Janet's POV
Los Angeles — 2019
The ballroom was filled with music, laughter, and the kind of conversations that only seemed to happen at Hollywood events.
I stood near the edge of the room, holding a glass of water while watching people move around me.
I had been to enough events to know how these nights usually went.
Smile.
Say hello.
Take a few pictures.
Talk to people you hadn't seen in months.
Then find a polite excuse to leave.
I wasn't exactly looking forward to spending the entire evening doing that.
My eyes moved across the room as I greeted a few familiar faces.
Then I heard someone laugh.
A loud, unmistakable laugh.
I turned my head.
Tyrese Gibson.
I hadn't seen him in a while.
We had crossed paths plenty of times over the years, but our conversations had always been brief.
A quick hello.
A hug.
Maybe a few words before someone interrupted us.
Tonight wasn't supposed to be any different.
At least, that's what I thought.
Tyrese noticed me.
His face immediately lit up.
"Janet!"
I smiled.
"Hey, Tyrese."
He walked over, giving me a hug.
"How are you?"
"I'm good. How are you?"
"I'm doing good. You know, trying to survive Hollywood."
I laughed.
"Trying?"
"Okay, trying is a strong word."
I shook my head.
He laughed again.
There was something about his energy that made it difficult not to smile.
We stood there talking for a few minutes.
At first, it was the usual conversation.
How have you been?
How's work?
How's everything going?
But then he looked at me.
"Why do I feel like every time I see you, we only talk for like thirty seconds?"
I laughed.
"I was thinking the same thing."
"That's crazy."
"It is."
He looked around the room.
"Everybody always needs something."
I nodded.
"Exactly."
He smiled.
"So what are you doing after this?"
I raised an eyebrow.
