Newly Exposed

by Meghan Quinn

  “Because I’m not an assistant and because I take care of the guys. Wouldn’t you rather them be organized?”

  Zia took a deep breath and nodded “Yes, because they are a giant shit show.” She looked around the studio and then sat on the edge of my desk. “Did the new guy leave already? What did we call him?”

  “Axel.”

  “Yes, did he leave?”

  “Yes, you have a consultation with him tonight.”

  “Oh, isn’t that nice to know?” Zia said, pulling up the calendar on her phone. “Funny, because that idiot of an assistant I had never put it on my schedule.” She pinched the bridge of her nose and said, “Can you please find me another assistant? Someone who is competent like you? Meryl keeps hiring me incompetent, horny girls who only want a good show, rather than doing their job. Just because Meryl is my top investor, she thinks she can have a say in everything. That’s why I had to hire that Axel kid, because she has some kind of old lady crush on him.”

  “You didn’t want to hire Adam?” I asked, slightly confused.

  “Oh, no, not at all. He’s not Teeg Model material, too…what’s the word, innocent? He took small town boy to a whole new level, and now that he’s on my payroll, I have to shake him of that persona and change him into some kind of LA bad boy.” Zia rolled her eyes, while putting her phone back in her purse. “The things Meryl makes me do. I guess I will see you tonight, then? Don’t leave me alone with that corn husker.”

  “Yes, I’ll be there,” I responded, not all that happy that Zia was being mean about Adam. He didn’t give off the innocent act like Zia was saying, he was just kind and sweet, something you didn’t find in men very often in this industry…at least Zia didn’t. She’s had a hard road when it comes to men in her life, so I could understand her indifference when it came to Adam.

  “Good. Work on that assistant for me, Solo.”

  The click of Zia’s heels against the concrete flooring echoed through the studio as she retreated. Zia and I got along most of the time. We had our differences on occasion, but right now, I was irritated with her. Even though I didn’t want Adam to be a model for selfish reasons, I knew he had the potential to be amazing, because not only was he sweet and had a good heart, but because he was sexy as sin and any lady with two eyes and a who-ha would be able to notice that.

  I started to attend to my work again when my phone beeped with a notification. I pulled out my phone and saw it was from Adam. A traitorous smile spread across my lips as I pulled open his text.

  Adam: What’s the verdict Obi Wan? Did I pass my first test?”

  A picture of his selfie popped up on my phone and I instantly melted. His smile was bright, showing off that dimple of his, and he was lifting his shirt just high enough to give everyone a sneak peek of what I was so luckily able to rub oil all over the other day. He really was perfection. After staring at the photo for probably way too long, I answered him back.

  Solo: You did well, my young Jedi

  I laughed at the corniness of myself, but loved the way I could be myself around Adam.

  Adam: It is my goal in life to please you.

  Solo: That is a hefty goal, not sure you can handle it.

  Adam: I’m up for a good challenge, especially when it involves eating up a little muffin like you.

  Solo: That comment is so wrong.

  Adam: Is it?

  I clenched my legs as I thought about how it wasn’t wrong. It so fucking wasn’t.

  Chapter Eleven

  Adam

  Aunt Sarah met me out in the hallway before shutting the door to my mom’s room quietly.

  “Is she asleep?” I asked.

  “No, she just has a bad headache. Being in a hospital bed twenty-four-seven has stressed and tweaked her muscles, so she has a really bad tension headache right now.”

  “Have the nurses been informed?” I asked, looking around for some help.

  “Yes, they are bringing in a massage therapist to ease the tension in her neck. Calm down, Adam,” Aunt Sarah said, putting her hand on my shoulder. “Now, why do I have to meet you out in the hallway?”

  I looked around again and shielded my body from onlookers. “Here,” I handed her the envelope with my advance.

  “What’s this?” she asked, confused, as she looked inside. Her hand flew to her mouth and a look of shock crossed her face. “Adam James, where did you get this money?”

  “It’s a signing bonus, Aunt Sarah.”

  “How much is in here?” she asked, looking around, trying to cover the wad of cash I just handed her.

  “A thousand, and hopefully I’ll be able to give you more soon. Tomorrow I have a few meetings to find out my schedule, so I will have a better idea of cash flow.”

  “Adam, I can’t…I can’t believe this,” she said, shaking her head in disbelief.

  “This will give mom at least two more months in the hospital with a little extra income. We just bought some breathing room, Aunt Sarah.”

  “No, you did.” Aunt Sarah stood on her toes and wrapped her arms around me. “You’re such a good boy, but are you sure this is what you want to do? Modeling doesn’t seem like something up your alley.”

  “It isn’t,” I confessed. “But right now, it’s not hard. I get to live in a nice house and I’m paying the bills. It will have to do for now.”

  “Okay,” Aunt Sarah said with hesitation. “I just don’t want you to get lost along the way. I know you’re trying to help out your mom, but I don’t want you to give up your morals and what you believe in.”

  I laughed and hugged Aunt Sarah to my chest. “Right now, I believe in my family, and that means you and my mom. All I care about is making sure you two are alright. Let me take care of the money part, you just be there for Mom, okay?”

  She nodded her head into my chest and then pulled away, while wiping away tears.

  “Your dad would be proud of you, for stepping up and taking care of us.”

  I nodded, choking back the emotions of losing my father that wanted to bubble over. I hoped that my dad would be proud of me. I clutched his dog tags that I wore around my neck every day and thought about him briefly, something I didn’t allow myself to do very often, because if I did, I got lost in a pit of darkness and despair.

  My dad was my best friend and the one person I looked up to, the person I strived to be like…and the cruel world that I lived in had taken him away from me too early.

  “Why don’t you go talk to your mom while I take care of the bill with that pestering nurse?”

  I laughed and said, “She’s been very helpful, Aunt Sarah.”

  “I know.”

  She walked off toward the nurses’ station and I turned in the opposite direction toward my mom’s room.

  The room was covered in bland white walls with dusty pink colored curtains over the windows. It wasn’t the nicest room, but it was keeping my mom alive, so I couldn’t complain much. The flowers from friends and distant relatives that used to grace the room when my mom was first admitted into the hospital were no longer present because it’s been so long. People have moved on with their lives, and even though this is at the forefront of my mind, it might not be in theirs, and it showed. I wasn’t mad; I was just sad that I wasn’t able to provide my mom with the flowers and love from friends that would bring a smile to her face. If anything, I just wanted to give my mom the best medical care and scatter her room with flowers. It was the small things that could bring joy to someone’s life.

  When I walked in the room, my mom’s head turned slowly, and when she made eye contact with me, her face lit up. It was the smile I grew up with, the smile that has loved me from the day I was born; it would make any son proud to see.

  “Hey mom-a-lade,” I said, using the nickname I gave her a long time ago.

  “Adam, what a nice surprise.” Her breath was short, but her voice still carried the same loving tone. It burned my soul that such a vibrant and loving woman had to not only lose her husband, but
suffer such a devastating disease as well. Life was so not fucking fair.

  “Aunt Sarah told me you have a headache today. I’m sorry. I wish I could do something to make you feel better.”

  My mom pressed her hand against my cheek and said, “You being here is helping.” Slowly, she shifted in her bed so she was sitting a little taller and turned to her side so her head still rested on her pillow, but she was now facing me.

  “Aunt Sarah told me you have a new job.”

  I cringed, wondering what my mom was going to think about my new job, especially after she didn’t like the fact that I dropped out of school.

  “The look on your face tells me I might not like it. Please don’t tell me you’re selling drugs.”

  “What? No,” I laughed, at the serious tone my mom used. “Mom, Dad would rise from his grave just to beat my sorry ass if I was selling drugs.”

  She chuckled and said, “That’s true. So, what is it?”

  I took a deep breath and said, “I kind of got a job as a fitness model.”

  My mom looked at me to see if I was serious, so I just nodded. Her hand went to her mouth and she laughed as her slight shoulders shook.

  “Oh, Adam, are we really in that much need of money?”

  “Unfortunately, yes,” I admitted while chuckling with her.

  “Well, you have the body for it. You’re such a handsome boy,” she complimented with a grin.

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  “Don’t let the attention go to your head.” She tapped my temple.

  “So, you approve?” I asked, confused by my mom’s lightheartedness.

  “Honey, as long as you’re not selling drugs or fornicating with women for money, I will support you in whatever endeavor you want to pursue. Plus, it seems kind of fun; I just never pictured my son being a fitness model.”

  I sat back in my chair and tried to get over the baffled look I was giving her. “Wow, I wasn’t expecting that. You were so mad that I dropped out of college that I thought…”

  My mom put her hand up to interrupt me. “I wasn’t mad at you, Adam. I knew you had no choice…we had no choice. I was mad at the hand we drew. It’s not fair, but don’t for one second think I was mad at you. I could not be more proud of the man you’ve become, putting your family first and watching over your Aunt Sarah and me.” A tear trickled down her face that I quickly wiped away for her. “I’m so grateful for you, Adam.”

  I leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Thank you, Mom.”

  I pulled away and she quickly wiped away her tears. “Enough of this sappy stuff, tell me about the job. Meet anyone new?”

  A smile lit up my face as I thought about Solo. “I actually have.”

  My mom pressed my dimple with her finger, something she often did when I smiled, and said, “Tell me about her.”

  “How do you know it’s a her?” I asked.

  “You don’t smile like that about guys,” she joked.

  “Well, you’re right. Her name is Solo.”

  “As in…”

  “Yes, Mom,” I put my head down.

  “Oh, Adam…”

  “I know, Mom, she loves Star Wars.”

  My mom laughed as she gripped my hand. “You would find a girl who’s named after your first hero, Han Solo.” She laughed again. “I still can see you running around the house with Flufferbee, acting out scenes from those space movies.”

  “Mom,” I paused. “They’re not just space movies, God, and you have to admit, Flufferbee was the perfect Chewbacca.”

  “That poor dog,” my mom shook her head in memory. “Tell me about her, besides the fact that she is named after your idol, which…does she know that?”

  “Not yet, I didn’t want to terrify her with my love for the man, even though her dads are obsessed with him.”

  “Dads? Well, isn’t that modern?”

  “God, only an old person like you would call being gay, modern,” I laughed.

  She pointed her finger at me and said, “Just because I’m in this hospital bed doesn’t mean I can’t whoop your butt, mister.”

  I held up my hands in defense and backed away. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “So, what does she look like?”

  “I actually have a picture.” I pulled out my phone and showed the picture that I took earlier of Solo and me in the bathroom. I had to hand my mom her glasses for her to take a better look, but when she saw what was going on between us, she eyed me over her glasses with that judging mom look.

  “That’s a compromising position, Adam.”

  “Oh, come on, Mom, nothing is happening. She’s just showing me how to take a selfie.”

  My mom handed me back my phone and said, “I will never understand your generation, but I have to admit, she’s very beautiful, Adam.”

  “I know,” I said, looking at the picture. She was looking up at me when I took the picture and the look I captured in her face made my heart beat faster. She was looking up at me with admiration. The picture gave me hope of a possible future for us.

  “So, her name is Solo, and she’s obviously beautiful and likes Star Wars. What else?”

  I sat back in my chair and stared off as I thought about Solo. “She’s funny, Mom, and doesn’t mind embarrassing herself. She’s sweet and kind, but can hold her own against anyone. She’s not afraid to show her true colors and she’s honest. Plus, she wears things like Ninja Turtle pajama pants and shirts with the Fresh Prince on them. I mean, there is no way of getting over that. She’s…perfect.”

  Patting my knee, my mom said, “It seems like you found your true match, so why does it seem like you’re only friends?”

  “Because we are,” I admitted. “Apparently, she doesn’t date models, especially Teeg Models, which is who we both work for. Thinking back, I think she was actually sad that I got the job. I know she’s interested in me, Mom. I just don’t know how to break down that wall she’s put up around her heart.”

  “Well, if anyone can do it, you can,” my mom said, squeezing my hand and yawning.

  “I’m sorry, you must be tired, and here I am talking to you about girl problems.”

  “Oh, hush, I’m over the moon that you stopped by. I love hearing about what’s going on outside these sterile white walls.” Yawning again, my mom finished and asked, “Do you think you could bring Solo around here sometime? I would love to meet her.”

  The thought of bringing Solo into this side of my life was too much for me to handle right now. I preferred to keep my lives separate. Mixing the two seemed too complicated at the moment. I needed to compartmentalize my life for my own sanity.

  “Not now, but maybe some other time, Mom.”

  “You better; I would love to meet this girl who has stolen my little boy’s smile away from me.”

  “You know my smile will forever belong to you, Mom.”

  “I don’t mind handing if off, as long as it’s to the right person,” she smiled and then closed her eyes. “I’m going to shut my eyes for now, but will you stay and hold my hand for a little while?”

  “Of course, Mom.”

  As I sat and watched my mom slip into a deep sleep, I thought about how I would love to introduce Solo to my mom one day; I just hoped it wasn’t in a hospital room and rather at a backyard barbeque where my mom was healthy, filled out her clothes, and was able to enjoy the sunshine that only a warm California day could deliver.

  From the moment I met Solo, I knew she would get along gloriously with my mom, no doubt. I just hoped and prayed that they would be able to meet one day, not only because I wanted my mom healthy, but because I wanted Solo, I needed her.

  Chapter Twelve

  Solo

  “No, I won’t be home tonight. Blaze is taking me out,” Nolly squealed into the phone.

  “Alright, well then, I won’t make the lasagna I planned on making now.”

  “Oh, don’t get all butt hurt about it. It’s not like you’re making the damn thing from scratch. Your best meals are poppe
d out of a cardboard box and heated up in the oven.”

  “But no one heats them up like I do,” I laughed.

  “You got that right, girl. Alright, I have to finish trying on these dresses for tonight. Don’t expect me to come home.”

  “Be careful,” I warned.

  “Always, sweet cheeks.”

  I hung up the phone and shook my head. I was shocked when Nolly said Blaze was taking her out on a date. I, for sure, thought they were just going to be fuck buddies, so to hear that they were going out on an actual date was a surprise.

  “Did I miss it?” came Adam’s voice from behind me.

  I sighed at hearing that delicious voice and turned around. My heart seized in my chest as I took him in. He was wearing a pair of khaki cargo shorts, flip flops, and a navy blue polo that hugged his body in every last crevice he had to offer. He had changed from this morning, and he looked delicious, but what was really setting me into hot guy seizure mode was the way his hair flipped out from under the red hat he was wearing backwards, and his bright smile, which was graced with a sexy five o’clock shadow.

  Be still my heart; he’s so damn hot.

  “Nope, we’re the first ones here,” I said, while trying to calm my hammering heart.

  “Awesome,” he sat down next to me on the couch and put his arms on the back while folding one leg over the other. “Do you have dinner plans?” he asked casually.

  “I do, actually…”

  “Liar,” he cut me off. “I heard you talking; lasagna has been put on hold.”

  “Do you always listen to other people’s conversations?”

  “When it benefits me, yes. So, how about some tacos? Scout and I are going out after this meeting, and I would love for you to come.”