time does he need?”

“Unclear. He’s leaving for a six-week shoot in Brazil in a couple of weeks. So probably not before then.”

“Six weeks? That blows.”

“I’ll miss him. But I really believe in this film.” Zia pulled herself upright. “The script is so smart, so intense. He could win an Oscar for this, I swear.”

Zia explained the film was adapted from a recent bestselling memoir of the same name, The Jungle of Us. Two coworkers at an environmental nonprofit get lost in the Amazon for four months, with no food, no map, no survival skills, nothing. The coworkers, both male, also used to date. In the end they both survive and end up back together. At once, it was an action-packed survival story, a gripping psychological drama, and an inspirational love story. It even wove in environmental themes about deforestation, illegal wildlife trade, and—Clay’s passion—climate change. Zia read the script before Clay, and it reminded her of the time she got lost in the jungle in Southeast Asia, albeit only for one night. She pushed for him to accept the part. After he committed, Matt Damon attached to play the other lead, and the budget doubled. There was already a ton of buzz.

“Wow.” Darlene was stunned. “Have you met Matt Damon?”

Zia chuckled wearily. “No. I haven’t met anyone.” She shifted closer and lowered her voice. “I’m starting to feel… not triggered. But not not triggered. You remember my asshole ex, right?”

Darlene nodded. Zia’d told her about Logan last year.

“He cut me off from my friends and family, too. And while this is different, it’s also not. I’m really starting to see that a relationship can’t survive in a vacuum. You need the support of your tribe to help it grow. To support it. Validate it.”

“I’m sure Clay would understand that. Maybe you need to give him a deadline.”

“Maybe.” Zia looked unsure. “Ugh, this is so tough. Can we go home?”

“Absolutely.” Darlene gathered up their cups. “I’ll buy us a pizza. Then maybe you can listen to my new songs and give me some brutally honest feedback.”

“Perfect,” said Zia. “But spoiler alert: I’m probably going to love every single one of them.”

They shouldered their yoga bags and stepped out into the overcast, humid evening, heading for the subway.

55

Unlike Gorman, Henry Chu had a practical approach to problem-solving. Noisy neighbors? Go talk to them. Pothole in the street in front of the shop? Take it up with city council. So when his partner of seven years started spending all his time with a younger man in the apparent name of art, the solution seemed simple.

Gorman stared at Henry, aghast. “What do you mean, you’ve invited Gilbert over for dinner?”

Henry wiped his hands on his apron. “I mean just that. He’ll be here at seven.”

Affairs, Henry was aware, thrived in darkness. In secret. If Liv had overseen Eliot and Savannah’s affair, things might’ve turned out a lot differently. In meeting Gilbert, Henry intended for everything to get out in the open.