She slowly started to drop the shirt, concealing the bare flesh, stalling, waiting for me to beg her to stop. I was pissed that she was trying to tempt me to choose between her bare torso and my career.
"Listen," I said, trying to smooth things over, "I'm sure I'll get to talk to him this afternoon, I have to show my face at a little trade show they have set up downstairs. But if that doesn't work out, I'll have to try to talk to him tonight. It won't take all night, though. You'll have fun, I promise."
"I know, I'm sorry." Her arms came around my neck again. "I've just never been to Vegas. I'm so excited. Can you at least promise you'll try to make it quick at the charity thing so we can go out?"
"I guess I can promise that." I said, since it seemed like a reasonable enough request.
"Thanks babe. I love you."
"Love you too," I told her, relieved to have avoided the meltdown. "And, it's goggles." I felt like I should clarify so she didn't say anything to jeopardize my chances of an endorsement tonight.
"What?"
"You said I cared more about swim shorts than you, but that's not who I'm trying to meet. Joel Perrin makes goggles."
"Oh, yeah. Well, you know what I meant."
"It'd be a big deal if I got the endorsement, though. He's developed this plastic that's changed everything we know about goggles. He's like a scientist or something. A chemist. I've tried every brand out there, and I'm telling you, these things are different."
"God Collin, you sound like a commercial already. This is going to be quicker than I thought. You'll sweep him off his feet with your enthusiasm."
"I swept you off your feet, didn't I?"
"You know it. But it wasn't your enthusiasm. It was your body." She grabbed the bottom hem of my shirt and lifted it up over my shoulders. I raised my arms and shrugged out of it the rest of the way. I wanted to shower before heading downstairs anyway. "Yep." She looked me over appreciatively, a complete once-over from head to toe. "Consider me swept."
Chapter 9
Rachel
"I can't do it, Gretchen. I just can't. It won't be physically possible for me to do it. What if he's there? What if he remembers me? What if he doesn't remember me? I just can't do it. Too many variables."
"Breathe. Take a deep breath into your lungs, Rachel." Gretchen's eyes were on me, but mine were on the road. We were just fifteen miles outside Vegas. My palms were sweaty and I was having hot flashes in spite of having my cabin temperature adjusted to the coldest setting. She reached over the center console to rub my forearm comfortingly.
I'd really learned to enjoy driving during the last few months. I drove the old car my parents gave me for college up until five months ago when a few of my friends at work talked me into buying myself a new car. They had been teasing me about the beater that stood out in the parking lot of Triton like a sore thumb. Everyone told me I'd fall in love with a little sports car, and they'd been right.
I did some Internet research, and decided I liked the looks of an Audi TTRS Coupe. I didn't even test drive anything else. It was a match made in heaven.
Right then, though, I couldn't care less about my vehicle. I couldn't think about anything except the guy I may or may not see in Vegas.
"There's a good chance he'll be there, Gretch, and I just don't know if I'll be able to see him. I don't trust myself to be okay, to function, or talk, or breathe."
"I can't believe he affects you like this. You have to remember you're Rachel Coleman, dark horse of the advertising world. You're a rock star, Ray. A prodigy. Don't forget it."
I appreciated the pep talk, I really did, but I honestly didn't know if I'd be able to face him. I'd never been more afraid of anything in my life.
****
Joel wanted to get us a room at the Oasis Elite, (the top floors of the Oasis, where he was staying), but I was fine with the idea of staying in the standard rooms Gretchen reserved for us last week.
He was really smooth about it, but I could tell Joel was interested in being more than friends with me, and I wasn't about to start leading him on this weekend. He knew I'd be bringing Gretchen to the banquet, and didn't seem to mind. Misleading him would just be added drama, and I didn't think my nervous system would be able to handle it.
The thought of seeing Collin Blake was enough for me to deal with. I hadn't learned his last name on the day I met him three years ago at Disney, but it had been easy enough to find a Cal swimmer named Collin.
I'd searched the Internet for updates on him over the years, and knew he was still in San Diego. He was training at California Aquatics and was on track to compete at the Olympic Trials next summer. For some reason I was proud of him and his accomplishments even though I barely knew him.
The articles I read over the years were all swimming related, (never having any information on his personal life or his relationships), and I was too chicken to look him up on Facebook… afraid of what I'd find.
Gretchen and I met Joel in the hotel lobby and walked with him to his booth at the trade show. I knew Joel had developed a type of polycarbonate plastic that completely revolutionized goggles, but I didn't know what a super star it had made him in the swimming world. Everyone in the place wanted to shake his hand, so we made a ton of stops before the Perrin booth was even in sight.
Joel had two employees working the booth. They straightened brochures nervously when they caught sight of him.
"It looks great, guys," Joel said, taking in the display. His relaxed demeanor put them at ease. He propped a leg up on the table casually, and looked at Gretchen and me.
"You ladies don't have to stay. You should check out the strip while you have a little time. I just wanted you to see how the logo looks on the banners." Joel looked up at the banner. He was really proud of the logo I'd designed. "I need to be here to answer questions for an hour or so, but I'll have a little time afterward if you want to meet up before the banquet."
"Actually, Gretch and I have our afternoon planned already. We're doing a spa day. She thinks I need a massage for some reason." I gave Gretchen a sly wink. She knew just how stressed I was about tonight, and had done everything in her power to help me relax. "I figured it'd be best to depend on the kind folks at Bliss to help us get ready for the banquet," I continued, "I've never even been to a formal event like this… if you don't count prom."
Joel was smiling, and I could read in his expression that he liked my honesty or my innocence, or maybe both.
"Well aren't I the lucky one, getting to be your escort," he said, which made me want to discourage him for some reason… I had the urge to remind him we're just friends. I decided in that split second, however, that his statement was vague enough for me to let it slide.
"You'll have to see how the makeover goes before you consider yourself lucky," I said, still going for light and fluffy.
"You could wear a burlap sack and still look amazing. But you know that already since that's what you guys wear up there in Oregon."
Joel was so easy to be around. So what if he was eight years older than me? He was handsome and rich and smart and all the other things I should've been looking for. If I'd never met Collin Blake, I'd be jumping at the chance to go out with him.
"Yep," I said, going along with the joke, "I told Gretchen old sacky would be fine, but she insisted I buy a dress." I gave a shrug. "When in Rome."
Joel's smile was irresistible, but I couldn't let myself give in to the urge to flirt back, so I decided to get out of there post haste. Gretchen must have noticed my shift, because she interrupted the conversation.
"Oh, Ray, we need to go," she said, looking at her wristwatch. "I know you said you wanted to stop for coffee first."
I leaned in and gave Joel a one armed hug.
"See you tonight," he said. "I'll meet you in the lobby at seven. We'll have a cocktail before we head over."
I still had three months to go before my twenty-first birthday, and (although I'd had a few drinks in my life) I'd never even said the word
cocktail. Tonight, however, I would gladly be taking Mr. Perrin up on his offer for one.
"Sounds perfect. See you at seven."
****
The fine people at Bliss did an outstanding job of helping me relax for a few hours. The spa was so nice that I felt a bit intimidated at first. Then I remembered that, thanks to Gretchen and Maggie and their wardrobe choices, I actually looked like I belonged here.
Gretchen looked cute too. She always looked like she had stepped out of an Urban Outfitters ad, even though I knew she operated on a Target budget. I just loved this girl. I didn't take for granted how lucky I was to have her working for me.
Bliss Day Spa was like a wonderful attack on the senses. The sound of running water, the smell of lavender mixed with… something. Citrus maybe? I was in a private room where, at one point, I had at least three pairs of hands on me. One person was combing a conditioning treatment through my hair, another was strategically resting hot stones on my back and a third was massaging my feet.
Their efforts didn't make me forget about potentially seeing Collin tonight, but they certainly helped me avoid doing something stupid like biting my fingernails down to the quick or giving up completely and driving home.
I had no idea what to expect tonight, and that's what was so scary. I assured myself over and over that it didn't matter what he said, or what he thought of me, or if he even remembered me. I knew I should be confident with who I was, the person I'd become. Confidence is a funny thing, though. Some days you have it and some days you don't.
I was praying for some of that elusive stuff to fall out of the sky for me as they turned my salon chair back toward the mirror. I hadn't seen anything for the past hour while stylists worked away on my face and hair. Ivan, the make up artist told me, in his heavily accented voice, to keep my eyes closed until they gave me the word.
"No peeking," he told me.
I knew he and the girl Shelley, who did my hair, would be waiting to see my reaction when I opened my eyes. I requested to be done up as naturally as possible for a formal dinner banquet. I'd never had someone else put make up on me before, and I wanted to have him error on the side of two little rather than too much.
I loved it.
I loved it, I loved it, I loved it! I wanted Ivan and Shelley to come to my house every day and make me look like this.
"Now, don't you go outside and mess up our beautiful creation. You go straight to your room, put on your dress and sit still until your party tonight." Ivan and Shelly both hugged me like I was made of glass. They wished me a pleasant evening and said they hoped I come back to see them next time I was in Vegas. I promised them I would.
I could see Gretchen sitting in the reception area of the day spa as I made my way from the back. She didn't have the same package as me (even though I told her I would pay for it). She had been sitting there for at least an hour, waiting for me to finish.
Whoever had done her hair and makeup did a beautiful job. Her auburn chin length bob was full and smooth, and her makeup was smoky and gorgeous. I couldn't get the full effect, because her mouth was hanging open. She was looking at me like she couldn't believe her eyes.
"Oh my God Rachel, you look amazing!" She scanned my face and hair, moving around me to take in the full view. All the attention made me laugh.
"Wow, I didn't know I was so bad to begin with."
"Shut-up." She gave my shoulder a little shove. "Learn how to take a complement silly. You look like you could be on a magazine cover right now Rachel."
"I'm sorry, you're right. I can't take a compliment. I suck at it. Thank you. You look beautiful too."
"Thank you, and I know. I'll take your compliment and raise you one. We're going to knock them dead tonight."
"You said it, sister." I was as self-assured as I could be, considering I was only a couple of hours away from possibly seeing Collin again. "Hey, we only have an hour before we need to meet Joel. You might have to help me not wimp out."
In my head, I still wasn't going through with it one hundred percent. With things I'm nervous about or dreading, I always liked to tell myself it was okay for me to back out at any moment.
"I know it's a banquet and everything, but do you think we should maybe grab a bite to eat?" Gretchen asked, knowing I would be way too nervous to touch my food tonight. Well, unless, Collin ended up not being there, in which case I'd probably eat everything in sight.
Not wanting to be in too much of a rush, I decided to go back to the room without making a stop for food. I had room service bring up some yogurt, some peanut butter and a banana. I managed a few bites of each, but couldn't get much down on account of the nerves.
I heard Gretchen tapping lightly on my door. We had twenty minutes to help each other add finishing touches before we needed to go meet Joel.
Gretchen was standing in the hallway wearing a beautiful, chiffon, teal-colored dress with an empire waist. The color was absolutely stunning in contrast with her dark red hair and smoky brown eye makeup. My eyes were done in black because my hair is such a dark brown, it's close enough to match. I'd classify my eye makeup as smoky also, but mine wasn't nearly as dramatic as Gretchen's. We both had on some variation of an almost nude lip-gloss. I thought the good people at Bliss had outdone themselves. Each of our looks seemed to bring out our best features.
I had chosen a fitted, black, floor length dress with a low neckline and an even lower back line. Maybe the lines weren't so low by most people's standards but I'd never worn anything that required me to wear a stick on bra. I was proud to say I didn't make a mess of the contraption.
"Oh God, Rachel." Her face was so serious I thought something was really wrong.
"What?"
"We look so hot right now, I think we might get arrested." I slouched with relief.
"You really had me freaked out Gretchen."
"I know. I told you, I'm an actress. Seriously though Rachel, me and you are bout to do some serious head turning in the condition we're in right now. I really am kind of scared we might get arrested."
I was so glad to have her here with me. I was laughing as I pulled her into the room. "Okay, come in and look me over to make sure I didn't miss anything in the mirror," I said. I was doing my best not to seem like a ticking time bomb.
Why can't we control our nerves? I wondered. It crossed my mind that there were probably medications I could've taken, but I didn't have a prescription for a one-time nervous breakdown pill.
Gretchen and I gave each other a thorough inspection to make sure there were no stray hairs or wardrobe malfunctions. She checked out my shoes for a full minute, saying I knew what to get her for Christmas. I loved my shoes too. I told her she could count on a pair for Christmas for sure.
I had gotten pretty good at walking in heels since the move to L.A. I wore them to work all the time as a part of my must not look like a slob compared to all the Los Angeles people look, but the shoes I had on tonight made me even a little taller than my work shoes normally did. I didn't even care if my calves were sore in the morning. I felt great. We both carried small clutches that coordinated with our dresses. Mine had a black and cream chevron pattern on the front, and hers was covered in ocean-colored jewels.
We left the room in the best of moods, just plain silly with excitement on the elevator ride down. Joel was waiting near the entrance to the bar. He had his back turned to us when we approached but I could tell it was him.
He had longish, wavy, black hair that was combed away from his face, and a tux that fit like a glove. The word that came to mind as he turned to face me was dashing, maybe even debonair. He was every bit as handsome as a celebrity about to walk the red carpet.
Joel had been talking to another guy when we walked up. They were both looking in our direction now. Joel grabbed at his heart as if it might stop at any second.
"Rachel, Rachel, why do you do this to me?" he said, shaking his head like I should be ashamed of myself.
I gave a shy laugh as I went in
for the half hug that had become standard procedure for us.
"You're not so shabby yourself."
As he pulled back from the hug, Joel glanced at Gretchen for the first time. I felt the oddest sensation that he was just noticing her for the first time, and not just the first time tonight, but more like the first time ever.
"And who's this lovely lady you brought with you?" He reached out for her hand, brought it to his lips, and kissed her knuckles.
He was only kidding about not recognizing her, of course, but there was something new in his eyes when he looked at Gretchen. Maybe it's the dress, I thought. Maybe the dress made him look at her face for the first time. Gretchen, who never for a second thought of herself as less than the star of the show, put her hand to her chest, hamming up the flattery as only Gretchen could.
"Why I do declare, Mr. Perrin. It's about time you and I met. I'm Gretchen." She bowed a slight curtsy.
"Well, it looks like I'll be the envy of every man in the place tonight, ladies. And, speaking of men who'll be there tonight, here's one of them. This is Seth."
Joel turned to the guy he been talking to when we walked up, but no introduction was necessary. Seth Sparks was on the last Olympic team, and he was so popular with the media that you'd have to be living under a rock not to know who he was.
Gretchen and I exchanged niceties and handshakes with Seth, and (since it seemed like we'd all get along just fine) Joel asked him if he wanted to join us at a table for a drink before the banquet.
"You know I'd jump at the chance to be the face of Perrin," Seth said, after we'd been sitting there a while. His statement was spoken more as a question. It hadn't necessarily come out of nowhere. He and Joel had skirted the subject a few times during our conversation. I wondered how Joel would handle Seth's straightforward approach.
Three Years Later Page 6
