“We slept in the same bed, on the floor, in Maggie's room,” Ellie clarified. “Nothing happened.”
“You held hands and cuddled,” Maggie said. “I saw. Is that something Gwen should be mad about?”
“Okay, enough about this. Don't get excited,” Ellie said. “Can you bring us home?”
“I get to see where you live?” Maggie asked.
“Yup, it's nothing fancy,” Ellie said.
“Congratulations on your award last night,” Jazzie said. “Too bad you couldn't be there. Robert did a horrible job accepting it. I recorded it and watched it last night.”
“Thanks,” Ellie said.
“He did do a horrible job, didn't he Jazzie? I told her the same thing,” Maggie said. “I’m sorry you couldn't be there. That was all my fault.”
“It’s okay,” Ellie said. “I'm just glad you’re safe. You owe me one.”
“Anything you want,” Maggie said. “Let me know.”
“I know what she wants,” Jazzie said as she winked at Ellie through the rear view mirror. Ellie shot Jazzie a stern look.
“What?” Maggie asked. “Oh, I know—Mom. That would be my wish. I want you two to be together.”
“Enough about that,” Ellie said. “You don't owe me anything. Anything else happen at the awards ceremony? What's the celebrity gossip?”
“Oh, good ol' Jenny left the awards with Emma Stanford on her arm,” Jazzie said.
“Of course,” Ellie laughed.
“I don't like Jenny,” Maggie said. “How did you date her for twenty-seven months?” Jazzie looked at Ellie in the mirror again.
“Cyber freak,” Ellie said as she pointed her thumb at Maggie. Maggie laughed. Ellie thought Maggie probably reserved this level of comfort and laughter for few people.
They got to Ellie's apartment building and the building was surrounded by paparazzi. Ellie guessed her exit at the awards had stirred the nest of reporters. Jazzie went through the parking garage, where only tenants of the building could enter, and they took the elevator to Ellie's apartment. Maggie got the grand tour and, despite it being only 9:30 a.m., they made popcorn and watched the American Music Awards ceremony that Ellie had set her DVR to record before she left.
Ellie got a text from Jazzie, Robert and the paparazzi keep calling and texting me trying to find out what happened last night. You're in the limelight. For a small fee I won't tell them anything. ;) During a commercial break, Ellie went and showered. She left Ria's t-shirt on her pillow and put on fresh clothes. She walked out into the living room and Maggie was asleep. The sound of rain pelting the windows invaded the apartment. Ellie sat on the couch and watched the rest of the awards ceremony. She fast-forwarded through the boring parts. There were a lot of presenters poking fun and mentioning Ellie's exit. Robert's acceptance speech was unrehearsed and awkward.
Ellie's phone buzzed. I'm on my way to pick up Maggie. What is your address? Ria texted.
I can send a car, Ellie responded.
Already on my way, Ria said. Ellie looked out her window. Most of the reporters had left, but there were still some lingering.
Okay, it is 544 Park Street. Go through the parking garage. I'll give your name to security. Apartment 630. Maggie's sleeping.
C U Soon, Ria said.
Ellie checked her apartment to make sure it was tidy for Ria. The housekeeper had been there in the last few days, so the place was clean. She went to the bedroom and shoved Ria's shirt under her pillow. She called security at the parking garage and gave them Ria's name. She paced, paced, and paced some more. She heard the elevator doors open and, looking through the door peephole, saw Ria exit the elevator. She was carrying flowers.
CHAPTER 24
Ellie unlocked and opened the door before Ria could knock. Ellie put her fingers to her own lips and waved Ria into the apartment.
“For you,” Ria whispered.
“For me?” Ellie asked.
“For last night,” Ria said. “For...” Just then Ria noticed a sleeping Maggie. “Can we go somewhere else and talk? I never know when she’s listening. She's a master of fake sleeping.”
“Umm, yeah,” Ellie accepted the flowers, inhaled their sweet fragrance, and placed them on the kitchen counter. “Thanks,” she whispered. She walked down the hall away from the living room leaving Maggie asleep on the couch with the AMA playing on the television.
“This is gorgeous,” Ria said.
“Thanks,” Ellie said. “I actually like your place better. This is too rich and stuffy for me, but it's the cheapest one that has sufficient security for people who need some space from fans.”
Ellie passed her bedroom, the bathroom, and stopped at the recording studio. The two stepped into the room. There was a black leather couch against one wall, a sound board against another wall, and a keyboard, bass guitars and guitars scattered around the room. A microphone sat in the middle of the room with a stool sat next to it.
“Gwen is moving out as we speak,” Ria said.
“Oh,” Ellie said. “You okay?”
“So, you're a rock star. You're really, really actually famous,” Ria started. “Wait, back up. I wanted to say it with the flowers. Well, actually, umm, what I wanted…”
“Wait, are you actually nervous?” Ellie asked. “I’m the same Ellie. I’m the same person.”
Ria half smiled, “I first wanted to congratulate you on your award. I didn't get to properly do that this morning.”
“Well,” Ellie started, but Ria held up her hand signaling she wasn’t done speaking.
“And I wanted to thank you for coming over last night. You actually left New York to fly up here? Thank you for being with me for Maggie.” Ellie looked at Ria to make sure she was done speaking. Ria nodded.
“You're welcome,” Ellie said.
“Why? Why did you do that? You had Jenny on your arm, and you get a call from Maggie. You're walking the red carpet, and you hop a plane back here. Why? You were on the red carpet.”
“Maggie means a lot to me. I'd do it again,” Ellie said.
“You missed getting your award,” Ria said. “The media said this was your biggest award.”
“Yeah, so?” Ellie said.
“What the heck? Why?” Ria asked. “That's a big sacrifice.”
“It’s just an award. I can win others. I can't replace important people in my life,” Ellie said as she sat on the stool and Ria stood above her with her arms crossed. “Maggie's that important to me. She's one of the most important people in my life.”
“And?”
“And?” Ellie asked.
“And what about me? What am I?” Ria asked.
“It still stands. I'm in love with you. You're all I think about,” Ellie put her head down and looked at her hands on her lap. “I love you. I can't help it...”
Ellie looked up and Ria had already moved in and had her lips on Ellie's. A surge went through Ellie's body. Ria put her hands on each side of Ellie's face. Ria's hands felt warm and soft. They continued to kiss as Ellie stood and slid her hands around Ria's neck. Ellie's tongue found its way between Ria's parted lips and into her warm mouth. Ria's lips were soft and moved perfectly against her own lips.
She is kissing me. This is finally happening.
Ellie held onto Ria and felt dizzy. Their kiss deepened as their need for each other intensified. Ria walked Ellie backwards and with one hand on the back of Ellie's head, guided her down onto the couch. Ria fell on top of her.
Ellie finally dared to open her eyes, finding Ria's brown eyes looking back at her. Ria smiled down at her. Ellie smiled back and pulled Ria's head down to her and kissed her again. Ellie's hands moved up and down Ria's sides as their bodies pressed harder and harder against each other. Ria pulled away from the kiss. Ria grabbed both of Ellie's arms and slowly moved them above Ellie’s head and pinned them there. She kissed Ellie one more time and then continued to pin her arms in place. The only sound to be heard was their heavy breathing.
“So, Ms. EJ Way,” Ri
a started. “How many groupies have you made out with on this couch?”
“None, you're the first,” Ellie answered.
“No seriously, how many women have you made out with here?” Ria asked.
“None,” Ellie answered. “Seriously, none of them have made it into my apartment.”
“Really?” Ria asked as she released Ellie's hands and sat at the end of the couch. “I read that you've sold millions of albums and have millions of fans.”
“Yes, that's true,” Ellie said. “And you're now cyber-stalking me, I see. I’m not saying I don't get numerous offers, but I turn them down. Especially lately.” Ellie sat up and slid closer to Ria on the couch. She slid her right hand into Ria's left.
“That must be crazy having all these women wanting you,” Ria said.
“It’s crazy, but not what I want. Right now, all I want is you,” Ellie said. She pulled Ria's hand to her lips and kissed it. “Why did you stop?” Ellie asked.
Ria leaned toward Ellie and kissed her again, swinging her right leg over Ellie's legs to straddle her. Ellie dropped Ria's hand and put both of her hands on the side of Ria's thighs. She reached back to Ria's rear and pulled Ria closer to her. Their kissing deepened. Ellie pulled away from Ria's lips and then kissed from the bottom of Ria's v-neck up to her throat, up her neck. and then to her ear.
“I’m so in love with you,” she whispered in Ria's ear. Ria turned and found Ellie's lips with her own and fell sideways on the couch, pulling Ellie on top of her. Ellie pulled herself away from the kiss. She held her body above Ria with her left elbow as she used her right hand to push the hair off Ria's face. She kissed her chin, her cheeks, her forehead, her nose, and then lightly kissed her lips. Ria's body rose to meet Ellie's. Then Ria pushed Ellie off the couch and onto the floor.
“Maggie,” Ria said.
“Oh yeah, she’s just in the living room,” Ellie said. “You want to stop?”
“Yes. Well no, no I don't want to stop,” Ria said. “But we should. I don't want her to wake up and not know where we are or to walk in on us. Can we go back out to the kitchen?” Ellie bit her lip and reached up and brushed Ria's hand.
Ellie bit her lip and said, “Sure.” Ellie sighed, pulled herself up to the couch and then to her feet. She reached her hand out to Ria and helped her up. They walked hand in hand to the door. Ellie reached to open the door and before she could turn the knob, Ria turned her around and pushed her against the door. Ellie's eyes met Ria's and Ria pressed her lips against Ellie's again. This time harder and faster. Ria pushed her hips into Ellie more urgently than before. Her leg found its way between Ellie's thighs. Ria stopped and groaned, stepping back from Ellie.
“Why didn't you tell me the first time we met that you were my date?” Ria asked. “You would've saved us a bunch of grief, me some bad dates, and I wouldn't have missed out on this amazing kissing.”
“I don't have an answer for that. It seemed like the thing to do,” Ellie said as she stepped toward Ria again. Ria held Ellie at arms’ length. They headed down the hallway and Maggie was still sleeping, or pseudo-sleeping, on the couch. Ellie and Ria sat across from each other at the kitchen counter.
“What time is it?” Ria asked.
“About 12:30,” Ellie answered. “Hungry?”
Ria nodded. Ellie looked into the living room at a sleeping Maggie, then walked around the counter while keeping eye contact with Ria. When she reached Ria she leaned in and kissed her. At first Ria resisted, but then she gave in and pulled Ellie into her. They kissed softly and quietly and then harder. Ria pushed her off and mouthed 'stop' to Ellie. Ellie smiled and walked to the other side of the counter.
“So, order in?” Ellie asked. “Sorry about that, I've been waiting for this for a while.”
“You're not sorry about that and no, I can cook,” Ria said.
“I know you can cook, but there is no food here. Unless you want a mustard and ketchup shake, ordering out is our only option,” Ellie said. “We can get anything here. One perk of the many perks of being a rock star is concierge. I can get any kind of food delivered. Thai, Chinese, Italian, Cuban, what would you like?” Ellie pulled out a bundle of menus from a drawer. They ordered Thai.
“So,” Ria started, “I can't believe you didn't tell me how famous you were. Why did you do that?”
“As you can imagine, it's hard to know if people like me or the idea of EJ Way,” Ellie said.
“You think I’m that shallow?” Ria asked.
“No, but I guess part of it was being able to live a normal life for a while. I didn't have to be EJ Way with you. I could be Ellie,” Ellie said and then whispered. “But funny because you didn't kiss me until you knew I was EJ.”
“Not funny. I kissed you because of you coming to help with Maggie, and because I'm attracted to you,” Ria whispered.
“You are, huh?” Ellie said.
“I’m guessing you told Maggie,” Ria said.
“No, she figured it out herself. Duh, my picture is all over the place,” Ellie said. “Any real lesbian would know me.” Ellie mocked Gwen.
“Let's keep this between us for now,” Ria said as she pointed back and forth from herself to Ellie.
“Okay, why?” Ellie asked.
“I want to make sure we know what this is before we disappoint her okay,” Ria said.
“Yeah, okay. As long as you don't wear those black boots,” Ellie whispered and winked.
“We'll see,” Ria said. “But back to your stardom. I don't know where to start. I've never known anyone famous. You don't have gigs you have international tours with thousands of people in stadiums. I was picturing you in dark pool halls with fifteen people listening.”
“You were picturing me? What was I wearing?” Ellie teased.
“So, you're being watched everywhere you go. Is that what happened at lunch that day when we had to make a canoe getaway?”
“Yes,” Ellie said.
“Why do you want this?” Ria said as she pointed from herself to Maggie.
“So, I was worried about you wanting me more because I was famous, but here you don't want me,” Ellie whispered. “See I told you it complicates things.”
“I’m having a hard time wrapping my mind around it,” Ria said. “You have to give me some time.”
“Mom?” Maggie said as she sat up on the couch.
“Hey sweetie,” Ria said as she walked over to Maggie and sat next to her on the couch.
“Did you kick Gwen out?” Maggie asked.
“Maggie,” Ellie started. “There probably is a better way to ask that.”
“Will Gwen be living there when we get back?” Maggie asked.
“Well, Gwen and I decided to take a little break,” Maggie said.
“What does that mean?” Maggie asked. “What does a break mean?”
“Yeah, what does that mean?” Ellie eagerly asked.
“Does it mean you are over or over for now? How long is the break? Is she moving out and possibly moving back?” Maggie asked.
“Well, it means that we're not going out right now, but we're not fully broken up,” Ria said.
“That means you could get back together,” Maggie said. “That does not make me very happy.”
“Well, I'm sorry but it's my decision,” Ria said. Ellie had sat down in a chair to the side of the couch and was looking at the floor. “We'll see.”
Maggie asked, “Did you and Ellie have any interesting conversations?”
“Yes, we talked about me being EJ Way,” Ellie said.
“Isn't that cool, Mom?”
“It’s sure something,” Ria said. “I’m not sure why you kept it from me.”
“I figured you should like her for her, but not because she was famous. I wanted her to be plain Ellie. It's like a superhero’s secret identity.” Maggie said. “Maybe we can go to one of her concerts now?”
“That would be nice,” Ria said as she tousled Maggie's hair.
“I don't know, the tour is sol
d out, and the scalped tickets are expensive,” Ellie teased.
“You couldn't get us free tickets?” Maggie asked.
“She's kidding,” Ria said. “She's a joker.”
“I am starving,” Maggie said.
“I thought it took five days to starve?” Ellie teased.
Maggie answered, “I am not actually starving. I am hungry, but trying to be more dramatic by saying I am starving.”
“We ordered Thai food. I ordered you your chicken pad Thai,” Ria said.
“Yes!” Maggie said. “Where is your bathroom?”
“Can I please use your bathroom?” Ria corrected.
“Can I please use your bathroom?” Maggie echoed.
“Yes, it’s the first door on the right,” Ellie said. Maggie walked down the hall and Ria patted the couch next to her. Ellie came over.
“So, you guys aren’t broken up?” Ellie asked.
Ria said, “We didn't want to break up. We want to take a break. I can see other people.”
“Yeah, but I'd rather have you to myself,” Ellie said.
“I think I can persuade you otherwise,” Ria said as she leaned toward Ellie and nibbled on her neck.
“You're pretty... good... at convincing,” Ellie said. The toilet flushed down the hall. Ria started kissing Ellie's lips and Ellie pulled away.
“We have like three minutes,” Ria said. “She washes her hands that long.” Ria started kissing Ellie again. Ellie pulled away and moved from the couch to the chair. Ria frowned, crossed her legs, and then looked at her wrist as if a watch was there. She swung her leg back and forth and tapped her finger on her wrist. The water turned off in the bathroom and out walked Maggie.
“Some wasted time,” Ria said.
CHAPTER 25
The three of them sat at the counter to eat lunch.
“Maggie, can you please put the notebook away,” Ria asked. “You know the rule. Nothing at the table.”
“I am trying to figure something out,” Maggie said.
“I understand, but you need to put it away during lunch,” Ria said. Maggie put the notebook away.
“What you working on?” Ria asked Maggie. “Or is it Top Secret?”
Love's Autograph Page 17