by Maya Brooks
The thought disappeared into dreams, and she woke from his fingers caressing her cheek.
How could she sleep snuggled up to her idol? Well, his idol status was a bit jagged at the edges, but she still adored him. Strange time for a nap.
“Wake up, beautiful.”
The car idled outside a club.
I don’t want to walk anywhere.
Marc smiled and sounded as if he could read her mind.
“You’re going in there, even if I have to carry you.”
“I’m coming, I’m coming…”
They got a table at once. Someone else probably had to wait.
A waiter pushed a menu in her hands, but it didn’t make any sense at all. It took a few long moments to realize it wasn’t because of her; it was in French. Marc stared at his and tossed it over his shoulder.
“Useless. Do you like fish?”
She nodded and listened with half an ear as he talked to their server. Surely, she must have a deer-in-the-headlights look in her eyes. At least the music wouldn’t let her fall asleep...
Not until the food arrived and Laura tasted it did she realize how hungry she was.
“Wow, this is really good.”
“It is.”
Eating helped Marc sober up even more, and he fell into his most charming persona. It was impossible not to listen to him, and she heard herself laugh at his jokes even when she didn’t want to. Damned man doing this to her when she tried so hard not to care for him.
Once the food was gone, he leaned back in the chair and waved to a waiter. Laura watched him slip the man a bill, and a few moments later, the band played another type of song, less syncopated and easier for her to follow.
Marc winked and held his hand out.
“Come on, beautiful, time to dance.”
It was impossible not to be seduced when he held her, doing his darndest to impress her.
He was right; she did have the night of her life and the sky was getting brighter when they strolled towards the hotel, arm in arm. Her feet ached, but that wasn’t important.
Please don’t let this night end. It would be so great if it could go on forever, just a tiny miracle so I can keep him a little longer.
A little longer might not do it. She didn’t want him to go away, ever. This might only be an illusion of the man she wanted, it could be just another role he played, but that didn’t seem important.
Marc stopped a few steps away from the entrance. He turned towards her and ran his fingers over her cheek.
“You’re a beautiful, intelligent, and funny lady, and I want you very much. I’ll call you a taxi if you really want one, but…”
The butterflies in her stomach just wouldn’t settle. She wanted him too, of course, had always wanted him, and he had been so close, touching her all day and through the night. Fought for her, even. How much was one girl supposed to handle?
“Really? So what are you going to do about it?”
He laughed softly and pulled her close, and his lips against hers seemed like a dream.
Afterwards, she wouldn’t be able to say how they got into the hotel and up to his room, but she would remember the wonderful night, and eventually falling asleep in his arms.
I’ve never felt this much at home before.
Chapter Three
Laura woke after just a few hours and slipped out of bed.
What a wonderful, crazy, and enchanted day. Life sure took peculiar turns at times.
It seemed prudent to take a peek in the mirror and check that she didn’t have mascara all over her face, or something equally silly.
Marc slept, snoring softly, and didn’t seem to notice her leaving or coming back. This might be her one chance to curl up to him, a once in a lifetime opportunity, and she smiled when he wrapped an arm around her, murmuring something in his sleep.
The next time she woke the doors were open all through the suite and warm sunlight filled the room. Marc sat on the side of the bed, dressed in one of the hotel’s white robes, caressing her hair.
“Wake up, sleeping beauty. It’s time for breakfast, and if you don’t come by yourself I both can and will carry you outside.”
“Oh… It’s morning. Good morning.”
I thought he’d want nothing more to do with me once morning came and he wasn’t drunk anymore.
Here he was, still being nice to her. He took her hand and brushed his lips against her fingers.
“The convention doesn’t start for a couple of hours yet. We’ll have to be there, but it’s no big hurry.”
The way he said we filled her with a warm fuzzy feeling. His face didn’t look as bad as she expected, and he definitely didn’t seem as hung-over as she expected.
I thought I would have to pull you out of bed and dress you to get to your job on time, or have to call the arrangers and say you wouldn’t come.
If she went through all the things he’d done the previous day, she’d probably fall down dead.
She anticipated his lips on hers, but he dropped a robe on her instead, and she plodded after him through the large rooms, into the sunshine on a balcony she didn’t know existed. A sumptuous breakfast table waited.
Did I sleep through you calling room service and someone bringing all this?
It didn’t seem likely, but there was no other logical explanation. Maybe she was still dreaming.
He poured a glass of juice for her, and it tasted real enough. She nibbled a croissant and sipped some juice and coffee, but mostly played with the food, pretending she didn’t watch him read the newspaper. He looked so handsome it almost hurt, and if he wasn’t feeling good, he hid it well.
When he finally folded the paper up and put it on the table, he gave her a long glance.
“So what do you say?”
She blinked a couple of times, but the question didn’t make any more sense after thinking about it.
“About what?”
He flashed a smile that made her melt.
“About us. I like you. I want to see you again.”
The future seemed very far away, she hadn’t thought further than the next few hours, and the mere idea of later in the day or even tomorrow was overwhelming.
“I would like that.”
Marc got to his feet and bent down to kiss her cheek.
“Good.”
Should she follow him inside or stay where she was? Luckily, he returned before she had to make any decisions of that magnitude. He squinted at a cell phone.
“And how the hell do you add people to this thing?”
He tossed it in her lap before she had the chance to open her mouth.
“You’ll stay with me at the convention today, right? Figure out how to put yourself in this. I want your cell number so I can text you.”
“I…”
There was no way out of confessing it, but the fact embarrassed her beyond belief.
“I sort of dropped mine a while ago and never got around to getting a new one, and…”
She trailed off, feeling her cheeks heat under his astonished stare.
“Are you serious? Wow, I haven’t met anyone without a cell phone for so long I can’t remember when…”
He pulled his chair closer to hers, took her hand, and kissed her fingers at the same time as he placed a call.
Now what is he doing? This is all so weird.
“Hey, Lawrence, I need a favor. I need another phone. What? No I didn’t destroy mine, I’m calling you from it.”
Rolling his eyes, he mouthed, “Idiot.”
When Laura grinned, he winked and returned his attention to the call.
“I don’t care what number, a good number. Hang on…”
He stopped playing with her fingers and fixed his eyes on her.
“What kind do you want?”
She made a helpless gesture, and he nodded.
“Lawrence, make it same as mine, or whatever’s new. Have it sent to the hotel. Thanks. For a lawyer, you’re not bad.”
&nb
sp; Wow. Was this man buying her a phone? It didn’t make sense at all.
Marc grinned, as if reading her mind.
“Hey, now when I’ve finally found you, I have to make sure I don’t lose you.”
“I need to go get some clothes.”
“Where ya at?”
Normally, she wouldn’t remember the name of a hotel if her life depended on it, but she had looked at the booking so many times, just to make sure she was really going, the name rolled off her lips without effort.
“The Courtyard.”
“Never heard of it. Room number?”
“305.”
“Do you have your key?”
“No. I left it at the front desk.”
“Good. That makes things easier.”
For a moment he looked weary, but the expression disappeared as quickly as it came. “You’re staying here with me, right?”
“Of course.”
Strange. She wouldn’t have expected him being the one needing reassurance.
Marc brushed a lock of hair away from her face.
“You should go try the Jacuzzi. All your stuff will be here when you’re done.”
Something in his eyes made her wonder if she was his new favorite toy, or maybe a pet.
She still didn’t have the willpower to protest.
“Okay.”
*****
As enchanted as their time together seemed, it had to come to an end.
The next morning Laura needed to go south while Marc’s destination lay north. He ordered a limo to take her to the airport in style, and followed her down to meet it. The car was exciting, she’d never even seen one up close, but she was also horrible with goodbyes.
I’ll never see you again. Damn, I promised myself not to do anything stupid. That worked well.
A single tear escaped down her cheek, and he frowned and dried it off.
“Oh no, no crying over me. I’m a heartless bastard who will go off to cheat on you with my wife, and I’m definitely not worth any tears.”
His words made her laugh in spite of all, and he smiled.
“See, that’s better.”
“I… I don’t want to go.”
“I know, but you have a real life waiting somewhere, and I have to go back to my fake one. I’ll talk to you soon. The sooner you get in the limo the sooner I can call you.”
She nodded and sat down in a back seat as big as her living room sofa. When the large car rolled away from the sidewalk, she turned back and looked out the window. Marc’s shoulders slumped and he pulled a hand over his face, looking worn-out and old as he went back into the hotel. How much of his real life was acting, and how much was genuine?
*****
Marc dragged his feet through the lobby and into the elevator.
With Laura there, the rooms resembled a home. Alone once more, it was just another place with pretty and uncomfortable furniture.
What time is it?
Right after eleven. Good enough.
The bar was well stocked and he poured himself a generous scotch. Staying sober was easy as long as he had company, but now, with only his own mind to talk to, the silence was unbearable.
He wandered around the room and ended up in front of a mirror where he struck some poses of favorite characters from the past. Leaning forward, he stared into his own eyes. Was there still a real person in there somewhere, or had he truly lost himself?
“What the fuck is wrong with you?”
The mirror offered no answers and he turned his back to it, barely able to resist an impulse to smash it. He grabbed the phone instead, squinting at it as he browsed through the contacts.
I don’t know where my fucking glasses are, I shouldn’t need glasses. Why can’t she have a name starting with an A? Anne does, but who the fuck wants to talk to that nagging bitch?
Maybe she wouldn’t answer.
Please pick up.
Laura’s voice sounded surprised.
“Hello?”
He did his best to appear cheery. This woman had a good heart. If she suspected how bad off he was she might turn the car around and miss her flight.
“Hey babe, are you on the plane yet?”
Her laughter made everything feel better.
“No, silly, it’s only been five minutes and I’m in the car.”
He rolled the cool glass over his forehead.
“Good. Then you have plenty of time to talk to me.”
Chapter Four
Laura stuck the key in the front door and exhaled as she stepped in.
No place like home.
She left the bags in the hallway, kicked her shoes off as she walked, and dropped her purse on the floor. The sofa was as tempting as an oasis in the desert, and not until she sunk down and relaxed did she realize how exhausted she was. It had been a few intense days with little sleep.
She put her feet up on the table and no longer felt the need to hold her tummy in.
“Aaah, being a blob is good.”
Unpacking could wait. She glanced towards the hall and could just see the suitcase. It reminded her of him.
With any luck at all, the clothes in it would still smell of him. Maybe she could open it just a little, smell it, and re-live the enchanted weekend.
Sitting in her own living room, surrounded by her own things, the adventure seemed like a dream.
Her going to a celebrity party, ending up at a police station, and being with him couldn’t be real.
If the phone is still there, it wasn’t my imagination.
The phone was much more than a bunch of electronic circuits in a nice shell. It was a symbol, and proof of her experiences being real.
Does he buy phones for all girls? No, I’m probably the only one primitive enough not to have one.
It made a sound just as she picked it up, and the noise startled her so much she dropped it on her lap.
Good thing it didn’t hit the floor.
She didn’t expect to hear from him again; she assumed he’d forget all about her the moment she disappeared out of sight.
The display said, “One new text message. Marc.”
It seemed too valuable to open.
“Don’t be such a silly goose.”
Her own voice rang much too loud in the silent apartment. She should turn on the TV or something.
Marc sent a photo that made her laugh out loud. He held a cigar in his mouth and made a goofy face. It looked like a party, and for a second she wished she was there.
Ooh, it has text too.
“Wish you were here. Wanna hear two short jokes and a long one?”
She wrote back, “I miss you too. And, yes, LOL.”
“Joke. Joke. Joooookeeeee!”
That was unexpected and made her laugh out loud for real.
The phone beeped again.
“Gtg. Call you l8er.”
I guess I was wrong. This won’t be over just like that.
The thought made unexpected warmth spread through her chest.
Marc kept his word and called later.
At three in the morning.
What’s that noise? Is there a fire?
Once she realized it had to be the phone, she fumbled with it, and when she finally managed to answer she heard him talk to someone on the side. He sounded very drunk.
“No, she’s cool. No, not a model, dumbass, a real person. Yes, real… she has opinions… and stuff…”
Oh God, this was going to be a long night.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“Heeey, Babe!”
She didn’t have time to answer; he talked to someone on the side again.
“What the fuck, leave me alone. Yes, but I’m on the fucking phone!”
Laura closed her eyes and rested her head back on the pillows.
Can I hang up and go back to sleep? No, he’ll just call again.
Marc’s voice returned to her.
“Hang on.”
There were voices and strange sounds, and th
en she heard him sit down.
“How are you doing, Marc?”
“I’m fine. Fine…”
She heard him drink something and wave someone off with a “go away” before returning his attention to the phone.
“How’re you?”
The question sounded honest and made her smile.
“I’m good.”
“I’m at a fucking party. It sucks.”
They talked for a long time, until he mumbled, “I’m tired babe. Imma rest my eyes for a few.”
She glanced at the clock on the nightstand. It was past four in the morning, and tired was exactly what she would be when she had to get up in less than two hours. It didn’t matter. He called, and it was worth losing some sleep. The cell phone might give her brain cancer if she were to marathon use it like this, but she was too sleepy to worry much.
“I don’t know where you are, but try to get some sleep lover. And when you wake up, I think you should go home.”
He whispered, “But my family’s home.”
That had to be the most heartbreaking comment she ever heard.
Oh God, what am I going to do with him?
When he hung up, she stared into the darkness for a long time before closing her eyes.
The phone rang again just after nine in the morning.
Marc said, “Hey Babe, wha’cha doing?”
Shouldn’t you be passed out, sleeping last night off?
“I’m at work. How about you?”
“I’m at work too. I’m going to be a brain surgeon today. Do you think it would look more convincing with or without glasses?”
*****
During the first week or so Laura worried about using the phone for other things.
She really liked it, and didn’t want to lose it by giving him a huge bill, or using up all his minutes, or however it might work.
As days passed, she realized he wouldn’t notice if she called Australia for a day or so.
Marc called her drunk and sober, texted her from meetings and sets, and sometimes held a whispering conversation confessing his wife was in the next room. As eager as she was for his calls, he exhausted her too.
How can any one person have this much energy? It’s not normal.
