by Frank Downey
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be," he smiled. "Although, I could make figure skater anorexia comments. What do you weigh, 80?"
She cracked up. "No, I weigh considerably more than 80. And what I'm doing to this pile of food should disabuse any anorexia notions. No, I'm just small. An asset for a skater, but I come naturally by it, being half-Asian. You should see my mother. She's the Itty Bitty Japanese Woman stereotype come to life."
"I was wondering about that. I thought I saw Asian in the eyes, but your hair color and complexion..."
"Well, Daddy is the blonde, blue-eyed California surfer dude stereotype." They both cracked up. "So I ended up with Japanese eyes and facial features, light brown hair, and a complexion that nobody can make hide nor hair out of. And green eyes, of all things."
"It's a wonderful combination. You're one of the most exotically beautiful women I've ever seen."
Liz blushed. "Thank you."
"It's the truth. That was not a line, I'm no good at those," Rich grinned.
"Oh, I'm not so sure about that," Liz grinned back.
* * *
They chatted throughout the meal. Paul and Cait, and Rich, had rented rooms in the hotel for tonight and for after the performance the following night, but were gathered in Warren and Sophia's room right now, just chatting.
"Hey, have you seen what's going on over on the couch?" Warren whispered to Sophia, who was sitting on his lap in a chair.
"Liz and Rich? Yeah, started in the restaurant. They really seem to be hitting it off."
"Yeah. And Paul told me he goes to UCLA, and Liz lives in California."
"Hmmm. Verrrry interesting," Sophia giggled. "And, from what she told me this morning, she has now achieved maximum horniness."
Warren couldn't help but laugh. "Hey, what's so funny?" Liz called from across the room.
"Nothing, Liz, dear. You just carry on." Warren said with a grin.
"Hmph."
"Hey, Rich, Paul, Cait, you guys are going to join us for breakfast, right?"
"Sure," Paul said. The rest agreed.
"It'll be fun. You'll get to meet more skaters." Sophia told them. "They all come down. Eventually, if they're Stephie Eberhardt."
Liz cracked up laughing. "Yeah, Crazy Stephie is always sleeping something or other off."
"Stephie Eberhardt?" Rich asked
"Yes, the Vegas Showgirl of Figure Skating," Liz told him with a grin. "Don't get me wrong, I know Stephie well, because she used to train with me, and I love her, she's delightful. But Crazy Stephie on tour has three priorities: getting drunk; getting laid; and wearing the tightest, skimpiest costume she can find so every guy in the audience is looking at her ass--which facilitates number two, of course."
"What's your priority on tour?" Rich asked her.
"Just to skate. I like skating. Making money is nice, too," she giggled.
"You don't pick up guys from the audience?" he smiled.
"Never have. I have trouble dating. Most skating guys are male versions of Stephie Eberhardt, or are gay, or are taken, like Warren and Jack Garrison, who are my two best male friends in skating. And guys outside of skating..."
"What?"
"Well, it just causes problems."
"What kind of problems?"
She looked at him. "Rich, why are you interested in why I don't date guys outside of skating?"
"Because I'm outside of skating."
Liz just looked at him for a minute, then the light dawned. She blushed. "I think I just got asked out."
Rich cracked up. "Yeah, but I did a botch-up job of it. Liz, when we both get back to California, may I have the pleasure of your company for an evening?"
She giggled. "Just an evening?"
"Well, got to start somewhere, right?"
"Hmm. I got to think about it, OK?"
"Sure, but I'm not asking you to marry me or anything," Rich cracked up. "I've spent all evening with you. I really like what I see. I'd like to see more."
"Well, let me say this, then," Liz said. "You're going to be around tomorrow, right?" He nodded. "Come to breakfast with us, then you can show me around Cleveland tomorrow, and then I'll decide if I want to see you in California. Fair enough?"
"Fair enough, but what's to see in Cleveland?" Rich laughed.
"The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, of course!"
"You're right. It's a date."
* * *
They all met for breakfast the next day, and Warren and Sophia introduced their friends around.
Afterwards, Rich and Liz head out for the rock and roll hall of fame. They spent a few hours there, and then went for a late lunch.
"Hey, Rich?"
"Yeah?"
"Why are you interested in me?"
"Because you're sweet, charming, intelligent, funny, and gorgeous. Have I left anything out?" he grinned at her.
"No, you didn't. In fact, you left out what I usually hear. I've only known you two days, and that's not long enough, but, I wanted to tell you--yes, I'll go out with you when we get back to LA Remind me to give you my number before you leave."
"Great!" He smiled at her. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
"Are you always this wary around guys? I was surprised when you didn't say yes right away last night, when I asked you, because it seemed to me that we were really hitting it off."
"Yeah, I'm wary around guys. It's hard to explain."
"That's OK. I'm glad you said yes. You don't know how hard I had to screw my courage on to even ask you."
"Really?" she laughed. "Why?"
"Well, that's my wariness around girls."
"I'll tell if you tell. Might as well get all the nasty fears out in the open," she told him.
"Well, I'm self-conscious about my size. When you gave me the 'maybe' answer yesterday, my first thought was, 'Oh, shit, here we go again.' Like I said, I thought we were getting along great, and I couldn't think of another reason you wouldn't say yes outside of my looks."
She smiled at him. "What, a big huggable hunk like you?" Liz blushed as she said it, but Rich might have blushed more. "And you're even cute when you blush," Liz giggled, making him blush deeper. "Your looks were never an issue, Rich, except for the fact that I do think you're cute and huggable." She looked at him, still grinning. "Boy, can you blush!"
"Stop it!" Rich said, but was grinning as he said it.
"Now you know how I felt last night. 'Exotically beautiful' and all that."
"OK, so we're even with that. But it's your turn to tell me why you're so wary."
Liz took a deep breath. "Rich, how much of a figure skating fan are you?"
"A little. I'll watch it if it's on. I like it, but I'm not a nut. For example, you've won, what did you tell me, three world championships, a bunch of national championships, and an Olympic silver medal, right? And when I met you, I had only a very slight inkling who you were. And that was mostly from Paul refreshing my memory on the way to the hotel, because Warren had told him you were going to be there."
"OK. This is hard to say, so bear with me. I'm not bragging, just telling you how it is. I'm fairly famous--we've been insanely lucky this morning that I haven't been recognized. I was praying I wouldn't, not today, not while I was with you. But I will be when I get back to the hotel. In fact, I'll be mobbed, because all the fans know we're in town today, and it's child's play to figure out where we're staying. I also... well, let's just say that I have no financial worries, and won't for a very long time."
Rich was just listening, so Liz continued. "What this means for my social life is that I tend to meet two types of guys. Those who are intimidated by me because I'm rich, famous, and successful--or those who only want to go out with me in the first place because I'm rich, famous, and successful. Now, this builds up on itself--because of this, I am woefully inexperienced with guys, which makes me more wary. The date we go on in LA will be my first real date. I had a friend take my virginity, because I was just plain sick of waiti
ng, but he was just a friend. " Rich choked on his coke at that one. "Sorry. Heck, I'm nineteen. It was time, don't you think? Anyhow, outside of that, I am completely, totally inexperienced. And scared shitless."
Rich just looked at her for a minute. "First of all, I had a friend take my virginity, too, when I was a senior in high school. I was just a little surprised you came out with that out of the blue," he grinned.
"Well, I was emphasizing my inexperience, but didn't want you to think I was a complete blushing violet," she grinned at him.
"OK. Now I know why you didn't say yes right away. Honestly, after that soliloquy, I'm shocked you said yes at all." She just smiled at him. "As for what I think about what you said--I plan to be rich, I plan to be successful, and couldn't give a crap about famous." She laughed at that. "And rich, successful, famous women don't intimidate me. I prefer a woman with a life of her own, makes her more interesting. The only thing that intimidates me about you is your beauty, but I can deal with that."
It was Liz's turn to blush again.
"GOTCHA!" he yelled, making her crack up.
"Fine, you just look out," she said. "So, let me get this straight. You're sweet, cute, smart, interesting, unintimidated, straight, available, and relatively unimpressed. Are you sure you're real?"
He cracked up laughing. "I'm not so sure about the unimpressed part. Just not impressed by your fame and fortune. Everything else is completely impressive." She blushed again. "Gotcha again!"
"Flattery will get you anything you... ooh, I'm not even gonna finish that!"
He laughed. "Don't worry, Liz, I'm not the type to try to get a girl in bed the second day I know her."
"You're not? Damn!" It was his turn to blush again. "Gotcha back!"
* * *
Warren had gotten them front row seats for the performance. Warren and Sophia did "Kiss Me Baby," to great applause. Liz skated two programs, and, after her second one, Rich stood up in his front row seat and gave her a rose when she skated over.
They were heading to Pittsburgh in the morning, so it was an early night, but they went out for a late supper before going back to the hotel.
Jack wasn't lying--he wasn't the type to make any serious moves on a girl he just met. That could wait. Kiss her goodnight? Oh, yeah, that he'd do. A good long one that made Liz weak in the knees.
"So, you're going to see him in LA?" Warren asked her the next morning.
"Yup."
"Listen, I don't know him, but he comes from good stock. His brother is the salt of the earth."
"I know. Warren, I think I really like this guy. And, boy, the kiss he gave me last night..."
"He's got your number?"
"Yup. Gonna call me as soon as he gets back to LA--we figured I'm going to beat him by about three days. So, we'll see. But, everything I see so far, I like."
"Good luck, kid. Keep me posted?"
"Between me and Paul, you'll know everything!"
Chapter 85 - Talk Talk
Warren and Sophia were on a plane, flying from the last stop on the tour, back home.
"Warren?" Sophia said.
"Hmph?" Warren looked up from the book he was reading.
"Can we talk?"
"Sure, Pookie," he said, putting his book away.
"I've been thinking. Something's wrong, honey. I can't completely put my finger on it, but we're a little bit... I don't know. Disconnected, somehow. Unraveled."
"What makes you say that?"
"Lots of things." She sighed. "We've been through a lot. But we broke up, and then we got back together, and almost immediately after that, you got beat up. Then, we barely get through that, and I decide I want to experiment with my sexuality--and I feel guilty about it, so I talk you into having a couple of flings." She sighed again. "It just seems so crazy."
"Honey, we got through it. We did."
"Yeah, but what do we have left?"
"We have us."
"Do we?" She looked at him. "Warren, why is there an 'us'? Why do we stay together?"
"Because we love one another?" He looked at his hands. "Or has that changed?"
"No, that has not changed."
"Then I guess I'm missing something."
"Warren, is love enough? Do you really thing it is? Warren, what do you want from life?"
"First question first. After all we've been through, and we made it through this past year, and we're still together. Do you really have to ask if love is enough?"
She smiled at him. "Touche."
"As for what I want from life? Lots of things. Mostly to make sure I spend it with you. Everything else is negotiable."
Sophia smiled, but then got a serious look on her face. "After the past year, you still feel that way?"
"Absolutely. Now more than ever. What do you want from life?"
"Just that. A nice, normal relationship with the man I love. We haven't had that for a while." She looked down. "I can't help but feel I did a lot of damage to our relationship by insisting on experimenting. God, when I found out about you and Liz... I thought... hell, I don't know what I thought."
"Sophia. Listen to me. It was a one time thing. It was never, ever going to be more than a one-time thing."
"I know," she smiled. "What did you think about what I was doing?"
"I admit, it bothered me. However, I figured, better you figure that stuff out now."
"You didn't want me to do it? Why didn't you say anything?"
"The first time, with Alexa, just happened. After that, after the feelings that awoke in you, I didn't feel I had the right to say no. If I had said no, you would have just resented me. Better you sort that one out on your own."
"OK." She looked down. "Sometimes you're too accepting, you know."
"If I had been that accepting, I would have gone to bed with Stephie Eberhardt." Sophia looked up at him, startled. "Now, most of the reasons I picked Liz were the right ones--she wanted to lose her virginity to a nice guy who wouldn't talk, I thought it would be fun, and I knew it would never go past that day. I also had no idea you'd be that upset that I had picked Liz. However, I did know that picking Liz would not be what you expected."
"Why was that important?"
"Because I felt controlled. I didn't feel I could stop you from sleeping with Shawna. You needed to know. But you almost begged me to sleep with Stephie. 'I'm doing this, and you must even the score, so go sleep with Stephie.' The problem was, I did not want you to sleep with Shawna, and I did not want to sleep with Stephie. I couldn't stop the first, but, because you gave me a loophole by not specifying Stephie, I could stop the second. I would not have slept with Stephie under any circumstances. When the opportunity arose with Liz, I went for it."
"So you were rebelling, is that it?"
"Consciously, no. But thinking back on it, I think that, subconsciously, I might have been trying to send you a message that you could not control this situation as perfectly as you thought you could."
Sophia smiled ruefully. "The message was received, I can tell you that. Warren, what do you want from me?"
"Just you. Only you. And I want you to want only me."
She smiled. "Deal. That having been settled, Warren, we still need to reconnect. We didn't spend hardly any time alone while we were on tour unless we were having sex."
"Well, the role of Social Butterfly and Grand Hostess comes naturally to you. Truth be told, I like it, too."
"I know," Sophia smiled, "but the tour is over, school is over, and we're home for two months. Yeah, we need to spend some time with Jessie and Crash, and we'll have to hit a party or two. And we have to skate. However, outside of that, I just want to spend time with you. Just the two of us. When's the last time we just read together, or played chess, or just went for a long drive? It seems we've been hopping from crisis to crisis. I need you, by my side, just being together."
Warren smiled at her. "Do you know how wonderful that sounds?"
"So you see what I mean?"
"Yes. Absolutely
. You're right."
She smiled back at him, and reached over in the seat to take his hand. "You're the most wonderful guy in the world, you know that?"
"Well, I'm hopelessly in love with the most wonderful girl in the world, I know that much."
* * *
When they had been on tour, they had gotten ice time almost every day. With their schedule a bit crunched, they had decided to start choreographing a free dance while on tour. They had picked "Riverdance". By the time they got home, it was about half done. They worked on it for a couple of weeks, and got it to about three-quarters done. However, they had taken a break one day, and Sophia skated up to Warren.
"Warren, honey? I've been thinking."
"Oh-oh," he smiled.
"You just shut up. I've been thinking--Riverdance. For the Olympics. Us. I'm not quite sure it works. You know how much I love it, and I'd like to skate to it some day, but I'm not sure it's right for the Olympics. Hey, Bourne and Kraatz didn't set the world on fire with it."
"Well, our program is better. More unison, less side-by-side skating. However, I take it you have a better idea?"
"Warren, we're going to the Olympics. Us. I want to skate to something romantic."
"Did you have any ideas?"
"Yeah. 'Romeo and Juliet'."
"That's been done at the Olympics, too, Pookie--by Anissina and Peizerat."
"No, no, not any of the classical ones. The song, the Dire Straits one. You know, our song."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I did a sample timing. Of the live version. If we cut the intro, the last verse, and the outro, it fits. And there's a logical beginning and end."
"It would be a radical departure, though. It's one constant tempo, and that is on the slow side of midtempo. It might be a challenge to choreograph something to that that is technically demanding enough."
"Can we try?"
"Why not?" He smiled at her. "We have 'Riverdance" as a backup."
"Have you come up with any ideas for the Original Dance?"
