I picked up the script and looked at the lines we were just practicing. “Basically when you’re saying the lines, you’re pleading. Yes, you want this information from Charlotte and yes, you’re desperate for it. But Mikey doesn’t want her to know that so he’s frustrated and irritated and so he’s getting in her face. Watch.” I took a deep breath. “Charlotte, you need to tell me, you do understand that, don’t you?”
Jake stared at me for a moment, eyes narrowed in concentration.
I bit my lip nervously. “You really have to put emphasis on words, like a biting edge. You’re pissed at Charlotte. That’s why she bites back. You guys are snippy with each other. That’s where the attraction between the two of you is going to start.”
“Like me and you,” Jake remarked, casually.
“What?” I said, looking at him, confused.
“You were super snippy at me when we first met. Couldn’t have a conversation with me without having serious attitude,” Jake said, looking at me knowingly.
“Um, right then,” I agreed, knowing that what he said was very true. I remembered our encounter on Space Mountain and felt embarrassed all over again. “So do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Yeah, I think so. Let’s do it,” he said, putting the script down and clapping his hands together. “Charlotte, you need to tell me, you do understand that, don’t you?”
“Listen, Mikey, I’ve told you. I’m not going to tell you. There is literally nothing you can say or do or promise that will make me say anything,” I snipped back.
“Very nicely done.”
Jake and I both spun around to see Cam Daniels standing in the doorway of his trailer. “Oh hi, Cam,” Jake said.
“Hey Jake,” Cam said, nodding in his direction. “Hello, McKinley.”
“Hi Cam,” I said, shyly, biting my lip nervously. Jake came up from behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. I looked up and over my shoulder to glare at him for this obvious public display of affection.
“Were you guys rehearsing the scene with Charlotte?” Cam said, taking a seat on the couch. I nodded. “Sounded really good.”
“Yeah, well, Jake has been working hard,” I said, leaning up against him. You all can thank me later.
“Yeah, he has been. You sounded good, kid,” Cam said. “So did you, McKinley.”
“Wait, what?” I asked, confused. I shook my head. “Oh, no, I was just helping Jake with his lines.”
“Really?” Cam asked, raising his eyebrow. “You’ve never acted before?”
“Um,” I said, looking over at Jake, “I don’t think a fourth grade play as Becky Thatcher in Tom Sawyer counts, does it?” Jake shook his head, laughter in his eyes, his lips pressed together.
“You sounded great, got really into the character,” Cam said, staring at me intently. “I was very impressed.”
“You know, you did sound pretty good,” Jake said, thoughtfully. “Most people who read lines with me tend to just read them in normal voice for me to react to. You actually act them out.”
“Oh, well, I don’t know. It just makes sense to act them. I feel weird just reading them,” I explained.
“Oh,” Cam said, still looking at me curiously. “Well, maybe you should consider going out for some parts. I mean, you did those lines pretty well and you’re a hot topic right now, what with dating this guy over here.”
“Um, yeah, well, I think I’ll just stick to being a diner girl,” I said, smiling, brushing off the suggestion. Me, acting? So funny. I looked over at Jake, a surprised look on my face. He shrugged but looked at me with the same curious expression as Cam.
“Well, if you say so,” Cam said, shrugging. He grabbed the script Jake had dropped on the table. “Let’s keep working on this, huh?”
I stayed on set all day, watching them film a few scenes for the episodes leading up to Charlotte’s appearance, setting up the story. Isabelle Monroe wouldn’t be on set until the next week or two. Jake’s acting though had improve noticeably after working with Cam and I for a couple hours.
After everything had wrapped up and Josh, the director of Crime Scene, had cleared Jake for the day, we hopped in the car and made our way back to Brea. Jake tried to convince me to stay over but it had been awhile since I had been home. I’d been spending way too much time in Calabasas. We stayed quiet the whole ride home, Jake’s hand resting on my knee.
“Come on, I’ll walk you inside,” Jake said, patting my knee when we pulled up to the diner.
“And that’s all you’ll do,” I warned him, slyly.
“Yes, yes, I know,” he said, getting out of the car and coming to the other side to open the door for me. “Come on.”
I climbed out of the car, and the two of us walked across the empty parking lot to the back door. I slipped my key in the lock, jiggled it a bit and then turned it the right.
We were immediately greeted by the after closing dance party. Crystal was shimmying her way toward the disaster that was the Humphrey Bogart table. I could tell right off the bat that at least two children had been sitting there, judging by the amount of ketchup smeared on the vinyl booths and the squished fries on the floor.
“Um, what’s going on?” Jake yelled at me, staring at Mitchell, who was doing a really really bad robot dance.
“It’s the after closing dance party,” I said, smiling, pausing at the radio to turn it up a bit. I held my hand out to him. “Come on.”
He shook his head, still looking a little confused…and a bit amused. I shrugged and grabbed a towel from underneath the counter and started wiping down all the tables, shaking my butt back and forth, singing along to the Jackson 5. It was amazing that Luke was not actually present for this dance party, but the station was still his. There were some things that you just got used to.
Mitch came out from behind the grills and grabbed my waist, belting the song out at the top of his lungs. I laughed and grabbed Crystal and we started a conga line around the diner. As we passed Jake, Crystal reached out to him and yanked him over, planting him right in front of her. I laughed at his shocked look.
“Come on, Mr. Kennedy, shake those hips!” I called over the music.
He rolled his eyes and shuffled along as we continued around, releasing Mitch back in the cook area and Crystal at the counter. I spun around and grabbed Jake’s hand, leading him in an awkward, but silly hip shaking dance. For all of his suaveness and his celebrity and his all around hotness there was one thing that Jake Kennedy could not do: dance.
“It’s a good thing you become an actor,” I shouted at him.
“What?” he shouted back.
I paused as the song came to a finish. “ I said, it’s a good thing you became an actor. Your dancing skills could use some work.”
He gasped, shooting an offended look at me. “Hey now, I just haven’t had a chance to show you my skills.” He cocked his ear, listening for the song. He grinned as a slower, bluesy song came on. “Would you like to dance now?”
I rolled my eyes. “So cheesy,” I teased, allowing him to grab my hand and pull me into his arms. I suddenly became very aware of how close he was. Of course we had been close before, this wasn’t something new but the intimacy in sharing a dance was not the same as sharing a bed. I felt my hands begin to sweat, one of them clutched tightly in his, the other gripping his shoulder.
“Hey love birds, if you’re going to be part of the party, you gotta help out!” Crystal called from the bathrooms, her laugh echoing through the entire room.
I stepped away from Jake, grateful to have a reason to pull away. “You guys need help?” I shouted back to her.
Mitch shook his head, using some serving spoons as makeshift drumsticks on the prep table at the same time Crystal shouted back, “Nah, get out of here.”
I felt a little letdown, the after closing dance party was one of my favorite parts of the day and I hadn’t been able to participate in what felt like such a long time. Jake, on the other hand, looked extremely relieved.
It dawned on me that Jake probably didn’t have a lot of experience with a dishtowel or a mop…or even a broom.
When we made our way upstairs, we found Luke sitting on the couch, watching the Laker game, his feet propped up on the coffee table, though I’d told him a million times not to do so.
“Oh hey guys,” Luke said, looking up from the TV. “Want to watch?”
“Sure,” Jake said, looking over at me to see if it was okay. “I’m always up for a Laker game.”
“Yeah, I’m sure my small TV is nothing compared to sitting courtside, like I’ve seen you do though,” Luke said, scooting over on the couch to make room for Jake. I walked over, sitting on the floor between his knees, flipping open a magazine sitting on the table in front of me.
“It is pretty awesome,” Jake admitted. “I’ll have to bring you guys sometime. It is prime viewing of the Laker girls.”
I shook my head, rolling my eyes, choosing to ignore the both of them. I continued to peruse the magazine while they both watched the game intently, only speaking to commend a good play or curse at a bad one. It was only until the game reached halftime that they spoke to me.
“So, McKinley, Sunday? What did you want to do for your birthday?” Luke asked. “Or did you and Jake already have plans?
I winced; glad that they could not see my face.
“Birthday? McKinley, your birthday is Sunday?” Jake asked, looking confused.
“You didn’t tell him?” Luke asked, laughter in his voice.
“I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it,” I grumbled. I looked up at Jake. “And I know you, you’d make a big deal.”
Jake laughed. “So what? Now I know.” He turned to Luke. “Oh yeah, we’ll have plans. Unless you had something in mind.”
“Oh we’ll figure it out,” Luke said, smirking.
“I’d really rather we not make a big deal about my birthday,” I insisted.
“You’re famous now,” Jake said in retort, clearly enjoying this. “You deserve a huge party.”
“Okay, I’m famous by association which is not the same thing,” I argued. “And in completely one-hundred percent honesty, I do not want a huge party.”
Jake stared at me for a moment. Something in my face must have changed his mind because eventually he nodded in agreement. “Okay, fine,” he agreed. “But I’m still going to do something for you for your birthday. It’s my job as your boy…” I glared at him. “As your friend. Right.”
“I don’t have much say in this, do I?” I asked, looking at the both of them.
“No, you really don’t, McKinley,” Luke said, turning back to the television as the third quarter started. “I would just accept it and move on.”
“Yeah, your dad has the right idea on that one,” Jake said, grinning triumphantly.
“Fine, fine, fine,” I said. “Whatever you want to do on Sunday, fine. Keep in mind that I do have to open the diner on Monday morning so I can’t be out all hours of the night.”
“I’ll open it up on Monday,” Luke said, standing up to go get a beer out of the fridge. “You stay out as long as you need.”
“Awesome,” Jake said. “It’s all settled then.”
“What’s settled?” I asked, feeling slightly nervous. “You do remember that I don’t like surprises, yeah?”
“You’ll see, McKinley, you’ll see.” Somehow this did not make me feel any better.
Chapter Seven
“McKinley. McKinley, wake up. Kinley, baby, wake up.”
“Go away,” I mumbled into the soft pillow I’m pretty sure I had stolen from Jake in the middle of the night. I felt Jake’s hands on my hair, trying to brush it away from my face. “Nooooo, its too early.”
Jake laughed softly. I felt him roll away from me and the bed bounced a little as he got up. The door to the bathroom opened and a few moments later, was followed by the sound of the toilet flushing. I heard him make his way across the room and out the door. I buried my head further into my pillow, feeling relieved that he had left me alone to go back to sleep. That is, until, about ten minutes later, I heard him return and then the sound of the curtains being yanked to the side and the bright California sun came streaming in through those glass doors.
“I hate you,” I said, covering my face with a pillow.
“No, you don’t,” Jake said, lifting the pillow and kissing my forehead before pushing the pillow back into my face.
I laughed and threw the pillow off my face. I sat up, poised to throw the pillow back at him. I stopped almost immediately and then put it back on the bed. “Did…did you just bring me breakfast in bed?” I asked, slowly, pulling the covers up to my chest, my voice a little strangled. No one ever, not even when I was sick, had brought me breakfast in bed.
“Yeah,” Jake asked, looking at me curiously. Maybe it was because my voice sounded so funny. “Is that okay?”
“Yeah,” I said, squeaking a little. I cleared my throat. “Um, yeah, yeah.” I smiled, rolling my eyes. “Of course, it’s fine.”
He smiled at me and brought the tray over the bed. I looked down at the selection in front of me: a perfect omelet, topped with equally perfect avocado slices, a few slivers of bacon and a toasted English muffin, with what looked like a mimosa on the side. “Did you make this?” I asked, taking a bite of the bacon.
He laughed. “Of course not. Though if it makes the gesture more grand, of course I did.”
I rolled my eyes again. “God, you are so ridiculous. Well, tell Carmen that I said thank you. This is delicious.”
“I’ll let her know,” Jake said, one of his arms snaking around my waist as he pressed his lips to my bare shoulder. “Happy Birthday, McKinley.”
“Thanks,” I said, smiling at him. “This isn’t so bad.”
Jake pulled away, a full out grin on his face. He stood up and started walking backwards toward the bathroom. “Oh that’s just the beginning. Just you wait. Finish up that breakfast; we have things to do!” He disappeared into the bathroom. “Oh and McKinley?” He peeked his head out real quick. “You could always join me.” He winked and disappeared again.
I shook my head and turned back to my breakfast, which was super delicious. I supposed that was a perk of being a celebrity, having a gourmet chef at your beck and call. I inhaled the omelet, bacon and English muffin quickly. I hadn’t realized I had been that hungry. I was just finishing up when I heard the shower turn off. I crawled out of the huge bed and rifled through my purse for the change of clothes I had brought with me.
“Top drawer on your left,” Jake called from the bathroom. I raised my eyebrow, but set down my purse any way and crossed the room to the chest of drawers. I pulled out the top one and noticed that it was full of clothes…girls’ clothes.
I smirked. “Do you just keep a stock of girls’ clothes in this drawer for all the girls that stay the night or what?”
Jake came out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped his neck and his chest bare, only dressed in a pair of shorts. He winked at me. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“Whatever,” I laughed. “What should I wear? Since I don’t really know what’s going on today?”
“Something comfortable,” Jake said, vaguely. “Really comfortable.”
“So helpful, Jake,” I laughed. I looked at him, in shorts and decided to join him and yanked out a pair of shorts from the drawer. It was an unseasonably warm day for the end of November. That was California, though. I sifted through the shirts in the drawer and yanked out a blue tank top with silver stars on it. This one was probably going home with me. Clutching the clothes to my chest, I moved past him, to the bathroom to change. “I still hate surprises!” I called out to him.
We had been driving on the freeway for about a half hour before I finally spoke up. “Okay, I give up. Where on earth are we going?”
“I’m not telling you,” Jake said, laughing. He looked really uncomfortable behind the wheel of my car. The tiptop of his head brushed the ceiling and his legs looked crampe
d under the steering wheel. He had insisted on taking my car, in order to be incognito, which left me wondering where we were going that we couldn’t take his fancy car. “We’re almost there, anyway.” He pulled off the freeway, went down a few streets, taking a sharp left and pulling into a small parking lot.
I raised my eyebrow as I read the sign in front of the car: Hollyridge Trail. “Are we hiking?”
“Is that a problem?” Jake said, a smirk on his face as he put the car in park.
“No,” I said slowly. “But that does seem like a random thing to do on a birthday.”
“That’s because you don’t know where we are hiking to,” Jake said, getting out of the car. “Come on. I brought waters and everything, so let’s do this.”
A Little Less than Famous Page 12