Our Unscripted Story

by L. A. Fiore

  The flight home for spring break had been long, but as soon as I passed the security checkpoint I saw five familiar smiling faces. Paige screamed and ran to me. I dropped my bags and met her halfway. “It is so good to see you.” She hugged me so hard it hurt.

  She grabbed my arms and looked me up and down. “You’re all grown up.”

  Grant chuckled, “It hasn’t been that long, Paige.” He nudged his wife out of the way to hug me. “Looking good, darling.” It was still there, my crush, probably always would be. I pressed my face in his chest and hugged him back.

  The girls attacked, talking all at once that I only got snippets of what they said. Someone had a new bike; someone wanted to show me their soccer moves. Grant lifted Heather to his shoulders.

  “Let her breathe,” he chided softly. “She’ll see everything once we get home.”

  Seeing their beautiful, smiling faces, yep, I was home.

  On my first night, as Paige helped me unpack she filled me in on all the town gossip.

  “The foster monsters moved away last year. No one knows exactly what happened, it was all very strange. One day there was a sold sign on their front lawn. Apparently, their landlord sold the house right out from under them.”

  “Weird.”

  “The Bakers are thinking about selling the diner.”

  I stopped unpacking. “No, really?”

  “They are getting up there in years.”

  I could certainly understand their wish to retire. “I’d hate to see the diner sold or worse changed into something else.”

  “That’s why the Bakers told me first, to give Grant and I the chance to buy it. If we can swing it, we’re going to do it.”

  “That would be so awesome.”

  “It’ll be fun to be on the other side of the swing doors. Speaking of swing doors, Debbie is back.”

  I jerked my head to Paige. “She left?”

  “She went to Hollywood to find herself, was convinced she would make it big.”

  “As a runner chasing down lattes and meatless tacos maybe.”

  Paige chuckled, “Not even that. She returned with her tail between her legs. She’s working with her mom doing hair in the basement of their home.”

  I felt a pang of sympathy for her, but you reap what you sow. “Karma.”

  Paige touched her nose. “Amen to that.”

  The diner looked exactly as I remembered. As soon as I entered, Mel and Dee came running out of the kitchen to greet me.

  “Welcome home, Alexis,” Mel kissed my cheek. “You look like a New Yorker, very fashionable.” I couldn’t afford the latest trends, but I raided consignment and discount shops. They were last year or later fashions, but I loved my wardrobe.

  “Looks like you’ve lost some weight. I’ll go fix you a burger, on the house,” Dee said. She kissed my cheek before reaching for my hand and squeezing. “It really is so good to have you home.”

  “It’s really nice to be home.”

  Paige and I took a table by the windows and as soon as we settled she asked, “Are you going to see Greyson while you’re home?”

  “No, he’s in Europe.”

  “How are things with you two?”

  “Like the last five years never happened. Everything I felt as a kid, I still do, but deeper. He’s it for me.”

  She smiled. “You know what they say. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

  It certainly had in our case.

  LAX was a massive airport. I was worried I might not find the twins, but when I reached the baggage claim there they were. Dominic and Dylan looked older, their faces had matured, but they still exuded that confidence they’d had when we were younger. They were dressed in jeans and polo shirts, their hair longer and streaked with even more blond and their green eyes were lit with love. We were spending spring break in LA, the twins’ idea.

  Dominic pulled me to him and planted a sloppy kiss on my mouth, “New York definitely agrees with you. You look hot.”

  “You’re still a dope.”

  Dylan pushed him out of the way, lifted me off the floor and spun me around. “It’s so good to see you.” He dropped me on my feet. “All right, let’s check out LA.”

  For two days we went everywhere, from the Hollywood sign to Rodeo drive and the Hollywood Bowl. I was exhausted. We got back to the hotel and I was ready to crash.

  “We have dinner reservations tonight. Dylan and I have an interview, so we’ll meet you at the restaurant.”

  “An interview?”

  It’s partly why we suggested LA. Two birds. “There’s a company interested in Sophia.”

  “Winning that award has really put you two in the spotlight.”

  “Sophia in the spotlight, but it’s cool,” Dylan added.

  It was more than cool. It was incredible. “I’m afraid to ask what she’s capable of doing now.”

  There was a twinkle in Dylan’s eyes. “I’ve grown tired of paying bills, so I’m automating.”

  “You two are scary.”

  “Reservations are at seven. I’ll write down the address,” Dominic offered.

  “Hopefully we’ll have something to celebrate.”

  At seven, I stepped into the restaurant. The hostess looked up in greeting.

  “I’m meeting my friends. The reservation is under Dylan Cantenelli.”

  “The rest of your party is here.”

  We reached the table, but it wasn’t Dylan and Dominic waiting. It was Greyson. He stood as I approached. He looked stunning in his suit, but it was his hair. He was growing it out. I didn’t even care about the scene I made when I moved around the hostess and threw myself into his arms.

  “Surprise,” he whispered in my ear.

  I was surprised, the best fucking surprise ever. I touched his longer locks. “You’re growing out your hair.”

  “My girl likes it long.”

  His girl. My heart swelled.

  He held my chair before taking his own. “How are you enjoying LA?”

  “The twins aren’t on an interview, are they?”

  “No. I had a show, so they brought you to me.”

  “Sneaky.” But so awesome. “So Europe was a lie?”

  He grinned. “Yep.”

  He was here. We were here. “I don’t want dinner.”

  “You read my mind.”

  He stood like his seat was on fire, grabbed my hand and dragged me to the door. The memory of him doing similarly the last time I saw him had my heart hammering in my chest knowing where this was leading. A cab appeared; he pulled me into it. My butt hit the seat and his mouth was on me. I tried to touch as much of him as I could as our tongues warred. I wanted him, hard and fast. Wanted him so badly I didn’t have a problem with doing it in the back of a cab. Greyson had more restraint. “We’re almost there,” he whispered against my lips.

  The cab stopped, I had no idea where we were. Greyson paid the man then whisked me inside to the elevator. The doors closed and he had my breast out of my dress and in his mouth. Heat pooled between my legs and my eyes rolled into the back of my head.

  “I smell you, beautiful.” I was so wet. He kissed my breast then pulled my dress back up. The doors opened and he looked completely calm. I looked like I’d just gotten fucked in the elevator. We reached his room; my back hit the door as soon as it closed. He wasn’t as cool as he appeared because he ripped my panties off and buried his cock deep inside me.

  We both moaned. I hooked my feet around his waist. He grinned then rolled his hips. My arms went around his neck as my mouth found his. The kiss was hungry and hot as we moved together, wild with need and longing. We came together.

  He caught his breath before declaring, “All night, Alexis. I’ve got you all night.”

  I squeezed him tight as he started for the bedroom. “Less talk.”

  He laughed then tossed me on the bed.

  Three weeks after returning from LA, Greyson sent me an email to check out the newsstand. He’d done it, taken the inte
rview. On my way to class, I stopped at a stand. He didn’t just give an interview; he was on the cover. I bought several copies then found a bench. It was an older picture because his hair was short, an artistic photograph done in black and white, all but his eyes that were in color. Women around the world were going to fall in love with him because those pale green eyes looked like he could see right into you.

  The article was about Greyson’s art, his background, but the journalist was a woman. I’d have known that even without the byline because there was a thread throughout the article about Greyson’s dating. As I reached the end of it, she finally gave in to her curiosity and asked him outright what she had been hinting at throughout the article. Butterflies took off in my belly as I read on.

  “Tell me, Greyson, I know you are a very private person, but is there someone special?”

  “Yes.”

  “Care to expand on that?”

  He pulled a hand through his hair at my question and leaned back in his chair, but it was the look on his face when he thought of this woman that was the most telling. I’m afraid to report that Greyson Ratcliffe is most definitely taken. When he finally answered me, it was with an explanation that meant very little to me, but I imagined meant everything to the woman of whom he spoke.

  “She entered my life on a beat-up second-hand bike and from the moment I saw her, she was it. She’s my heart.” A smile spread over his face before he added, “She’s my muse.”

  “A lucky woman.”

  “No, Teresa, I’m the lucky one.”

  I hadn’t realized I was crying until I felt a tear roll down my cheek. Later, and after much effort, I was able to speak to the journalist who wrote the article. In the next issue an addendum to Greyson’s article was printed.

  I’m happy to report that I have a final note to add to our story on Greyson Ratcliffe. After reading the article, Greyson’s muse contacted me and gave me a statement, and readers if only we were all lucky enough to find what they have.

  “Greyson, from the moment I saw him, has been like that favorite tune you can’t stop humming; he’s a part of me, the very best part.”

  Greyson

  I stared at the addendum Teresa forwarded to me, my chest growing tight thinking about Alexis. Who would have thought at eighteen I’d meet the girl I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

  I set out to make a name for myself and I had. Spending the last five years being a performing monkey hadn’t been exactly what I was expecting, but I’d done it. People knew my name; they knew my work. I had made my one dream a reality. And it was realizing that dream that brought into focus the simple truth. I wanted Alexis more. I wasn’t sorry for the years that separated us. We each grew as people, we learned we could function separately; I could now support her while she worked to make her own dream a reality. But more, the separation only solidified what we suspected as kids. We belonged together.

  I had a graduation present for her. It was one that benefited me as much as her. I couldn’t wait to see her face when she saw it.

  I was supposed to be working. Colin handled the bills and contracts; I took care of the correspondence. There was a pile on my desk, a purple envelope stood out. Thinking it might be from Alexis, I ripped it open. I was not new to fan letters, I still received dozens of them weekly, but this was different. Alarm and unease moved through me reading the words of a clearly disturbed person detailing what she’d like to do to me.

  I wished it were as simple as tossing the letter to remove the images she’d put in my head. After the last incident with the woman in my hotel room, the police profiled the personality so I knew this had nothing to do with me. I was just the outlet for their sickness. Didn’t change the fact that it was unsettling to say the least. I was about to toss the letter when a flustered Colin hurried into the room. “It’s your grandfather. He took a tumble down the stairs. He’s okay but he’s in the hospital.”

  I didn’t immediately react because I couldn’t even remember a time when he was sick. “You’re sure he’s okay?”

  “Yes, but you can see for yourself. I’ve already booked the flight,” Colin added.

  I wasn’t going to make Alexis’ graduation. “I’ll be ready in ten minutes.”

  Eight hours after learning of his fall, I rushed into grandfather’s hospital room not sure what I’d find, but I hadn’t expected to see him looking so irritated. Eyes I shared skewered me as soon as I entered. “This is bullshit.”

  I’d been so worried, wondering if there was an underlying illness that had caused the fall, but seeing how annoyed he was it really had just been a fall. I bit my lip to keep from laughing. He rarely cursed, only when he was really pissed.

  “I fell down the stairs. I didn’t break a hip.”

  He could have. “How did you fall?”

  A blush colored his cheeks. He was embarrassed. I had definitely never seen that look on his face. “Since giving the household files to Alexis, I’ve been curious about the diamond so I’ve started exploring the castle. I was in the lower levels when I slipped on the stone steps.”

  Fear bloomed because he could have done far more damage than scrapes and bruises. “You’re lucky you were only roughed up.”

  He said nothing, but he knew that too.

  It then dawned where he’d been. “Who found you? I can’t imagine the staff goes down there.”

  “William happened by, thankfully.”

  A chill moved through me because he could have been down in that dark, damp place for a hell of a lot longer before his absence was noticed.

  He fiddled with his blanket. “I’m sorry. I know Alexis is graduating. You should be there.”

  “No. She’d want me here. I’ll see her soon enough. If I have my way, we’ll be under the same roof come September.”

  Alexis

  Graduation day. I played with my tassels as I thought about my years at NYU. My writing had really taken off with a few of my short stories being published in some of the local magazines. I was still writing my adventure column, which had been picked up by Leisure magazine. My play about the foster monsters, the parody that my professor was pulling some strings for, was opening Off-Broadway next year. It still hadn’t sunk in that a marquee was going to light up my play. I understood better Greyson’s comment about how humbling and terrifying it was when he reached his dream.

  My phone rang. Speaking of the devil.

  “Hey. Are you on your way? I can’t wait to see you.”

  “I’m sorry, but I’m not going to make it. I’m in Ireland. Grandfather took a fall down the stairs. He’s okay, he didn’t break anything miraculously, but moving around will be a little difficult for a few weeks. I’m going to stay and help out.”

  I had to sit. Thinking about Callum in any other way than the robust man I’d known was difficult and scary. “There wasn’t any medical reason for the fall?”

  “My thought too, but no. It was just a fall. He actually cursed at the nurse.”

  “Really? That doesn’t sound like him.”

  “That’s how annoyed he is with himself.”

  “That’s a relief to hear. Please give him my love.”

  “I will. I do have a present for you.”

  He was all I wanted.

  “As soon as I finish the last of my commitments, I’m moving to New York. I’m hoping you’ll agree to be my roommate.”

  It didn’t feel real. A part of me thought I was dreaming.

  “Alexis?”

  “We’re really doing this.”

  His voice was like a soft caress. “There’s no reason why I can’t move my studio to New York. I’ll move it anywhere you are, if that’s still what you want.”

  “Absolutely it’s what I want.”

  He chuckled, “I found a place. If you like it, my lawyers can handle the details. You can move in at your leisure. I should be on your door step the first week of September.”

  “I can’t believe we’re finally here.”

 
; “Believe it. I don’t want to keep you. Enjoy your day and tell the gang I said hi.”

  Everyone was already at the stadium. Even Mr. and Mrs. C. flew in for the ceremony. “I will.”

  “My girl, a college grad. Congratulations, beautiful.”

  I placed the phone back and couldn’t help the smile. Greyson and I were moving in together. Excitement bubbled up and I may have even done a little dance.

  I had to get to the stadium. I grabbed my purse and yanked the door opened and almost stepped on a little gift bag. I looked up and down the hall, but it was empty. I stared at it like it was going to break out into song. I brought the bag inside and placed it on the kitchen counter then stared at it a little longer. Who sent it to me? Why not knock and hand it to me? There was no tag, no card. It seemed like something Greyson would do, especially now that he couldn’t make the ceremony. Logistically, I didn’t know how he would have pulled that off, but I didn’t care because I was too excited. I pulled the tissue paper from the bag to reveal a small black box. My hands were actually shaking when I opened it. Another emotion filled me staring down at the gold locket in the shape of a heart. My eyes stung as I lifted the locket. The gold was worn from age and that only made it more beautiful. Flipping it over, it simply said Love Always. I opened it. There were two pictures, one of my dad and one of me. The tears started then. My mom’s locket. Wherever they were, they were finally part of one of my milestones. I fastened it around my neck and palmed the locket. “Thank you, Mom and Dad.”

  A few days after graduation, Grant and the kids returned to Mendocino, the twins to Berkley and their parents to France. Paige delayed her return after learning of Greyson’s graduation present and my mom’s locket. I was feeling a little tender so for two days we ate ice cream, watched movies and had girl time. Today we were heading to the apartment Greyson had found. The directions took us to a high rise just off Central Park.

  “Are you sure this is the place?” Paige asked.

  I double-checked the address. “Yes.”

  Paige’s expression matched my own, surprise.