10
ALEX FINALLY CURLS up in the armchair in his room at the end of his second night in New York, and he calls Paul. “I thought I’d continue the tradition of ill-advised late night phone calls,” he says without preamble when Paul picks up.
“Hey there. How’s it going?” Alex can hear the smile in Paul’s voice.
“Only one person blatantly suggested I have s*x with them today.”
“Are you relieved or disappointed?”
“Am I Natalie?” Alex snarks before feeling guilty about it. It’s not really her fault she knows how to play the very shitty game Hollywood lays out for women. It is her fault she’s mean, but that’s a different and not necessarily unrelated issue.
“No. You have different styles. Why aren’t you out with everyone?”
“Officially off duty until morning media.”
“Surely there are advent
