Worth the Weight

by Eileen Palma

  “My dad’s an awesome bowler. He holds the record at the Chelsea Piers bowling alley. He’s been away for nine months and no one has beaten him yet.”

  “You’re pretty lucky to have such a cool dad. I really didn’t have that growing up,” said Kate.

  “Yeah. This one time he took me to the Jersey Shore. Just me and him for the day to swim. It was awesome.”

  “Sounds like fun.”

  “Yeah. But I haven’t heard from him in like weeks. So things pretty much suck right now.” Lauren pulled the last of her pink drink through her straw till it made a gurgling sound.

  “Just think of how surprised he’s going to be when you tell him you’re going to be on TV!”

  “I know! I can’t wait to tell him!”

  “We tape four months ahead. But I can get you an advanced copy of the show in about two or three weeks. As soon as the tech guys have it edited and ready to go. That way you can send it to him.”

  “Awesome!”

  “He’s going to be so proud of you when he sees it.”

  “If he ever gets to see it.”

  “If I were a kid I would much rather be pushed around outside in the fresh air any day than ride around in the back of a mini-van. You don’t get car sick in a stroller.”

  Jack Moskowitz, strollersavvy.com

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “Did you forget something?” asked Jack, without looking up from his laptop.

  “To add to your collection.” Matt tossed a tee-shirt at Jack.

  Jack grabbed the bright orange shirt off his keyboard. A series of black numbers splashed across the chest underneath large block letters that spelled out Property of Sing Sing Prison.

  “You’re such an asshole.” Jack winced and covered his eye socket. “Shit, it hurts to laugh.”

  “Where’s the model at?” Matt grabbed a handful of chips off the bag from the table.

  “Out. Did you just come over here to bust my balls?” Jack grabbed the bag of chips back from Matt.

  “If it wasn’t for me and my quick call to our legal team, your ass would’ve spent the night in that cell with Timmy Two Fingers and Radio Vinnie.”

  “They were actually pretty cool. Radio Vinnie offered me a great deal on surround sound for the whole townhouse.”

  “Send him my way when you’re done with him.”

  “Seriously, do you need to meet about anything? Because I’m trying to get this drawing done for the pre-orders. And it ain’t easy when I can only see out of one eye.”

  “Just wanted to let you know you’re an Internet sensation. Guess people can’t resist watching a good sucker punch.”

  “It was all those fucking tourists and their cell phones.”

  “How close are you to finishing the picture?”

  Jack tilted his laptop towards Matt, so he could see the computerized drawing he was working on.

  “Holy shit! That looks amazing!”

  “It’s not finished yet. I have to clean up the lines on the sides and finish the list of color choices.”

  “Hurry up. We need to do that press conference ASAP so we can ride the wave.”

  “Hell no. I wasn’t fucking around when I told the cops I wanted to be anonymous.”

  “What the fuck for? You got some sexual deviant off the streets. You’re a goddamned hero!”

  “If my name gets out, so does Lauren’s. Do you really think she wants all the other kids at Chelsea Prep talking about this?”

  “Shit. I didn’t think of that.”

  “Not to mention I don’t want Kate finding out who I am this way. I need to find a really romantic way to tell her. I was thinking I could rent a cabin in the Berkshires where we can really get away from all this media shit.”

  “Yeah, and she can pull a Shining on your ass. Good luck with that.”

  “I need to have control over when and how I tell her, otherwise I’m screwed.”

  After a few more good-natured jokes, Matt left to give Jack time to finish the designs in between Googling weekend house rentals in Lenox, Massachusetts. He found the perfect Victorian house with gingerbread trim tucked in a thicket of Pine trees. All he has to do was get this press conference over. Then, he could pawn Lauren off on Madison’s family for the weekend. Kate would have to hear him out if she was stuck in the middle of the woods with him.

  Jack flipped the laptop shut and headed in to grab some more Advil from the kitchen. He popped three in his mouth and stuck his head under the faucet and washed them down with metallic tasting water straight from the tap.

  “Did you see those people still waiting by the door when we left?”

  “Yeah, I still feel bad we cut ahead of them on the list.”

  “I don’t!” Lauren ran into the kitchen with Kate close at her heels.

  “Sounds like you girls had a nice time.”

  “Ew. Your eye looks even worse than when we left.” Lauren stood on her tiptoes and lightly touched Jack’s cheekbone with her finger.

  “You are looking a little gnarly there. Can you even see out of that thing?” Kate took a step closer to Jack and grimaced.

  “Barely. But you should see the other guy.”

  “We had such a good time. They let us cut the whole line since Kate’s famous and we got all this free food and I beat my high score but it doesn’t really count since we played with bumpers.”

  “Since when do you bowl with bumpers?”

  “Lauren took pity on me after I got my sixth gutter ball in a row.”

  “How come you never feel bad for me when you’re kicking my ass?” Jack turned to Lauren who was already rooting through the fridge for a snack.

  “It was Kate’s first time bowling in like twenty years or something.” Lauren peeled the foil lid off of a Greek yogurt.

  “I can’t believe you’re still hungry after all that food.” Kate shook her head and laughed.

  “Your two hours is officially up and your punishment has been reinstated. Bring that yogurt out front. Pam should be here any second. I told her you would volunteer with her at Bark Haven.”

  “I have homework to do.”

  “You can do that after you volunteer. Then after your homework you can clean the downstairs bathroom.”

  “How much longer am I on punishment for?” Lauren spoke through a mouthful of yogurt.

  “Till you do enough chores to make me forget what an idiot you were yesterday.”

  Lauren threw her head back in a huff.

  “Now say good bye to Kate and get out front.”

  Lauren ran over and hugged Kate. “Thanks so much. That was awesome.”

  Kate wrapped her arms around Lauren and smiled. “I had a great time too. I can’t wait to start filming with you.”

  Lauren’s smile reached from ear to ear as she headed out of the kitchen. She called from down the hall. “Gotta go. I can see Pam through the window.”

  “Ah, do you hear that?” Jack took a step closer to Kate and breathed in her familiar apple and vanilla scent.

  “I don’t hear anything.” Kate scrunched up her face in concentration.

  “That’s the sound of us having the place to ourselves.” It wasn’t a coincidence that Lauren was at the animal shelter with Pam for the next two hours. Jack lifted the mound of curls off Kate’s neck and trailed light kisses from the base of her neck up to the soft skin under her ear.

  “Let’s see, my dad’s upstate in rehab, Harper’s in California, Lauren’s at the animal shelter and Dana’s in meetings all afternoon.” Kate ticked the list off on her fingers.

  “So, that means no one’s around to interrupt us.” Jack took Kate’s hand and led her down the hall to his bedroom.

  As soon as they crossed the threshold, Jack pulled Kate in for a kiss. When their lips touched, all of Jack’s fears disappeared. He knew they would find a way to be together.

  Jack slid his hands up Kate’s stomach, only taking h
is lips off hers long enough to pull off her silky long-sleeved shirt along with her sports bra. Jack moved his lips down Kate’s soft skin from her neck down to the soft dip of her breasts. Kate arched her back and sighed when Jack teased her nipple up to attention.

  Jack slid Kate’s pants and thong off in one swift motion. Then he rested both hands in the curves of her hips and threw her on the bed. As soon as Jack leaned over her, Kate grabbed him and started kissing him. Kate’s hands ripped Jack’s fly down while she kept her mouth locked on his lips.

  Jack kicked off his pants and moved his mouth down between Kate’s legs, desperate to taste her. Jack gently flicked his tongue back and forth while Kate squirmed. He thrust his tongue deep inside her while Kate moved her hips to meet Jack’s mouth inviting him to explore deeper.

  Then, Kate slid down Jack’s body and took him in her mouth while he still had his tongue inside her. She held him and slid her mouth up and down while Jack fucked her with his tongue. She took Jack all the way inside her mouth and it took every ounce of effort not to finish. But Jack needed to be back inside her.

  Jack moved his lips up her body as Kate released him from her mouth. He traveled up her navel and her impossibly perfect stomach back to her breasts again before sliding behind her.

  Jack pressed himself up against Kate from behind and pressed his hands between her legs. His fingers glided over the wet slick between her legs and pushed inside her, getting her ready for him. He moved his fingers in and out while Kate sighed and squirmed.

  He waited until Kate was gripping handfuls of blankets and groaning, then he moved inside her. Kate pushed back into Jack, taking him deeper. Jack grabbed onto Kate’s thighs as he pushed into her again and again until he felt Kate tremble and quake. Then, he finally let himself go.

  Jack stayed wrapped up in Kate even after he went limp. He just didn’t want to let go of her. Then Kate twisted back to Jack and found his mouth again. She held his face in her hands and kissed him. Jack wrapped his hands over hers and kissed her back until their lips were raw and chapped.

  “We finally made it to the bed.” Jack finally pulled away and propped himself up against the pillows.

  “We barely made it to the bed.” Kate leaned down and grabbed Jack’s jeans and boxers off the floor. “Quick, put these back on before Lauren gets home.”

  Jack pulled on his pants and tossed Kate’s to hers. “I lose all self control when you’re around.”

  “I know how you feel.” Kate pulled on her pants and looked at Jack.

  “I’m sorry I was such a dick about the New York Today story.” Jack traced the bottom of Kate’s chin with his thumb.

  “I know it caught you off guard. But being in the spotlight is part of being with me.” Kate kept her eyes fixed on the bedspread.

  “I just have a lot of shit going on with Lauren and work right now. I wasn’t really up for more drama.”

  “You mean paying off a bookie and ending up in the newspaper was dramatic?”

  “I think we’re about even considering the shit with David and then my most recent stint behind bars.”

  “Let’s remember to block out all the other bullshit when we’re together. We can be in our own little bubble of non-drama.”

  “I really hope you remember you said that one day.” Jack pulled Kate back in for another kiss.

  They stayed wrapped up in each other right up until they heard Lauren bounding through the door. Once Kate left, Jack spent every moment over the next two days finishing up the designs. He just had to get through the press conference and then he could break the news to Kate. He even put down a deposit on a beautiful B & B in the Berkshires. Once the press conference was over, he could focus on getting rid of Lauren for a weekend and on getting Kate to go away with him.

  Jack opted to stay upstairs in the Considerable Carriages loft office and watch from the live video stream while Matt led the press into the design studio for the conference bright and early that Friday morning.

  Jack did most of his designs at the old picnic table in his backyard, but they had an ultra hip and modern art studio set up in the office for when he passed the designs along to the rest of the team. The studio was the perfect venue for the press conference with its sleek row of Macs and clear Lucite chairs.

  Matt traded in his usual skateboarding attire for a look straight off the mannequin at Kenneth Cole’s—literally straight off the mannequin. That was Matt’s signature move, whip out the wallet, and ask for whatever outfit looked the best in the window display in his size. He only did that when he needed clothes for press releases or big meetings, the rest of the time he lived in Vans and Levis.

  “Most people drive their brand new mini-vans and SUVs off the lot fully loaded with satellite radio, DVD players, cup holders and snack trays. Why shouldn’t kids getting schlepped around in their strollers have the same comfort and amenities? Considerable Carriages is pleased to announce the CC-XL Deluxe, which comes fully equipped with an iPod charger and built in speakers, a flip up DVD player and to make eating on the go more convenient…snack trays and larger cup holders. We also responded to the great demand to raise the weight capacity up to eighty-three pounds.”

  The Smartboard behind Matt was illuminated with a computer-enhanced version of Jack’s sketch of the CC-XL Deluxe stroller. Seeing the stroller on the gigantic screen, made Jack realize he was proud of his design. It hadn’t been easy to include the extra support bars and wider base, while still keeping the sleek design that made their line so popular. Matt clicked on the stroller so that it changed from charcoal black to a bright orange. Jack had played around with the color template, combining basic primary colors with their fluorescent counter parts to create bold colors. Parents could choose from Electro Orange, Purple Explosion, Paradise Pink, Limeade, or Bombastic Blue.

  “Mr. Reynolds, what’s your response to all the criticism your company has gotten in recent weeks regarding your contribution to childhood obesity?” asked a rail-thin red head woman in the front.

  “We believe all children deserve safe accommodations whether they’re riding in a car, sitting in a high chair or getting pushed in a stroller. We don’t want children tipping back in their strollers, or being jolted out of their car seats just because they don’t meet outdated size standards for these products.” Matt looked right into the camera, his brown eyes clear and bright and his smile genuine and wide.

  “How do you respond to Kate Richards’ recent comments about Considerable Carriages on Straight Talk?” A balding man in a canvas safari vest leaned in close to Matt when he asked his question.

  “I invite Kate Richards to visit us at considerablecarriages.com, where every hit means we make a dollar donation to Michelle Obama’s Move Your Body campaign.”

  “I used to think I would choose true love every time. I remember watching Pretty Woman and thinking Julia Roberts is a hooker—so what? If Richard Gere really loves her, he should be with her. Now, I’m not so sure.”

  Kate Richards, Late Night with Jessa Silver

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “You have to admit the design is great,” said Dana.

  “It pisses me off that I can’t even call the damn thing tacky.” Kate pointed her yogurt-covered spoon at the computer screen for emphasis.

  “Watch it.” Dana slid her MacBook across the table.

  Kate sighed and dipped her spoon back into the layers of yogurt, granola and sliced strawberries.

  “I just don’t get it. You would think the designers at Considerable Carriages would’ve finished the development on the new design before holding a big press release.” Dana took a sip of the green juice she had brought with her to La Yogurt Barre in lieu of ordering any real food.

  “This is so weird. It’s like they knew about my article and scooped me somehow.”

  “But how could they know you were writing about them?” mused Dana.

  “Who knows?” Kate shoveled another spoonful o
f yogurt-drenched granola in her mouth.

  “At least your piece is more relevant now.” Dana clicked on the bright orange stroller in the middle of the screen changing it to the color of a grape lollipop.

  “I guess so. All this does is prove me right.”

  “Exactly.”

  “I bet one of the interns at the paper sold me out.”

  “Probably. They don’t get paid shit. A little info can mean bucca bucks.” Dana took another sip of her drink, pulling chunks of unblended mystery vegetables through her straw. “How’s your Pop doing at rehab?”

  “They haven’t kicked him out yet.”

  “He could set up a gambling ring with all the other losers there and they would still keep him because they know you’re gonna foot the bill.”

  “For your information he’s participating in group therapy and the counselors think he has potential.”

  “That’s good. Seriously, I hope this works.” Dana took one last slurp of her green drink and stood up.

  “Heading out so soon?”

  “Yeah. I need to go get a mani-pedi. I have a date later.” Dana slid out of the booth and snapped her laptop shut.

  “Where’d you meet this one?” Kate was constantly amazed at the number of first dates Dana went on.

  “Dry cleaners. You can tell a lot by what a guy drops off. Armani, Versace. We’re talking a stack of designer suits.”

  “That means the guy has money. But he could still be a total jerk.” Kate thought about Jack with his broken-in jeans and his tee shirts with the silly slogans.

  “I’ll give you the scoop after dinner.”

  “First dates suck.”

  “Look at you, talking like you’re never going on a first date ever again. Things must be going really well with Jack.” Dana took another thick sip of her shake, making gurgling sounds with her straw.

  “I’m happy. For the first time in a really long time, I can honestly say I’m happy.” Kate grabbed her cup of yogurt and slid out of the booth.