by Young, Luke
He nodded then quickly pushed his bathing suit down, balled it up and tossed it onto the concrete deck.
“Okay.” Slowly, she moved down the steps and into the pool. Ducking her head under the water, she came up, pushed her hair out of her face and swam to him.
“So…” He looked her in the eye. “Oh, wait.” He fought to pull a ring off his pinky and once he did, he held it up for her to see.
Her face lit up. “It’s beautiful.”
It slipped out of his fingers and fell into the pool. He closed his eyes and sighed, pointing down into the water. “Um, will you wait while I…?”
“Sure.”
“Could you step back a second?”
She moved a few feet away and folded her arms.
After taking a deep breath, he went underwater and struggled to make his way to the floor of the pool, but the life vest prevented him from getting more than a foot underwater. He popped out of the water once, then tried again and came up giving her a sheepish look. “I should probably take this off.”
“Uh-huh.”
He pulled the Velcro straps of the vest apart and tossed it out of the pool. “Oh, and I should probably lose the helmet as well.”
“Probably.”
After removing the helmet, he dove down and searched. Twenty seconds later he came up empty handed and shrugged. “It has to be here somewhere.”
Dipping back down, he searched the bottom of the pool for another thirty seconds then rose up, panting and cursing under his breath.
“I’ll help you.” Victoria went under water and for a full minute they both searched the bottom of the pool for the ring. When they finally gave up, he sighed. “I can’t believe this.”
“I can.” She frowned. “It’s another sign.”
“No it’s not.” Opening up his palm, he revealed the beautiful ring. “I found it the first time I went down.”
“You jerk.” She slapped him in the shoulder and held back a smile.
“I just couldn’t resist.”
Looking past her, his face lit up. “Wow, would you look at that sunset?”
She turned around to see the gorgeous pink and blue sky with the low hanging gray clouds. With no less than five hues of pink shimmering from the evening sun, it was an incredible sight. “You’re right. I’ve never seen one so pretty.”
They stood together, gazing at it until he turned to her and sighed. “It’s almost as beautiful as you are.”
“That’s sweet.” She looked away, shyly.
“Now that’s a sign.” He pointed to it. “That’s a real sign.”
“Maybe.”
“Can I please see your left hand?” He held the ring up for her.
She brought her arm out of the water. “It’s breathtaking.”
He slipped it on her finger and she studied it closely. “I love it.”
“I hoped you would.”
Placing her hands on his shoulders, she gave him a dead serious look. “Are you planning on wearing that safety helmet full time or…”
“I’ll do whatever it takes.” He kissed her softly and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. “So what do you say?”
“Have you really actually asked me this time, because I don’t recall hearing the question?”
He scoffed. “You know, you’d think since this is my third time I would have it nailed down, but you’re right, I didn’t actually ask.”
“All I remember is that naughty pool message. That did sound like fun though.” Sliding her hands down his back she squeezed the cheeks of his ass before slipping her finger down his cleft.
He backed away from her. “Hey, stop kidding around.”
“Sorry.”
He took a deep breath. “Now, I would get on one knee, but then you wouldn’t be able to hear me.”
She chuckled. “Up here is good.”
He moved back to her and frowned. “Keep your hands to yourself for a minute.”
“All right.” She sighed.
“First I want to tell you that I asked your father for his blessing and he gave it to me.”
“Now that’s adorable.”
“I thought so too.” After clearing his throat, he smiled. “Victoria Margaret Wilde?”
“Yes.”
He looked into her eyes, pausing for dramatic effect then asked, “Will you marry me?”
“I will.”
He returned to her, took her in his arms and they kissed. “Do you also promise to stop obsessing about our slight age difference?”
“I do.”
“Good. Now how much time do you think we have before we need to start getting ready?”
“Oh, about ten minutes.”
He gave her a sexy smile. “I could do it twice in that time.”
“Show me.” She raised her eyebrows up.
After about eight minutes of unusual splashing activity in the pool, they headed inside to take a shower. Sadly, Jim only was able to perform once. He blamed it on the challenge presented by underwater sex. Victoria didn’t buy it for one minute. As they showered together, Jim laid out his idea for a Vegas wedding and said he had it all mapped out. When Victoria finally made her way out to the living room dressed, she found Jim on his laptop.
There the newly engaged couple got a bit preoccupied reviewing Jim’s Las Vegas links to hotels, flight information and the wedding chapel. Forty minutes later they closed the lid on the computer with a tentative plan in place.
59
Jim and Victoria arrived about an hour late to the film’s wrap party. The studio spared no expense as the spread of food was incredible and the top shelf liquor was flowing like crazy.
Victoria spotted Jillian talking with Amanda Joseph and headed over to them while Jim went to visit the bar.
Just before Victoria reached Jillian, Amanda turned and walked away. “Hey…” Jillian shook her head, frowning. “That is one bizarre woman.”
“Really?”
“Yes, every conversation we have is crazier than the one before it.”
“That’s Hollywood for ya.”
“Yep.” Jillian chuckled.
“Where’s Brian?” Victoria asked.
“That’s what Amanda Jo…” Jillian made a snarky face. “… just asked me before she took off like a lunatic.”
After waiting a few moments, Victoria asked again, “So where is he?”
“Sorry.” Jillian shook her head. “He had some emergency at the club, although I really don’t think he wanted to come.”
“That stinks.” Victoria covered her ring with her other hand. “When Jim gets back we have something to tell you.”
“So you said yes!”
“Wait, how’d you know?”
Just then Jim arrived with three champagne glasses. He handed one to Victoria then a special one to Jillian. “This one is non-alcoholic.”
“Thank you.” Jillian smiled. “I helped him pick out the ring this afternoon.”
“He didn’t tell me that.” Victoria frowned, looking to her new fiancé. “You didn’t tell me she helped you.”
“Yeah, so… what now you’re changing your mind?”
“No, but why didn’t you tell me?”
“I don’t know.” He took a sip of his champagne.
“Let me see it again,” Jillian said.
Victoria wagged her ring finger in front of her best friend’s face.
“I really do have amazing taste.” Jillian beamed.
“You do.”
“And I’m so glad you finally said yes.”
“Me too.” Victoria’s smile melted away and she looked at Jim like he was out of his mind. “Wait, we both said we couldn’t wait to tell her the news.”
“Yeah…” He shrugged.
“She already knows the news!”
“No, I thought the news was…” he whispered in her ear.
Jillian looked on with interest as Victoria scoffed then said, “Really, how could—”
“You two a
re adorable.” Jillian interrupted. “You’re already arguing like an old married couple.”
Victoria broke into a chuckle. “Sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry.” Jim gave her an apologetic look. “Now you can tell her the other news.”
Jillian began, “What’s the other—”
“Oh my God.” Jim’s mouth fell open.
The women followed his gaze to the film’s lead actress.
“That’s uh… that’s Amanda Joseph.”
“Yep.” Victoria replied, disinterested and they watched as Amanda headed with purpose toward the entrance of the restaurant.
“She’s even better looking in person.”
Jillian and Victoria shared a bored look.
“Hey we’re engaged now so knock it off with the hot celebrity ogl—” Victoria lost her train of thought when she spotted Chance, looking amazing in a cream colored suit.
“Um, what were you saying.” Jim shot her a sarcastic look.
“Huh,” Victoria replied then she nudged Jillian with her elbow. “I missed when they filmed the shower scene. You were there, right?”
“Yes.”
“So did you see it? Was it big?”
“See what?” Jillian narrowed her eyes.
“You know, his… his… equipment. Word around Hollywood is he’s huge.” Victoria gave her a knowing nod, wearing a big smile.
“Hold on, so I get in trouble for mentioning that Amanda looks better in person and it’s just fine for you to ask if Chance is packing a missile in his shorts.” Frowning, Jim scoffed. “How is that even remotely fair?”
“Babe, you’ve heard of this thing called a double standard, right?”
“Sure.”
“Well…” Victoria widened her eyes then turned her attention back to Jillian. “So is he circumcised or—”
“I don’t know…” Jillian grumbled, cringing. “Didn’t Paul already have this conversation with you?”
“He did, but I thought he might have taken my advice,” she said with a hopeful smile.
“Oh, yeah, sure, after you spoke to Paul we switched over— all the sex scenes were real— we had actual penetration.” Jillian pointed casually to a young actress. “You see that actress… she played Ryder’s girlfriend and in one scene she actually held Chance’s schlong.”
“Funny.” Victoria sneered. “Well, it would have been a much better movie.”
Jillian gave Jim a concerned look. “So you’re really going to marry her?”
He shrugged, then after the three exchanging smirks they all broke into laughter.
Jillian pulled herself together first and asked, “So what’s the other news?”
Victoria smiled. “We want to get married in Vegas this Thursday. That is if you guys can make it.”
“That sounds like fun.”
“And I want you to be my maid of honor.”
“I’d never speak to you again if I wasn’t.”
“Oh, but, we didn’t think about the baby.” Victoria cringed, pointing to Jillian’s stomach. “Do you think you can fly?”
“I think so, but let me clear it with my doctor.” A tear fell from her eye and she gazed at Jim with a smile.
“What?” Jim asked.
“I’m just so happy for you.” Stepping forward, she gave him a hug.
“What about me?” Victoria asked sarcastically.
Jillian moved to her best friend and wrapped her arms around her. “I knew you guys would do it one day.” Stepping back from the couple, she raised her glass. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” Victoria raised her glass. Jim did the same and they all took a sip.
Jillian said, “Why don’t we surprise Brian at the club and tell him the great news?”
“Sounds good.” Victoria returned her attention to Chance. “Can I just have another word with him?”
“Really?” Jim sighed.
“Yes, we had a little conversation on the set a couple weeks ago and I just want to tell him how nice it was to finally meet him.”
“Okay, but behave yourself,” he scolded.
“I promise I won’t touch him…” Covering her mouth and directing her voice to Jillian, she said softly, “… much.” Then she took off toward Chance, leaving Jim behind.
“What was that?” Jim asked, looking at Jillian.
She shrugged and turned away. “Um, I didn’t hear.”
As Victoria and Chance laughed it up, Jim asked Jillian about her pregnancy and they began a baby name discussion.
Paul left Natalie’s side, stepped up to the microphone and announced, “Can I have everyone’s attention?”
The room quieted and he continued, “I just wanted to thank everyone for their incredibly hard work on this project. The studio has been ecstatic with the dailies we’ve showed them thus far. Despite some bumps in the road we’ve been able to complete filming on time and on budget— something, in this business, that rarely happens.”
He lifted his glass and smiled. “Here’s to The Leg Thing— next summer’s blockbuster.”
The group lifted their glasses and cheered.
60
As Jillian, Victoria and Jim lost track of time and were enjoying more drinks, laughing and talking with the cast and crew from the movie, Brian sat in his office doing paperwork. Todd stepped into the office and whispered, “There’s someone here to see you, I think it might be Amanda Joseph.”
“What do you mean you think? You don’t recognize her?”
“Just get out there.” Todd waved him over hurriedly.
Todd turned back toward the front desk and stood frozen as Brian rose up and rolled his eyes as he maneuvered around him. A woman stood behind the counter holding a tennis bag. She wore a hoody pulled up over her head along with big dark sunglasses.
“Hi, can I help you?” Brian asked.
She looked nervously toward the front door then back to Brian and whispered, “Yes, could I have a word with you in private?”
“Uh, sure.”
Brian motioned to his office door with his hand. The woman made her way around the counter, around Todd who was still standing in the doorway and finally into the office and sat in a chair.
“Thank you, Todd.” Brian motioned to him with his eyes to get lost. Todd didn’t move as he simply gazed mesmerized at the woman.
“Todd?” Brian glared at him.
“Sorry, I’ll be right out here if you need me.” Todd stepped backward slowly with his eyes still on the mystery woman.
“Wonderful,” Brian replied sarcastically before closing the door in Todd’s face and moving to sit behind his desk.
“It’s me.” Amanda pushed the hoody off her head and removed her sunglasses. “Sorry for all the secret drama, but you wouldn’t believe how the paparazzi follow me around.”
He shrugged, apologetically. “I kinda knew it was you and so did Todd.”
Suddenly shocked, she sat on the edge of her seat. “You don’t think he’s calling TMZ or—”
“No. No. He wouldn’t.” Brian paused a moment as the confidence drained from his expression then he rose from his seat. “Hold on.”
He slipped outside the office and returned about thirty seconds later and sat back down. “He’s not going to be calling anyone. I told him if anyone with a camera showed up here he’d be out of a job. And he actually likes it here, so I think we’re good.”
“Okay. Thanks.” She took a deep breath. “You’re probably wondering what I’m doing here?”
“Well, yeah, isn’t the wrap party tonight?”
“It’s still going on. I just didn’t feel like being around all those people. I thought you were going to be there and I wanted to thank you for the tennis lessons and, you know, everything. I don’t think I could have done this without you.”
“No.” He scoffed. “You were already very good. You just needed some confidence and maybe just a little help with your strokes.”
“I can’t go anywhere without being follo
wed and hounded and screamed at and… it’s really a nightmare. I mean, I get that I chose this life and I’m lucky to have the money and, you know, all the freedom that comes with that, but sometimes I feel like I’d trade it all in for just a normal, regular life.”
He nodded in support. “Yeah I can’t say I know what it’s like, but I’ve had a taste of, let’s call it, bad publicity and attention and it’s no fun.”
“Lately the only time I’ve actually been happy, like really, really happy is when I’ve been playing.” She looked him in the eye.
“It’s a great sport.”
“I think I’m going to keep up with it.”
“You really should.” He smiled. “You’ll get better and probably enjoy it more. It can be frustrating at first.”
“I know this is odd question, but, um…”
“What?” He smiled, intrigued.
“Do you feel like maybe hitting the ball around a little?”
“Now?”
“Well, yeah.”
“You mean like a lesson or…”
“No, just for fun.”
“Yeah, sure. Yeah, we could definitely do that.” He gave her a supportive nod. “We’re just about to close up so I think the place is empty.”
“Great.”
Holding his head high, he smiled. “When I played Angie yesterday no one knew she was here either. Not even Brad.”
“Angelina Jolie?” She asked, confused.
“I’m… I’m kidding.” He chuckled. “Sorry that’s just a little joke. I’ve, uh, never played Angelina… or Brad for that matter.”
“You’re a funny guy.” Rolling her eyes, she giggled. “I’m going to miss you, coach Nash.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever forget you either. Most of the kids I teach spend half the lesson picking their noses or pulling out wedgies.”
They shared a laugh as he rose to his feet and headed for the door. “You remember where the women’s locker room is?”
“I think so.”
“Great, how about I meet you on court four in ten minutes.” He opened the door and pointed to the glass wall to the right. “It’s the one right there.”
“Okay.” She took off around the counter as Todd watched, mesmerized. Brian tapped him on the shoulder and whispered. “You swear you didn’t call anyone?”
“No.”
