Lessons In Gravity

by Megan Westfield

  His breath mingled with hers in the space between them. A magnet-like force was pulling her toward him. She wanted to touch him so badly. To kiss him. Another millimeter and she wouldn’t be able to stop.

  But this was not okay. They could not do this. She would not jeopardize her career. Space. She had to put some space between them before something happened that they could not take back.

  Reluctantly, she let go of his hand and slid off the tailgate. “I’ve got dinner duty. I have to go.” She unzipped his sweatshirt and handed it back. The night was cold and harsh.

  She grabbed her camera bag, and he walked her around to the front of his truck.

  “See you over there in a bit,” she said.

  “I’m not coming tonight,” he said quietly. “They’re having a big cookout here.”

  “Well, then, I’ll see you tomorrow at the van.”

  He nodded. There was a trace of confusion in his eyes.

  She forced herself to get moving. The pull between them was still there. Like a rubber band, the desire to return to him intensified with every step in the wrong direction.

  It would have been much better if she had never come.

  “Hey, April?”

  She turned.

  “I’m really looking forward to the gala.”

  He was leaning against his truck, so strong and solid yet deeply vulnerable.

  Something snapped. All she wanted was to be near him, to understand him. To know him. There was something more going on between them. And two nights from now, at the gala—and just for the gala—if it continued to happen, she wasn’t going to stop it.

  Exactly like the first time she’d come out to his truck, his eyes burned not into her but through her. She held his eyes. “I am, too.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  The aesthetician spun April around to look in the mirror. She hardly recognized herself. Vera’s team had somehow managed to get some curl in her hair, which was piled on top of her head. Her skin was radiant from the facial Vera had arranged for her earlier in the day, and the blush made her look like she was keeping a wonderful secret. The carefully applied raspberry lipstick with the melon gloss layer on top had turned her mouth into a perfect cupid’s bow.

  But it was her eyes that brought the whole look to the next level. Five shades of shadow, three eyeliners, and a thick set of falsies added five years of sexy and made her eyes as bright as a lap pool in the sunshine. Vera wasn’t exaggerating about having the best hair and makeup people in California. They had transformed April from a mosquito-bitten, low-paid film intern into a full-blown fairy-tale princess.

  “Thank you,” April whispered. “This is amazing.”

  The aesthetician winked at her in the mirror and squeezed her shoulders. “Vera will be so excited when she sees you.”

  It wasn’t Vera’s reaction April was imagining. It was Josh’s. She would be knocking on his door in just a few minutes. What would he think? He’d never seen her wearing anything but jeans, T-shirts, and workout clothes. He’d never seen her with makeup, either, and she was wearing a lot of it. If she’d attempted even a fraction of this amount of makeup on her own, she would have come off looking like a geisha.

  Vera’s stylist followed April down to her room and helped her into her gown so she didn’t mess up her hair and makeup. Her mom’s vintage dress was heavy and smooth against her bare skin. An extra three inches of fabric pooled around her feet. The stylist helped her into the vintage Marketto sandals, and the delicate gray lace points of the hem skimmed the floor exactly as designed.

  April waited for the stylist to leave, and then dashed to the full-length mirror for an in-depth examination.

  The whole effect was incredible. The empire cut of the dress enhanced her chest perfectly, while the hidden heels boosted her out of the petite realm. The muscles in her arms and back were defined from hauling equipment around Yosemite and accentuated by the sparkle dust bronzer Vera’s team had brushed across her skin.

  She took a step back from the mirror and then another. With each, she looked more and more like a stranger, like a ghost of her mother twenty-five years ago.

  Thinking of Josh again, she smiled. With the smile, her reflection ceased to be a stranger but a fancier, dressed-up version of herself. She twisted around to see the back of her dress, then spun in a circle until the heavy fabric lifted around her. When she halted, it swung tight around her legs before swishing back around and hanging straight.

  “Thank you, Vera,” she mouthed toward the penthouse.

  April glanced over at the clock. There were exactly fourteen minutes to stall before walking across the hall to his room. She took a selfie and texted it to Sophie and her mom, then looked at the view of the city out the window while she waited for a reply.

  She hadn’t seen Josh since his tux fitting yesterday afternoon. The CEO of Esplanade was in town for the gala, and he’d occupied all of Josh’s time that Vera hadn’t already reserved. It was the longest she’d gone without seeing him since they’d jumped into the lake, and it felt like an eternity.

  Closing her eyes, she felt his hands around hers, rubbing lotion into her palms. She relived his powerful hand on her waist, keeping her steady on the slackline. She saw him trusting her during their second interview, laughing with her at the lake, and his attentiveness while he adjusted the hood around her face.

  What would it be like to be around him at a formal function like this? In every way, it was the opposite of all their previous time together in Yosemite. It could be really awkward.

  Argh. She was starting to psych herself out.

  No one had responded to her text yet. Come on, guys, talk to me!

  Her phone beeped. Amazing, April. Gorgeous, her mom wrote. That dress is perfect on you. Have a wonderful night, okay?

  I’m nervous, she wrote back. I really like him.

  Finally she admits it. :)

  Mom! He’s the talent…it’s like dating a patient.

  Except you guys are already friends, right? Just take it easy, enjoy his company. Don’t do anything unsafe. If you know what I mean.

  Mom! I’m 22!

  Like that’s so old. Have fun, honey!

  There were still eight minutes left before April was supposed to meet Josh, but she was too antsy to wait any longer. She went across the hallway and knocked softly on his door. He answered quickly and then stood there for a second without saying anything.

  “April! Oh my god, I—”

  He took a step back. She held her breath.

  “You don’t look real,” he said. “You look like a doll or something. Sorry. That didn’t sound right.” He stepped aside so she could come in. “What I meant to say is that you look really beautiful. Like you were born to wear dresses like that.”

  The warmth of a blush crossed her face. It was exactly how she was hoping he’d react. “Thanks, Josh.”

  The room was heavy with the freshness of a recent shower, as evidenced by Josh’s darkened, wet hair, which he was scrubbing with a towel. He was wearing a white T-shirt with his tuxedo pants and his feet were bare.

  He pulled his dress shirt off a hanger and put it on. He was getting dressed, not undressed, but she averted her eyes anyway. There were two textbooks on his night table, Macroeconomics and Introduction to Statistics, the same ones he’d spent the whole van ride to Sacramento reading.

  “You do some pretty heavy reading,” she said.

  “It’s for classes.”

  “You’re a student? You never told me that.”

  “You never asked.”

  She peeked over her shoulder and watched him button his shirt.

  “I’d have to know a little something about you to ask,” she said. “And you’re pretty mysterious.”

  “Am I?” He smiled naughtily. “I take a class a term, when I have a good internet connection,” he said. “And time.”

  “I’m surprised you’re doing a class now. You kind of have a lot going on,” she said. “Starrin
g in a major documentary and all.”

  “And being grilled by a ruthless reporter in the meantime.”

  “Filmmaker.”

  “Okay, a ruthless filmmaker.”

  “Sounds awful.”

  “You have no idea.” He was looking down as he shoved his shirttails into his pants, but she could tell he was grinning.

  There was something about this guy. She had such an affection for him. So much so that her nerves were tight. Just because she thought she’d detected interest two nights ago at his truck didn’t mean he actually felt the same as her.

  She handed him the belt that was lying on his bed. He threaded it through his belt loops.

  “What are you studying?” she asked.

  “Guess.”

  “No.”

  He looked amused. “Why not?”

  “It’s a trap.”

  “How so?”

  “You’ll accuse me of domicile discrimination,” she said.

  “Because of my truck?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay, then. I’m majoring in business,” he said.

  “You’re right. That’s surprising.”

  “So what would you have guessed?”

  “Philosophy. Outdoor recreation, maybe.”

  “Sheesh. You do have a bad case of domicile discrimination. And coming from a film major, on top of it!”

  She laughed, which loosened her nerves a little.

  He grabbed the cuff links off his desk. She was hoping he’d struggle with them so she could lend a hand, but he poked them through his sleeves like he’d done it a million times.

  He pulled his jacket off the hanger, and April held it for him while he put it on.

  “Where’s your bow tie?” she asked.

  He pointed to a slim box in the closet.

  “How are your bow-tying skills?” she asked.

  “Do I look like I know how to tie a bow tie?”

  “You definitely do not look like you know how to tie a bow tie.”

  “Is this about my truck again?”

  “Pretty much. Need help?”

  “That would be a good idea. Vera will thank you.”

  April pulled a beautiful gray silk tie out of the box.

  “Vera told me how well you did at the VIP brunch this morning. She said she has checks for six hundred and fifty thousand already. Thanks to your charming alter ego.”

  Josh leaned forward, and she popped his collar up and laid the silk across the back of his neck. Their faces were all but touching. “Alter ego?”

  She stood on her toes to pull his collar down over the tie. He leaned farther down and their cheeks brushed. Her pulse picked up. “You’re not always charming, you know.”

  “No?” His smile pushed against her cheek. “I’ll be charming tonight, I promise.”

  The air from his words drifted across her neck, making goose bumps rise along her arms.

  With her heels planted on the ground again, she began the bowknot she had tied for her father ever since he taught her once on a whim. When she was finished, she stepped back to get a good look. Like her, Josh had been transformed.

  He always carried himself tall and straight, but wearing the perfectly tailored tuxedo, he looked truly refined. And he appeared to be comfortable in it, which was surprising. When Madigan and Theo had tried on their budget rental tuxes earlier, the effect hadn’t been the same. Theo, in particular, who was between sizes, looked a little like a hobo clown with his greasy hair and the too-big jacket.

  “You look fantastic,” she told Josh.

  He smiled sheepishly. “Handsome?” he asked.

  “Yes. Very,” she said, wishing she could take a photo of him and send it to her mom. Perhaps Mom was wise to have given her the safe-sex reminder.

  Josh’s hair was flat from the towel drying. “Do you have any hair gel?” she asked.

  They went into his bathroom. She flicked on the light, and he squinted in the brightness. His lashes were long and thick, the kind she wished she had. The shadows falling from them made his eyes look more green than brown.

  There was a bottle of expensive men’s styling gel sitting on the counter, undoubtedly another of Vera’s foresights. April rubbed a dab of it between her hands and stepped much closer to him than necessary, running her fingers through his hair and mussing it until it looked just right.

  When she was done, their bodies were not only close but pressed together.

  She rinsed and dried her hands and joined him back in the bedroom, where he was tucking the pages of his speech into his breast pocket. The clock read 5:55.

  “I guess we better get going,” she said. “Are you ready?”

  His eyes reached into hers with the same intensity as when he’d asked her not to push during the second interview.

  “I’ve been ready for a long time,” he said.

  Her heart raced as she walked across the room to him. His eyes were resting on her as she brushed a piece of invisible lint off his lapel and straightened the lay of his jacket. She rose on her toes to tuck a tiny section of hair behind his ear.

  She was already off-kilter from her nearness to him, and she leaned against him for balance. As a reflex, his arm lifted across her back. He exhaled softly, and she closed her eyes.

  Yes, for this one night, she wouldn’t worry about couldn’ts or shouldn’ts, or what was ahead for them back at Yosemite. All that mattered in the world was that they had the whole night ahead of them, together.

  Slowly, she lowered off her tiptoes, letting her cheek slide along his neck. He leaned in slightly, and suddenly it was the side of her lips against his shower-fresh skin. Her legs were going to give out. He pulled her in tighter before releasing her.

  “Shall we?” she asked.

  Instead of taking her arm, he took her hand.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The elevator dinged when it reached the lobby. Josh released her hand just before the door slid open. Gabby was waiting in the foyer and whisked them to the ballroom.

  April stopped in her tracks as they stepped inside. Vera hadn’t just decorated; she had recreated Yosemite. It was magnificent.

  High-resolution canvas panels of trees, waterfalls, meadows, and rock formations ran floor to ceiling on all four walls for an overall effect of being in a windowed room with 360-degree views of the park. The ceiling itself was a work of art, with soft strips of blue fabric floating among layers of sheer white.

  The tables were covered in spring-green linen with a weave that looked like blades of grass. The centerpieces were impressive arrangements of pine branches, birch bark, and wildflowers. The background music was mellow American folk, the kind of sound that wouldn’t be out of place if someone played it on speakers back at the campground. Even the stage was in costume, with a lodge-like facade of skinny logs and river rock. The live, potted pine trees near the doors added to the overall effect.

  They walked to the stage, where Josh pulled his speech from his pocket and handed it to Gabby. She three-hole punched it and clicked it into the binder on the podium.

  “Are you sure we can’t put this on the prompter?” she asked.

  “No way,” Josh replied.

  Gabby ushered Josh up to the microphone and waved a technician over for the sound check.

  April and Gabby waited to the side of the stage.

  “He sure cleans up nicely,” Gabby said. “Are you guys a thing?”

  April coughed. “I’m on the film crew.”

  “Better you than one of those climber girls,” Gabby said. “They are all over him.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. When he was staying with Vic at Vera’s one time, this girl randomly showed up at the gate. She was totally grungy. Full dreadlocks and everything. I don’t care who the guy was, I’d never just go up to the Smithleigh mansion like that.”

  “What did Josh do?”

  “Told the guard to ask her leave.”

  Josh stepped off the stage. “Thanks for wai
ting,” he said to April.

  “You two should get some drinks before the receiving line starts,” Gabby said. She ushered them over to one of the bars, also decorated lodge-style. “Elderberry martini for the lady, Tioga Pale Ale for the man.”

  Gabby disappeared into the hotel kitchen.

  The bartender, who was about their age, kept staring up at them as he prepared the drinks. “Excuse me for asking, but are you Josh Knox?” he finally asked.

  “I am,” Josh said.

  “I heard you’re going to free solo the Sorcerer.”

  “Free BASE, but yes. I’m going to try.”

  April shivered.

  “That’s so ballsy,” the bartender said. He put their drinks on the bar. “I’m looking forward to your talk. It’s the whole reason I’m working tonight. Half the waitstaff, too.”

  April and Josh took their drinks over to a cocktail table. His cheeks were red. “Jeez, no pressure or anything.”

  “The Sorcerer or the speech?”

  “The speech!”

  “And you said you weren’t nervous.” She playfully nudged his arm. He caught her hand and only let her pull it slowly out of his grip.

  “You’re going to do great up there,” she said.

  “Coming from the person who had to give me speaking lessons.”

  “That was an on-camera interview lesson, and there aren’t any robot cyclopes in here, so you’ll be fine.”

  “Yeah, but everyone will be doing videos on their phones for Facebook. Or worse.”

  “So? Wouldn’t that be a good thing?”

  “I’m going to be talking about stuff that is really important to me.”

  “Even better!”

  “Maybe you should have gone into marketing.”

  His brows were pinched with worry, and she felt bad for him. “If it helps, the light in here will be too low for cell phone video cameras to work once they dim the lights and turn those lanterns on.”

  “But they have flash. They can still take pictures.”

  “Cell phone flash won’t work that far away.”

  “What about the waiters? You heard what the bartender said. Some of them might try to sneak up close.”

  “If Gabby sees a flash go off, I guarantee she’ll get a name. The staff knows not to mess around during an event like this.”