by Wendy Louise
I give her a wry smile. “Well Madeline, I’m so glad that you have given my love life so much consideration,” I say with as much sarcasm as I can muster. “I appreciate your concern, but I’m quite happy to manage this by myself. I like Ava… a lot. I’m happy to take a chance and I don’t feel the need to date someone that reminds me of my mother. I would appreciate it if you treated Ava with respect while we are away.”
She gives me a dirty look.
“Your loss. I think you’re being naïve and stupid. You’re disregarding your own career Ethan. Who you date makes news and you should be using it to your advantage.” She reaches down in to her purse and pulls out a large glossy fashion magazine and her i-pod. She fixes the ear buds in to her ears, scrolls to a playlist, and starts to flick through the pages of her magazine.
Just like that, she puts a stop to our conversation.
Thank Christ!
I sit restlessly in my seat for a while longer, mulling over everything that Madeline has just said to me. I keep coming back to the fact that she’s shallow and fame hungry and everything she does is career-focused. My career is incredibly important to me but for the first time in my life, I’m starting to realise that there are other things that can be equally as important, if not more so.
I really want to spend quality time with Ava while we’re in Hawaii. I need to talk to Josh about setting up a date, something for just the two of us.
Madeline’s head falls back against the seat, so I think she’s fallen asleep. I unbuckle my seat belt and head towards the Coach section of the plane. We’ve been in the air for about thirty minutes and the smell of lunch is filling the cabin. I search the rows until I see Josh and Ava laughing over something they’re both watching on the in-flight entertainment system. Ava’s big eyes find mine and she removes the headphones from her ears as I approach their row. Passengers in the surrounding seats are taking notice, but I don’t care.
“Josh, how would you like to experience a first class lunch today?” Joshua’s eyes light up and he jumps from his seat, grabbing his belongings.
“Thanks Ethan,” he says.
“Row 1, window seat, left aisle.” I point towards the front of the aircraft to where he needs to go. “Oh and Josh; Madeline is asleep in the seat next to yours. Hopefully she will stay that way.”
Joshua laughs and heads back in the direction that I just came from.
I slide in to the seat next to Ava. She smiles at me and takes my hand, lacing her fingers through mine. This is the first real time she has initiated our contact and it feels amazing. Some of the people in the surrounding seats are watching us, but their curiosity soon wanes and their attention moves elsewhere. There is only so much gawking you can do on a plane without looking really creepy.
I rub my thumb over Ava’s warm hand. “Ethan, do you really want to give up a first class lunch to sit back here with me?”
“I can’t think of anywhere else I would rather be. I’m happy to eat stale coach-class sandwiches just to have the pleasure of your company.”
“Thank you,” she says and smiles shyly at me.
“What were you and Josh watching when I came up? You were both laughing.”
“We were watching episodes of Modern Family. I love that show, especially Cam, he is hilarious.”
“Is that your favourite show?”
“One of them,” she blushes.
“What?” I ask.
“Well I love comedies, but I really love trashy reality TV, you know the Real Housewives… the Kardashians, that kind of thing.” She says that like she’s ashamed to admit it.
“Really Ava? I never figured you for the type that would love watching other people’s lives play out in public.” I tease.
She laughs and turns her head to look out the window. I continue to stroke my thumb over her palm.
“Tell me more about you. What’s your favourite colour, what’s your favourite movie, who was your first famous crush, who is your current famous crush?”
“Wow, okay,” she says turning back to me. “Favourite colour – Blue; Favourite movie – a toss-up between Titanic and The Twilight Movies, although I love Harry Potter too. First Famous Crush – well Leo DiCaprio of course, hence Titanic being a favourite. Current Famous Crush – well I think you know the answer to that one.” She looks at me shyly through her long lashes.
I feel a satisfied smile spread across my face. I can’t stop it.
“Your turn,” she says. “Now you have to answer the same questions.” She points her finger in to my chest playfully.
“Well, favourite colour – also Blue. Favourite movie – depends, but I love the Star Wars movies, the originals that is, not so much the more recent ones. First famous crush was Katie Holmes, I loved Dawson’s Creek. I got to meet her once when she was still married to Tom. She was very sweet. Current famous Crush – that’s a hard one, I don’t really think I have one, although I really like the Black Eyed Peas, so I guess Fergie would be a crush.”
“Have you ever met her?” Ava asks.
“No. I’ve seen them live, but I haven’t met her.”
“Well I’m glad.” Ava says. “That could make me a little jealous.”
“Okay my turn again,” I say, enjoying this game.
“Favourite Food? First Kiss? Best date ever?” I ask.
“They’re hard ones to answer. Let me think.” Her little brow furrows and that adorable wrinkle returns. This time I lean over and kiss it, just between her eyes.
“I’ve wanted to kiss that spot for ages,” I whisper as I pull back from her. Ava leans forward and places a light kiss on my lips.
“I’ve wanted to kiss that spot for ages,” she says back to me. “Now, no more distractions, I’m trying to think of my answers here.”
My thumb continues to trace patterns on her palm.
“Okay,” she says. “Italian is definitely my favourite food, although I also love a good steak. My first kiss was with Jeff Jones behind the bike sheds at school when I was eleven. My best date…..that’s a hard one. I don’t think I’ve ever been on a date that was so memorable that I would refer to it as the best date ever…” She stares off in to the distance, recalling some memory, but then snaps her attention back to me.
“Your turn again,” she says.
“Favourite Food – Mexican, you should know that one by now,” I tease. “First kiss – Lisa Reilly in Junior High, under the bleachers on the sports field during baseball practice. Best date ever? Well I’m not a big dater, so I don’t think I’m qualified to answer that one yet. Ask me again after we’ve been to Hawaii.”
She gives me a sweet smile, as the stewardess arrives with lunch packs for each of us. As we open them, I realise that my previous comment about stale sandwiches was not far off the mark. We both take a bite and turn to each other with screwed up faces. “I wonder what Josh is getting to eat in first class?” she says.
“Let’s not think about that. It’ll only make it harder to stomach what we have here,” I say as I gesture to the mediocre packed lunch we’ve been given. “I told you, I would much rather eat this and sit here with you than sit next to Madeline eating the finest cuisine in the world.”
Ava gives me that gorgeous smile and continues to chew on her sandwich.
“Have you and Josh finalised the schedules for the rest of today?”
“Yep,” she says quickly.
“What’s on for tonight?” I ask.
“A cast and crew dinner tonight as far as I know, hosted by the hotel. Josh and I didn’t arrange this one; I think one of the Production Assistants did.”
“Cool. Can I escort you to that?”
“I’d love that Ethan.”
“Great. I’ll pick you up from your room and we can have a few drinks before we join everyone else.”
“Perfect,” she says.
Perfect is right. Everything about her is perfect.
Fun in the Sun
I’m staying in the most gorgeous Suit
e I have ever seen. Liv and I have been put up in a two bedroom beach-front suite in the heart of Waikiki.
The beach is breathtaking. Crystal clear water, framed by pure, clean sand and the bluest sky I have ever seen. The weather is stunning, and I feel like I’m in heaven.
The suite is furnished with bamboo-style furniture and all the linens are a pristine, crisp white. There is a small terrace outside the double glass doors that head to the ocean, which has a u-shaped wicker sofa and large, plush cushions. I think I’ll be spending a lot of time out there when we aren’t working.
The entire room smells of frangipanis, it’s enchanting.
The flight over here from LA was better than I could have ever hoped for. Ethan was adorable and we talked so much that the flight felt like it went so quickly. I can’t believe that he gave up his First Class seat so he could spend that time with me. The more I get to know him, the more I wonder when I’m going to see the other side of him that everyone else keeps warning me about. So far he has been so sweet to me. I’m almost waiting for the other shoe to drop.
In the back of my mind I keep thinking of all the women I’ve seen him pictured with, and I do wonder if I’m just another in a long line. I guess I have to keep a hold of reality a little, because being with him seems so surreal.
I’ve decided to take a quick swim before dinner. Liv is already over checking out Ryan’s room and enjoying time with him. Josh and I have spent the last few hours in his Suite working to finalise the schedules for Liv and Ethan. I have a couple of hours free now before Ethan comes to pick me up so I’ve put my new bright cobalt-blue bikini on, and my matching cover up. I grab my large black sunglasses and my flip flops, and head to the lagoon-style pool.
The deck surrounding the pool is covered in luxurious lounge chairs. I take one that is partially out of the sun. I want to get a little colour on my legs, but I don’t want my face to burn. I settle back and pull out my ipad, ready to get in to the book that I am currently obsessing with. I can’t get enough of indie authors at the moment and I’ve discovered some amazing writers.
That said, my favourite past time is people watching. I can hide behind my Jackie O sunglasses and watch without anyone even knowing what I’m doing.
There’s a swim-up pool bar in the large lagoon-style pool which seems to be where most of the action is happening. I notice a large group of guys milling around whoever is sitting on the last stool at the end of the bar. I cock my head to the side discreetly trying to see what is going on. That’s when I see Madeline in her large floppy sunhat, and gold bikini sitting there. She’s sipping on something fruity looking, with pineapple and cherries on the side of the glass. The men surrounding her are mesmerised. She is really stunning. It’s a pity she is so horrible to me whenever we are in each other’s presence, because that really clouds my feelings towards her. Not in a good way either.
I sit and watch them all for a while, hoping that she won’t realise that I’m here. She is flirtatious and charming from what I witness. This is her typical public persona. None of those guys would imagine the bitch that lurks beneath her surface. There is not one nice bone in her body. I never really say that I hate anyone, but what I feel for her closely resembles hatred.
My Madeline-watching is interrupted by a text coming in to my cell phone. I rummage through the beach bag that I brought down to the pool to try and find it.
It’s Ethan. I can’t help the stupid grin that graces my lips when I see his name.
God! I’m pathetic when it comes to that boy.
Can’t wait for tonight. C u in a few. E x
I love the little kiss that punctuates the end of his message.
I text back, fingers shaking.
Me too. x
I put my phone down on to the table next to my lounger when another text sounds off.
What r u doing?
I let my fingers flow over the keys and type:
At the pool for an hour, getting some sun x
I put the phone down again and gather up my ipad to try and get in to my book. I don’t want Madeline to see that I’m here, so best to keep my attention elsewhere. After being totally engrossed in the second chapter, I notice that the sun is moving and is now being blocked from my legs. I look up, shading my eyes with my hand, and see Ethan standing at the end of my lounge chair, blocking the rays.
He is gorgeous.
I mean totally gorgeous.
He has on dark navy blue board shorts that hang low on his hips, allowing that deep ‘V’ of muscle to be on display. I’ve fantasized about running my tongue over and over that part of his body….. His trademark hair is messy and sexy and his aviators cover his eyes. None of that is what holds my attention though. My eyes can’t seem to move past the chiselled abs and smooth, tanned skin of his chest once they land there. A smug smile breaks out on his face. I move my eyes to his as he says, “Like what you see?”
I lick my lips as I feel a blush staining my cheeks.
Totally caught checking him out.
Way to go Ava!
Not even my sunglasses could hide that.
He extends his hand out to me and cocks his head to the side giving me a dazzling smile. “Swim?”
He throws his aviators and a towel on to my lounger near my feet and waits as I get up. This time I catch him ogling me. His eyes travel from my feet to my face very slowly.
Very, very slowly.
His tongue pokes out and he wets his bottom lip as he takes me in. I feel that in places that I should not be feeling anything while I am out in public.
He is so hot!
Checking me out.
The idea that he is looking at me like that does ridiculous things to my already raging libido. I feel the heat pool between my legs, and I cross my arms over my chest to try and hide my nipples that have hardened with the desire burning in his eyes.
I mimic him and say. “Like what you see?”
“Very much,” he answers with a cheeky laugh. He oozes confidence.
I take his hand and we descend the steps in to the stunning pool.
I stop just before we reach the edge of the water, pulling slightly to stop Ethan from moving further. “Madeline is over at the pool bar. I don’t want to deal with her so can we just stay out of the way, over here?”
“Sure,” he says. “You know you can’t let Madeline get to you Ava. She’s a bitch, what can I say. Don’t take it personally though; she’s like that with everyone.”
“No, she’s like that with anyone that can’t help her to get any further. She’s fine with you and the Directors, Producers; she’s just a cow to anyone that can’t do anything for her.”
“True, but as I said, don’t let it get to you. Just let it wash off your back. She’s not worth it.”
With that Ethan snakes his arm around my waist and pulls me against him, dragging me in to the deeper water. His eyes darken as he pulls me closer, tight against his chest. My legs instinctively wrap around his waist and my arms link behind his neck. We stare in to each other’s eyes for a moment before he gives me a wicked smile and leans towards me, attaching his lips to mine.
He kisses me slowly and with purpose. I feel it tingling every inch of my body.
His soft lips move over mine in a slow dance. He opens his mouth to allow his tongue to touch mine. I tangle my hands in to his hair and he tightens his grip on my hips. I can’t do this for much longer without becoming indecent in this very public place. Our tongues twist and turn taking in every inch of each other, trying desperately to reach every part of the other’s mouth.
I reach a point where I need to pull back. We can’t go any further out here. I’m breathless and panting for more. I wrap my arms tighter around his neck and bury my face in the crook of his neck, breathing hard and trying to get my heart rate under control.
“God you’re so beautiful,” he says, as he trails his fingers down my spine, and I feel that touch fire through all my veins. My nerves are on high alert.
&nbs
p; With those words, I think my heart just leapt out of my chest and flip flopped to the bottom of the pool. I wrap myself around him tighter and say, “Thank you.” He’s rendered me speechless.
Did I ever stand a chance of resisting him?
I realise as we stay wrapped around each other in this pool, under the Hawaiian sun, that I don’t want to resist him, I want him, all of him, and I’m going to let myself go with it.
Promises that I made to myself can be damned.
What promises?
I’ve just finished fastening the ankle strap of my new high-heeled sandals when someone knocks on the door to the Suite. I couldn’t decide what to wear tonight, so I decided on a coral coloured baby doll dress. It has cute little capped sleeves but falls quite a bit before my knees. It’s sweet but sexy. I’ve pulled my hair in to a messy bun to try and counteract the evening heat.
I gather up my clutch and my wrap and head to the door. Ethan is slightly early.
As I open the door I realise it’s not Ethan - it’s Josh.
“Hey Josh, come in.”
“You look great Ava.”
“Thanks,” I say.
Josh moves over to the living area of the room and sets down his ipad. I don’t think he goes anywhere without it. He looks anxious.
“Josh, is everything okay?”
“Well, yeah,” he says. “There is something though….” he trails off.
“Josh, whatever it is, just tell me.” I’m getting nervous now. Has he seen Ethan with another girl? Is something wrong with Liv?
“I thought you may want to see these before we head to dinner.”
“See what?”
Josh grabs his ipad and starts to scroll through paparazzi pictures of me with Ethan. Pictures of Ethan with his arms around me at the airport, pictures of Ethan and I holding hands on the plane, pictures of us walking through the airport holding hands and most horrifying, pictures of us wrapped around each other in the pool here at the hotel. Only a couple of hours ago!