Counting Stars (Hollywood Connections Book 2)

by Renee Porter

  “Well, that’s going to change today.” Charlie called after her. When the Ryan brunette was finally out of sight Charlie quickly texted Jonathan and then pocketed her phone. It was definitely going to be a birthday that Ryan would remember.

  ***

  “Why do I have to wear a blindfold?” Ryan asked as she braced her hand on the dash of Charlie’s car. Charlie had taken Ryan out to the small café where they had first met and even managed to get the same table where Ryan blundered through their first meeting. The act was not lost on Ryan who seemed to grow quiet with apprehension. It was understandable seeing as it wasn’t a very friendly gesture. But Charlie realized that she didn’t care anymore. Her feelings for Ryan were growing stronger every day and it was becoming more evident that Ryan felt the same. At least she hoped she did.

  Charlie couldn’t stop the romantic gesture even if she tried. And thankfully, Jonathan had calmed down a lot finally saying that if Ryan wanted to date Charlie he wouldn’t stop them. It was all that Charlie needed to start putting a plan in action.

  “You’re wearing a blindfold because I want to surprise you with something.” Charlie finally responded. Ryan scoffed a laugh.

  “This is how horror movies start. And I’m the minority here so I know what’s going to happen. The female lesbian always gets killed first.”

  Charlie laughed. “Fortunately for you, I’m in the same boat so we’re actually the majority in this car.”

  “You have a point.”

  The rest of the short ride was quiet as Charlie pulled up to Ryan’s house. She parked the car and smiled when Jonathan gave her a thumbs up from the driveway. Her eyes danced and a smile splayed across her face but immediately cracked at what she was about to give to Ryan. What if she didn’t like it? What if it was too much?

  “Can I take this thing off now?” Ryan asked as she pulled away the blindfold. Charlie reached for her but before she could stop her Ryan’s eyes went wide to what she saw in the driveway. She tentatively opened the door as she walked slowly to the shiny, candy apple red mustang sitting in her drive way.

  Charlie followed Ryan out and eyed her as the brunette tried to understand what she was seeing. She quickly looked at Charlie who smiled shyly as Ryan ran her hand over the newly painted shell.

  “Is this?” Ryan started but couldn’t finish. She opened the passenger door as she sat on the newly upholstered leather tan seats. Her hands ran across the oiled dash as her fingers traced a familiar scratch. Her eyes started to water as she wiped away the tears that mercilessly flowed out.

  “How did you?” Charlie opened the driver’s side door and sat with Ryan. The woman’s green eyes were wide with astonishment and confusion and Charlie knew it was time to explain.

  “I had a friend of a friend track down the parts. It wasn’t easy but eventually they were able to find most of the original parts.” Charlie breathed in. “Some of the parts couldn’t be tracked down so we replaced them with others. They may not be the ones that your father worked on but ninety percent of the car is.” One heartbeat, then two. “Do you like it?”

  Charlie didn’t even have a chance to hear Ryan’s response because all the woman did was grab her in a bone crushing hug. The brunette felt Ryan’s tears fall on her exposed neck and she tried to bite back her own tears from shedding.

  “Charlie this is…I don’t even think I can accept this. It’s too much.” Ryan traced the blue eyes in front of her and Charlie waved off Ryan’s concern.

  “Of course you can accept this. This is your car Ryan. I just did a little digging to put it back together and get it home to you.”

  “You also put a lot of money into this.” Ryan deadpanned. Charlie shook her head.

  “It wasn’t that bad. I did a lot of the work myself.”

  Charlie heard Ryan shudder a breath. “You helped restore it?”

  Charlie nodded. “You know how I told you I’ve been working on a project these last few weeks?”

  Ryan nodded as the understanding came like a ton of bricks hitting her in the gut. “The project wasn’t a film?”

  Charlie shook her head as she felt Ryan’s arm surround her again. “Thank you so much, Charlie. You have no idea what this means to me.”

  Charlie chuckled as her eyes started to water. She would have done anything for Ryan. Didn’t she know that already?

  “Um, excuse me. I was a party to this you know.” Jonathan chimed in. Ryan chuckled as she shot herself out of the car and ran into Jonathan’s arms.

  “You two are amazing. Simply amazing.” Ryan gave Jonathan a kiss on the cheek and Charlie almost felt jealous of the contact. But as soon as she released Jonathan she did the same to Charlie and the woman couldn’t help but warm at the chaste kiss.

  “This has been the best birthday in a long time for me. “ Ryan said honestly.

  “It’s what family does,” Jonathan said in a matter-of-fact tone. Ryan’s eyes started to water at the word he described them as and Ryan tried desperately to wipe away the tears.

  “It is isn’t it?” She finally said. Charlie caught her gaze and another ‘thank you’ fell upon her lips.

  “Want to give it a spin?” Charlie asked. Ryan’s eyes widened as she nodded her head fervently. Jonathan placed the keys in Ryan’s hand as she gestured for the cousins to get in.

  “No, why don’t you solo on this one. I think you should be with your dad on the first ride.” Charlie said. Ryan bit her lip as she exhaled a loud breath.

  “You two will be here when I get back?” She asked them both but only looked at Charlie.

  “Of course. We aren’t going anywhere.” Charlie responded.

  Ryan nodded her head as she got into the driver seat and turned on the engine. Her hands gripped the wheel and Charlie and Jonathan watched as she pulled out and drove down the street.

  “Hook, line and sinker.” Jonathan said to his cousin.

  Charlie chuckled as she swatted him in the shoulder. “It’s not about that,” she said seriously.

  Jonathan threw his arm around his cousin’s shoulder and brought her in to a hug. “I know.”

  Chapter 14

  Charlie knocked on Ryan’s door but an answer never came. She checked her watch and noted that she was a little early but Ryan had said she would be there all night. Jonathan had wanted to cook Ryan dinner for her birthday but a sudden emergency with one of his clients took him away. Now, Charlie stood outside with a handful of takeout, waiting for the brunette to answer the door.

  After a few minutes passed, Charlie tried the handle and found it was unlocked. She stuck her head in, yelling out for Ryan but there was no response. The kitchen light was on but no one was inside. She placed the food down and made her way up the stairs toward Ryan’s bedroom. Maybe she was just getting ready.

  “Ryan?” Charlie knocked and asked through the door but again, no one said anything. She could tell Ryan’s light was on and opened the door slightly, trying to hear for any life. “Ryan?”

  “Out here.” Ryan’s voice finally came through, though it was slightly distant. She walked into Ryan’s room and admired the homey feel. The simple decorations and dark mahogany wood accents was Ryan to a T. She looked across the room to the opened door that led out to the joined deck and carefully walked over.

  Charlie stuck her head outside as she watched Ryan look into a telescope and then look up towards the sky. She was obviously trying to find something.

  “What are you doing out here?” Charlie asked as she finally stepped out into the night fully. Ryan chuckled as she briefly looked toward Charlie and then back down in the telescope.

  “I’m trying to find something but it’s a little difficult because of the light pollution from the city.” Charlie watched as Ryan adjusted the scope with the electronic remote and then finally a ‘gotch y a’ sounded from the brunette’s lips. Ryan stood as she motioned for Charlie to come closer. Her legs brought her closer to Ryan who didn’t seem to move too far from the scope. Charlie c
ould feel the woman’s warmth radiate from her body and she shivered at the contrast of the warmth and the cool night. Ryan motioned for Charlie to look down into the scope and when Charlie did, she saw a small pinprick of bright, blue light.

  “What am I looking at?” Charlie asked. The star moved quickly from the telescope’s field of view and she removed her eye from the lens.

  Ryan took over Charlie’s stance and glanced in the scope as well, moving it slightly so that the star could be seen again.

  “That’s my star.” Ryan said simply. Charlie smiled as she had no idea what Ryan was saying but the excitement in her voice was just too damn adorable not to allow her happiness to shine through.

  “That’s your star?”

  “Mhhmm,” Ryan confirmed. Charlie looked up at the sky to try and see where the scope was pointing at but it looked only black to her. “My father bought me a star and named it for me when I was thirteen. We would always go out to the desert with his telescope and find it so he can show me that I owned part of the heavens.” Ryan looked up finally from the telescope and then at Charlie. “He always said that if he wasn’t an actor he would want to be an astronomer.”

  Charlie warmed at how comfortable Ryan was talking about her personal life now. It was as if something changed between them. The charged up tension when they were alone was ever present but Ryan still found a way to let Charlie know more about her. It was endearing and Charlie wanted to know more.

  “Is that what you wanted to be too when you grew up? An astronomer?”

  Ryan shook her head. “I wanted to be an actress.” Charlie looked over quickly and smiled.

  “Really? An actress?”

  “Yes. I grew up all around it. I loved it. The production of it all. The cameras and the hustle and bustle of the business. It was fascinating to me.”

  “Do you think…?” Charlie bit her bottom lip, hesitating.

  “It’s okay, you can ask me.” Ryan moved away from leaned against the wooden railing and Charlie moved over to her, mirroring her stance, her body relaxing against the wood.

  “Do you think, if your father didn’t pass away, that you would have gone through with it?”

  Ryan thought for a moment and chuckled. “I don’t even know. Maybe.” Ryan looked over and smiled shyly. A few moments of silence passed between them and Charlie watched as emerald eyes glanced upwards. “It’s hard for me to imagine that life anymore. It feels like it wasn’t even mine sometimes. Sometimes it feels like I dreamed it or something.” Ryan’s eyes raked away from the stars and met Charlie’s. “I know it probably sounds stupid but I don’t think I could trade that life for this one.” Charlie shook her head.

  “No. I know what you mean. When I think about growing up in my small town, it feels like that it wasn’t my life either.”

  “Yes, but somehow you sound like it’s that life you’re missing, not the other way around.”

  “I wanted to be famous since I was a kid. It was all I wished for on my birthdays or on shooting stars.” Charlie smiled as she glanced upwards. Her dark blue eyes closed and she exhaled. “And I know I should be grateful but sometimes I just wish that I just kept acting as a hobby. That I could just settle down, go to my 9-5, go out on dates without the public knowing, get married without it being a spectacle to the world. Sometimes I wish I was just that small town girl still.” Her fingers picked at the hem of her shirt. She looked up as a warm hand grasped around her arm.

  “You are that girl, though. You’re just living in a bigger town now.” Ryan smiled warmly. “And just because you’re here doesn’t mean you can’t date. Well, I know that it’s harder in your position to keep private but you could do something like this right? Ask the girl out, invite her to her home, and make her dinner in your kitchen. Walk down your private beach…”

  “Whip out a telescope and teach her all about heaven?” Charlie cocked her eyebrow up and Ryan eyed her with a cluck of her tongue.

  “Dirty girl.” The air thickened around them as the tension built. Ryan finally cleared her throat as she shook her head out of the daze. “But yeah, something like that.”

  Charlie breathed in heavily and then expelled the air. She wasn’t sure if she could take whatever was building between them any longer. So much of her wanted to confess her attraction to the brunette but also keep it hidden within. Everyone always thought of her as confident in her personal life, but Ryan was right, she really was that small town girl still. But, even though that girl lived within her, she could at least still try.

  “It’s hard to find someone that’s genuine, though,” Charlie looked over at Ryan who nodded her head.

  “You have a good sense of character, Charlie. I’m positive that you’ll find someone who likes you for you and not just your job.” Ryan attempted to make eye contact but her shyness took over and her gaze went upward.

  “You really think so?” Ryan’s eyes broke away from the dark sky as she heard the vulnerability in her friend’s voice.

  “Charlie, are you kidding? If I was you , I’d date myself. That’s how positive I am.” Ryan’s look was so serious and as she crossed her arm to show her confidence in her statement and Charlie couldn’t help but tilt her head and tease.

  “So you would date me?” Ryan broke eye contact.

  “I…um…that’s not exactly what I meant…”

  “You said, that if you were me you would date me.” Charlie bit her lip and couldn’t help but smile. She turned her body as she allowed Ryan to contemplate the words. Her arms rested on the wood as she glanced over her shoulder, Ryan was obviously uncomfortable. She had wrung her hands together as she gathered up her confidence.

  “You know, if I was still that small town girl, and you asked me out, I would say yes.” Ryan looked over and knitted her brows together trying to determine if the brunette was teasing or not. When Charlie gave her a slow smile, Ryan realized that she wasn’t.

  “You would?” Charlie saw Ryan swallow thickly and her heartbeat sped up as she glanced between green eyes and full lips. Charlie turned her body, facing the brunette now. She was aware of how close they were, only separated by an arm’s length away and she forced herself not to reach out and brush a loose strand away from Ryan’s face.

  “Yes. In fact, I would still say yes if you asked me out now,” Charlie whispered.

  Ryan’s breath hitched as she looked towards Charlie’s lips and then back to her eyes. The air between them thickened with tension and both women looked at one another one more time before they both moved towards one another. It was only but a second before Ryan felt Charlie’s hand on her cheek. Their faces were close as blue eyes raked over the plane of Ryan’s face.

  “Charlie,” Ryan breathed out. Charlie smiled softly as she licked her lips.

  “Yes?” Ryan looked into warring eyes.

  “I really want to kiss you.” Ryan licked her lips as she stared at Charlie’s shining eyes. And then the woman backed away, taking Charlie’s hand within her own. Charlie’s breaths came in heavily. A mixture of heady anxiety and slight fear boiling her blood. Charlie looked down toward their hands, where Ryan was gently rubbing a finger over her open palm.

  “But you can’t…” Charlie’s heart fell as she realized the hesitant stance that Ryan held. She shook her head but Ryan kept her eyes locked on the hands below her while she spoke.

  “Did you know my father was my prom date?” Finally, Ryan’s face tilted upwards meeting Charlie’s glare. The brunette smiled softly, not exactly understanding what Ryan was telling her. Charlie shook her head though, allowing the woman to continue. “It’s weird because I never even went to school. And it was never a problem for me until I saw a group of kids taking pictures all dressed up in front of a limo on our way back home one day. I knew my dad saw me notice them and when he asked me if I felt like I was missing out I said ‘no . ’ . I didn’t want him to feel like I wasn’t appreciative of everything he did for me.” Ryan shook her head at the memory smiling. “Then , th
e next day he surprised me. He had gotten the day off of shooting and we went out shopping and to the beach. And when we got home that evening, in my room was a beautiful gown hanging on my closet door.” Charlie smiled as she pictured a younger Ryan dressed up. “At first I thought it was just a present from my dad, but when he knocked on my door and I opened it, he was dressed up in a tux with a corsage in his hand.” Ryan wiped away a tear that escaped her eye but continued.

  “He said he had a limo waiting and if I’d be his date to the Kennedy High School Prom.” Charlie laughed as her own eyes started to tear at the vibrant memory. “So I got dressed and when we arrived at the dance I was so nervous. I hadn’t been to school since I was five and I was afraid of what people would think of us just showing up. And you know what he said to me?” Ryan bit her lip as she waited for Charlie’s response.

  “What did he say, Ryan?”

  “He said there were exceptions for everything in life. And if you really want something then you figure out a way to get it. No matter how you’re feeling about it or the reasons why you shouldn’t do it , , i I f you really want it, you find a way.” Ryan and Charlie stared at one another as the words sank in.

  “So does that mean…”

  “That means I’m going to ask you to leave.” Charlie stared in confusion at Ryan, but only for a moment. “Because I really want to make an exception for you, Charlie. And if you stay, I’m afraid that I won’t be able to stop myself from just kissing you.” Charlie swallowed a breath and smiled through her blush.

  “Okay, but can I at least have a goodnight hug?” Ryan chuckled as she grabbed the taller woman’s hips and pulled her in tightly. They stood there together, lightly rocking in each other’s arms as Charlie’s eyes drifted upwards one more time. A faint glow streaked across the sky and Charlie closed her eyes, not needing to make a wish this time, but just enjoying the warmth in her arms.

  ***

  Ryan’s knee jerked up and down as she stared down at the phone. She picked it up, ran through her contacts and hovered her finger over the send button. She bit her lip as she pushed the screen and then hurriedly ended the call. She placed the phone back down and glared at it.