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said. “Just try.” And then he stalked off.
    â€œYou’re an asshole!” Lars called out after him.
    There were only a few tables where people were still eating, but from where I sat, it looked like everyone in the room turned to stare at Lars. I shrank a little in my chair.
    â€œHe is,” Lars said. “Sorry.”
    Judy took hold of Lars’s arm and pulled him back to his seat.
    â€œLeanne, I’m so sorry,” Judy said. She dabbed her eyes with a napkin. “I’m sorry you had to see…hear that.”
    â€œIt’s okay,” I told them, though I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. Sure, no one likes to be insulted, or have the thingor the people they care for held up as goofy or uncool. But it was hard to take it personally. Joshua Reed didn’t know me, or my family, or Pinecob. He was just mad, and I knew that, whatever the reason, it had been there before he met me.
    â€œIt’s not okay,” Lars said again. “It can’t always be okay. It’s not okay to insult you, to make Judy cry. I’m really fed up with this kid.”
    â€œHe’s not a kid,” Judy said. “That’s the problem.”
    â€œHe doesn’t act like any adult I know,” Lars said. “So much potential and I have tried—really—to get him to use it, and not waste goodwill on these outbreaks. I’m serious. I can get a lot of agents not to touch him, but someone out there is going to offer him representation.”
    Judy nodded.
    â€œListen, Leanne. It’s late,” Lars said. “You can take the car back home now, if you want. But why don’t you let us put you up here tonight? You can have a nice night away. We can have breakfast in the morning—I know Judy wanted to talk to you about the movie, didn’t you, hon?”
    Judy nodded again.
    â€œWe can put this incident behind us,” Lars said.
    â€œOh, do stay,” Judy said. “They’ve got a great breakfast buffet.”
    Like I needed convincing. I’d never stayed in a hotel that nice, and the thought of sleeping in a big bed and getting to use trial-size shampoos, that sounded fun. So I said okay, and Lars jumped up to take care of things.
    â€œJoshua is going through a difficult period,” Judy said, quietly, once Lars was out of earshot.
    I nodded like I knew what she was talking about. All I knew was that he was getting more and more famous, and getting to star in a bunch of different movies, and getting to date models like Elise. I wasn’t a guy and I didn’t live in Los Angeles, but it didn’t sound all that difficult.
    â€œHe’s…he’s adjusting to a new level of celebrity, and that’s hard,” she said.
    â€œHow long has it been difficult?” I asked.
    Judy thought a moment, then shook her head. “Pretty much since I’ve known him, I guess.” She smiled but looked sad at the same time.
    â€œThat can’t be fun. For you, I mean,” I said.
    â€œIt’s not. A lot of the time. But he’s an excellent actor. He really is. He’s more talented than any of my other clients. And when I see him work,” Judy said, “it’s almost worth it. For Lars, it’s different. He doesn’t really like actors, so he’s got a lot less patience.”
    â€œWas he serious about dropping Joshua?” I asked.
    Judy seemed to think about it. “He might have been. Something to sleep on, anyhow.”
    Lars returned then, with a room key for me. He gave me a brief tour on the way to the lobby. There was a bar that stayed open late, to the left of the restaurant. There was a smaller dining room, where the breakfast buffet would be served.
    â€œWhat time do you usually wake up?” Lars asked. “For breakfast.”
    â€œI’m usually up around six,” I told him.
    â€œYow,” Lars said.
    Judy laughed. “You’re quite the morning person, but