“Well, I better get to work before things get worse.”
“That won’t be necessary.” She crossed her arms. “Your services are no longer needed here.”
“What?”
“If you would kindly hand over your ID badge and parking pass, it would be greatly appreciated.”
It just didn’t seem right for her not to give me some sort of first offense warning. I strode back to my car in disbelief. I hadn’t the first clue of how I was going to explain this to Scotty, or more importantly, Isabella. All I could do was face my faults. When the questions started rolling in, I wanted to avoid any conversation that had to do with Carter. Telling Scotty I spent the night at Aiden Storm's house would only light the fuse to a bomb.
At home, Scotty's BMW was parked in the driveway. For him to be home so early in the afternoon was quite odd. I already had a sneaking suspicion that everything that day was going to be a little off. I stepped inside the house and drew in a deep breath. A sense of relief washed over me when I found the house unoccupied. All I wanted to do was take a hot shower and a long nap.
“Where have you been? I've been worried sick,” Scotty asked, bumping into me in the hallway. He was in sweats, like he’d been lounging around all afternoon.
“Usually when I try to call, you never pick up,” I countered.
“You don't come home all night, yet when you feel like calling me, I'm supposed to be at your disposal?”
“It was an all-night shoot, honey. We barely got done this morning. If I could have gotten away for even a moment, I would have called, but—”
“You don’t understand, Alexa. I thought something happened to you.”
“I’m sorry, Scotty, but I can’t just walk off set in the middle of filming.”
“You've worked all-nighters on several occasions without bothering to call, and here it is…” He looked at his watch. “One in the afternoon and not a word? Doesn't that bother you? Didn’t you think I’d wonder where you were and if you were okay?”
“Of course it bothers me, but you know the deal. I'm a makeup artist, Scotty, not a receptionist with some nine-to-five job. I’m not always going to be here to pour your coffee in the morning and clean up the dishes every night. We’ve both got careers to tend to, you know.”
The ring of my cell phone interrupted our spat. We stared at each other until I finally answered the phone. I disliked the fact that I instinctively knew it was Isabella.
“Alexa, I need to speak with you in my office right away,” she said in the most unpleasant tone.
“Now is not a good time.”
“You better make it a good time.” Her sigh was deep. “Your job depends on it, young lady.” And with that, she hung up.
It killed me to see Scotty look at me with such hurt in his eyes. “Let me guess—Isabella?” He shot me a withering glare. As though defeated, he threw his hands up in the air and said, “Why am I not surprised?”
“She has something urgent to talk to me about. I have to go.”
“Yeah, of course. Just...just go, Alexa.”
The last thing I needed in my life was for Scotty to be angry with me. I gently grabbed his hand before he walked away and said, “I’m sorry, Scotty.” I dug my face into his chest. “Let’s not fight, okay?”
“I’m trying hard to be patient with you.”
“I know, and I promise to work on this little glitch.”
***
“Sit down,” Isabella said in a fierce but mild manner.
Noticing her disappointment, I took a seat and said, “I already know what this is about.”
“Oh really? In that case, why don’t you do the honors of telling me what the hell happened today.”
“I was really sick this morning, I think from something I ate last night—maybe a mild case of food poisoning.”
“Was it so life threatening that you couldn’t return any of my phone calls and let me know what was going on so I could have saved your job?”
“It was a rough morning. It just slipped my mind.”
“This project would have put you on the map. I was planning big things for you, Alexa. This was a screw-up that cost you a job and my reputation. Do you know how bad you made me look by failing to show up on time when I put in a good word for you with that studio?”
“I know I made a huge mistake, and I'm sorry.”
“This isn't some job you can just show up to when you feel like it.”
I had let Carter and the alcohol overpower my good judgment. Now I would pay for my recklessness. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“I need time to think and sort things out,” Isabella said. “I don't have a project for you right now. I wasn’t planning on anything for the next few months. You were supposed to be working on the set for fifteen weeks. Now you're just going to have to wait it out.”
It hurt to know that I had betrayed Isabella’s trust. My greatest concern, besides Isabella, was making sure Scotty never found out about me being put on hiatus. Telling him I was out of work would bring up questions, and the answers only led back to Carter. I figured the best thing to do was to lay low and work everything out later.
***
Scotty wasn’t there the next time I returned home. I needed someone to talk to, so I gave Ruth a ring.
“I’ve done something really bad,” I confessed, right away.
“Bad? How bad? Should I be worried?”
“Well, Aiden called me yesterday. I met up with him last night after work.”
“What!”
“It's not what you think. We just hung out at a club.”
“Did you tell Scotty about your little night out?”
“No, but what I’m about to tell you is strictly between you and me, okay?”
“I don't think I want to hear it, but go ahead.”
“I got a little drunk last night and I woke up in Aiden's bed this morning.”
“Are you saying you—”
“No. Oh God, no. He took me home with him since he knew I couldn't drive, but that’s not the worst of it. Because of last night, I was late for my new project on a movie set. I got fired.”
“I'm sorry, but I can't really sympathize, Alexa. What do you want me to say?” Disdain was dripping from her tone. “You want me to tell you that going behind your husband’s back to see another man—old friend or not—is acceptable behavior?”
“I can’t help it. Aiden’s like a drug I can’t get out of my system.”
“Cease all contact with him, or things are only going to get worse.”
I didn't see the harm in hanging out with a childhood friend who would remain just a friend. It only made me more determined to show Ruth that I could stay faithful to Scotty and let my strong feelings for Carter subside.
“It's wrong, and you know it!” Ruth practically screamed into the phone. “Listen, I have to go. My client just walked in. Call me later.”
Ruth was an assertive woman, raised as a Christian with strong values by two traditional Indian parents who both solidly believed in the sacredness of marriage. Each time her parents requested that she abide by family tradition and agree to an arranged marriage, Ruth outright refused. She knew exactly what she wanted when it came to the affairs of her heart. She did not intend to follow her sister’s footsteps by walking into a loveless marriage. Arguing with Ruth about commitment was useless. She firmly believed that marriage is a matter of respect for one’s husband and that meant not having male friends of any kind. Of course, I found some of her beliefs a little dated, and clearly, we would never see eye to eye on this matter.
I wasn't sure how long I drifted off to sleep, but the sound of the front door closing awoke me.
“Hey,” Scotty said with little emotion.
I got up and gave him a long, slow kiss with an increasing sense of urgency.
“What's that for?” he asked.
“To say I’m sorry. I hate you being upset with me.”
“So you want to make
up, huh?” Scotty showed a hint of a smile, the first I'd seen all day. “Go on—” He gave me a long searching look that meant he was ready for some action.
Our lovemaking that night was raw and straight to the point. We were both too lazy to go to the bedroom. We did the deed right on the floor beside the couch like a couple of horny teenagers.
“Do you remember our second date?” I asked, as we lay side by side. “My mother was so excited for me. She loved you, Scotty.
“She was a sweet woman. I just wish I could have gotten to know her better.”
“I never stop thinking about her.”
“Hey, look on the bright side. Even though it’s not quite the same, you’ll always have my mom there for you.”
Evelyn would never come close to being a mother figure. Scotty was a bit naïve to think she ever would. How could I forget the conversation I overheard her having with Scotty the day of our wedding.
“Honey, are you sure this is what you want? You still have time to back out.”
“Why would you ask me something like that?” Scotty asked.
“Because a mother only wants what’s best for her son.”
“Would I be here right now if I didn’t love her?”
“I know you, and you wouldn’t do something you would regret later down the road.”
“I’m not a child, Mother. I can think for myself. I don’t need you always looking out for me when it comes to my relationships.”
“I’m sorry. I just see you marrying a woman of more—well, of more stature, more status.”
“I don't quite understand what you're getting at.”
“Honey, Alexa has no family, no money, and frankly, forgive me for saying this, but I find her to be somewhat inferior to this family.”
I figured she loosely referred to my lack of education. More than anything, Evelyn wanted her son to marry a woman she deemed to be on his level—a woman who was good enough for him by her standards. Scotty had graduated from San Diego State with a degree in business finance, and Evelyn expected him to meet a nice girl who graduated anywhere other than from a beauty school. Whenever I thought of the woman, I remembered her as the one who deemed me unfit for her son. To save myself from aggravation, I never told Scotty about what I overheard that night—some things are better left unsaid.
“If your dad was still alive, I probably wouldn’t have met you,” Scotty said.
“True. I would have never ended up working at Fashion Land.” I took his hand and entwined it with mine. “Maybe you would have gotten back with the girl you broke up with a week before you met me.”
Scotty had been in a serious four-year relationship with a red head named Gina Ricci. On the night Scotty was going to propose, Gina dropped the bomb that she was permanently moving to upstate New York to take care of her father who was ill with cancer. With Scotty's best interests at heart; she broke it off with him that night.
Scotty said he never believed in love at first sight until the day we met. Something in his gut told him I was the one. From that day forward, his belief in fate changed for the better.
***
I took my mind off the past couple weeks by working small projects for Isabella. I really began to loath those petty jobs. It was like starting from square one. In the meantime, I continued playing it off as though I was still working on a movie set.
In the midst of normality, I was halfway through getting my head bit off by a prissy super model when my phone rang. My heart stopped at the sight of the caller I.D. flashing Carter's name. Things could have continued quite happily if I ignored the call—I really tried. But it was as if some supernatural life form entered my body and forced me to pick it up. Like I told Ruth, the man was a drug to me, and I was drowning in my addiction to Carter Storm.
“Hey, you. How’s it going?” Carter asked.
“Oh, I just got my face ripped off by super model Cindy Taylor. Other than that, things are just dandy.”
“Well, I just got back from the studio. I'm collaborating with Little Mikey on a new album.”
“I love Little Mikey. I can't wait to hear it.”
“Well, that can be arranged. Why don't you come over tonight. I'll give you a preview,” he said. “I mean, if your husband doesn't mind.”
“I don't know. I’ll have to give you a call back on that one.”
“No worries. Hit me up later.”
I hung up and started breathing faster than I thought possible. That overwhelming need—the need for a Carter fix, once again took over my good judgment. I wanted—no, needed—to be with him as much as possible before something happened and he disappeared from my life all over again.
***
Scotty was in a rush that evening, hurrying back and forth from the bedroom to the bathroom.
“What's going on?” I asked.
“A client wants me to take them on a last-minute tour of a house in Laguna Beach. It's their second walk through, and they’re just about to make an offer,” he explained. “Help me with my tie. I don’t have the patience right now.”
I slipped the tie through the loophole and said, “Sweetie, just relax.”
“You tell yourself that when you’re trying to sell a multi-million-dollar home.” Scotty glanced at his watch. “Oh, man. I have to get out of here.” He grabbed his cell phone off the dresser. “I probably won't be home until late tonight. If they make the offer, I'm taking them out to dinner, so don't wait up for me.”
I have to admit that the timing was too perfect, like everything was going according to plan. “I have to work tonight anyway.”
“Okay. Be good,” he said, kissing my lips. “Love ya.”
I watched him drive down the street with guilt constricting in my chest like a swallowed snake. Something—or someone—was pushing me to do bad things, and I couldn’t control
myself.
***
Carter greeted me at the threshold of his front door, barefooted and outfitted in Lakers basketball shorts and a matching jersey. I was partial to the casual way he dressed because it reminded me of his boyish days.
“So your husband bailed on you tonight, huh?” he asked as we walked into the kitchen.
“He got some last-minute call to take someone on a property tour.”
“Something to drink?” Carter asked as he opened one of the cherry oak cabinets.
“Wine sounds good.” I took a seat on a barstool in front of his mile-long beige granite countertop. The kitchen looked like something right out of Better Homes and Gardens magazine, only fancier. “So how about that preview you were talking about today?”
“Oh, I’m glad you brought that up.”
I followed him to the living room and seated myself on one of the black leather couches.
Carter strolled over to the stereo and popped in a CD. “This song is called ‘Dynamite’.”
The last thing I expected to hear was a pop, techno beat. I was quite surprised at how Carter took the genre and made it all his own.
“Your love sets me on fire...oh, girl, you can't even begin to take me any higher. I better watch out and not get any closer. You set a fuse, and it's my head I'm about to lose. Girl, your love is dynamite...”
It was quite a comeback for him. The song sounded different from anything else he put out there, and I had to compliment his efforts. “Carter, that was amazing. I love it.”
“Really? You can tell me the truth.”
“I love all your songs, but this is one of the best.”
He smiled warmly. “Well, thanks. That really means a lot to me. I can give you a copy of a couple tracks I've already finished if you want.”
“I would love that.”
Carter talked about all the work he had poured into his upcoming album. He then regaled me with a few anecdotes about what life was like on the road. We just sat there eating expensive gourmet take-out and reminiscing about old times.
“So are there any other new songs you can give me a sneak preview of?”
“You know, I think I just might have one more. Be right back.” He smiled and quickly jogged into the next room. He returned moments later with an acoustic guitar in hand.
“Nice. I get something live this time?”
He sat on the glass table beside me and clumsily strummed the guitar. “This song is called ‘Beautiful Girl.’ When she went away, she took my sun that day. She was gone for such a long time, and now she's back, but she'll never be mine. What a beautiful girl she turned out to be. Every time this girl is around, she makes me feel so free. Oh, Alexa, I wish you could be with me.”
My throat went dry the second I heard my name in the lyrics. Automatically, tears ran down my face, hot and heavy. I turned away from him.
“What's wrong? You don't like it?” He wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “Was it something I said?”
“No. It's beautiful, Carter,” I replied, holding back tears. “It's just that I waited thirteen years for this moment, and now it's too late.”
“I'm here now.”
“You can't keep doing this to me,” I said, looking deeply into his captivating blue eyes.
“And you can’t ignore your true feelings.” He made that comment with such conviction that I almost believed it myself. “Don’t you see? You’re here right now for a reason. This is our second chance.”
He moved in close and grazed my lips with his. I immediately pushed him away, just like I did the first time he tried to kiss me so many years ago. Only this time, it was for a different reason.
“No, Carter. I'm married. I love my husband.”
“If that were true, you wouldn't be here right now.”
I didn’t owe him an explanation of any sort when it came to my relationship with Scotty. “I should go. It's late.”
“That’s it? You’re just going to walk out?”
“Thank you for a great evening.” I disregarded everything that was going through my mind at that moment, and hurried to the front door. I slipped out into the night, more discombobulated than I was the night we had reunited.
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