Part 10 (1/2)

Of course I'm a fan. How can you be a creative person and not appreciate Harry Potter?

Why do you ask, my little muggle?

I laugh with delight...who would've pegged Max as a Harry Potter fan? As if I needed another reason to like him.

From: Ava Weasley

Re: Hogwarts...in your dreams...you big muggle you!

So, you think you're using Occlumency against me?...Don't get Snape-ish with me, mister.

The reason I asked is that I'm loonier than Luna Lovegood for Harry Potter, and there's a marathon of midnight showings at the Arclight of all the Harry Potter movies, and I never saw book five. I was thinking of casting a spell on you and dragging you with me next week. It'd be my treat. I'll even splurge for the chocolate frogs and b.u.t.ter beer.

From: The big muggle with the magic touch

Re: looking for my wand

You are the fire in my goblet. If you can cast a spell on me, can I cast one on you?

As for our movie, shall we travel via broomsticks, or can I pick you up in my enchanted car?

From: the little muggle with big ideas

Re: If we can't ride the Hogwarts Express

...then by all means, the enchanted car. I promise not to wear my robes, and I'll try to keep the fan-girl stuff to a minimum.

When we finally sign off, I'm happy that my idea worked out. An escape to a movie is just what we need.

Riley and I have a busy day planned for Sat.u.r.day, starting with manicures and pedicures first thing in the morning. From there, we'll make a final stop at a designer resale store to find a less-expensive dress for Riley.

At first, the designer resale store looks like a waste of time. We're getting ready to leave when I spot a dark green velvet gown hanging on the restock rack near the dressing rooms. It's beautiful, it's on sale, and looks to be Riley's size.

”Ava...this is perfect! Keep your fingers crossed that it fits,” she says happily as she heads to the dressing room.

”Oh my G.o.d, I love this!” She swivels back and forth to examine herself at various angles.

I admire her as she slowly turns. ”Wow, Riley, you look gorgeous.”

She grins. ”I'm calling Barney's right now to give up the dress they're holding. Come on, girlfriend, I'm taking you out for a really nice lunch with the money you just saved me!”

After we're seated outside on the beautiful patio at Il Cielo on Burton Way in Beverly Hills, we order kir royales to celebrate and split a lemon pasta with shrimp and a chopped Italian salad.

I look over and see Riley twisting her napkin in her hand.

”Do you really think I look okay in that dress for tonight? I really want to make the right impression with Dylan's parents. When we met a few weeks ago, I was worried they didn't like me.”

I narrow my eyes as I hold up my index finger. ”First of all, you look amazing in that dress. Secondly, how could his parents not like you?”

She sighs with a pout. ”They just didn't seem that friendly.”

”Give it time. A lot of parents are protective of their kids. They'll come around.”

She bites her lip and still looks tense until the champagne from the kir royale starts to really kick in.

”So, will Dylan be wearing a tux?” I ask.

”Mmm, you know I have a thing for a man in a tux, Ava. I don't know how I'm going to keep my hands off him.”

”Oh, I agree, there's nothing better than a good looking man in a tux...especially when it's so different from how they normally dress.”

”Can you picture art boy in a tux?” she asks, twirling her fork in her pasta. ”Maybe next year we can get him to come.”

”We'll see...” I'm distracted by the mental picture of Max in a tux. I can only imagine how that would be my undoing.

After the bill's been paid, we wind our way out of the patio. Just before we reach the valet stand, we run into Joe, Jess and Max's artist friend. The girl with him is very pretty. He's got a huge grin, and he's holding her hand like he's won the lottery.

”Hey, Joe.”

”Hi, Ava, good to see you.” He gives me a quick hug.

”This is my girlfriend, Xio.”

I smile and then introduce Riley.

”How's the art world treating you?”

”Pretty d.a.m.n good. As a matter of fact, we're here celebrating because I just sold my monumental painting at a great show in New York.”

I'm so happy for him. ”Congratulations! That's so exciting. Do you know who bought it?”

”Yes, she actually invited me to her brownstone after it was installed. Man, what a place she has...I heard she comes from a family of major real estate developers or something... big money. Anyway, her name's Heather Alistair. She used to be active in the New York art community before she got sick a few years back. She's been off the radar for a while. I'm glad she's finally doing better.”

”Alistair? Is she any relation to Jonathan Alistair, the publisher of Art+trA? We worked together on Max's book.”