Dane: Hollywood's Finest

by Wilde, Delilah

  "Her dress was fine," I lied, "Look Jeff, if you could just tell me why you're here that would be great. I've got a lot of things to do and I'm not interested in making small talk with you."

  Jeff nodded as if he understood, though of course he couldn't possibly understand.

  "Of course. I'm sorry Ruby, I don't want to waste your time," he said. He took a deep breath and there was a long pause before anyone spoke. For the first time, I could see that I was making him nervous. I wasn't sure if that was something I liked or not, but it sure felt different.

  "Spit it out Jeff," I said. I wanted to add 'or I'll shove your face in the cat's fur' but that would have been a little too psychotic, even for me. Jeff nodded again.

  "Yeah, sorry, sorry. I just...I don't know how to say this," he gulped and to my surprise, he took my hand, "Ruby, I love you. I was stupid to hurt you. You have to let me move back in so I can make things better."

  Each word was like a knife forcing its way into a different part of my flesh. These were the words I had wanted so desperately to hear in the weeks after our break up, but now they disgusted me. I pulled my hand away from his touch. Lucy began to yowl, upset by the bad atmosphere in the room.

  "Are you fucking crazy, Jeff? You left me for my best friend! You broke my heart and ruined my life!" I said. Jeff wouldn't give up.

  "I know, I know. And now I'm back and I want to make it up to you. I want to treat you like the princess your really are, baby," he said, reaching for my hand again.

  I stood up so that he couldn't touch me, "Come on, don't be like that."

  "I think you should go home to Amy," I said. That name brought a change of expression across Jeff's face and I instantly knew why, "Oh god, she dumped you, didn't she?"

  Jeff sighed.

  "It wasn't working out. We're different people. We just don't click the way that you and I do."

  "Shut up!"

  "No, I won't shut up," Jeff stood up, "I know I hurt you. You hurt me too. But we need to move on now, baby. Give the cat to your mom and let me move in again. Don't you want to work on that book together?"

  I rolled my eyes.

  "No. Forgive me if working fifty hours a week while you stay at home and scratch your ass isn't my dream life," I said. Jeff sneered at me.

  "Oh, so turning into a fat ugly cat lady is? It's not like you have any other options!"

  I'd forgotten how mean that Jeff could be when he didn't get his way. The last bit of temptation to take him up on his offer evaporated totally. Things would never be good between us again and I knew it. What I said next was a surprise to both of us.

  "Well, I'd rather be a cat lady than your slave any day," I said, "Besides, I have a new boyfriend and we're very happy together."

  Jeff's face fell. What on earth had I just said that for?

  "You do? Who is he? What's his name?"

  Of course, I said the only name that was on my mind.

  "Nate Watson. We went to Trisha's wedding together, actually," I faked a blissful expression, "The two of us danced all night and spent all morning in bed together. It was so magical."

  Jeff folded his arms and narrowed his eyes, obviously trying to see if I was lying.

  "Nate Watson is a millionaire restaurant guy with tattoos. He was on the news last week. You don't honestly expect me to believe you're with him, do you?" he asked, though I could sense the doubt in his voice.

  "Believe me or don't believe me, I don't give a fuck. Just get out of my apartment and don't come back!" I said. Jeff opened his mouth as if he was going to argue with me, but he obviously thought better of it. He nodded and left without saying goodbye.

  I allowed myself to cry for a few minutes before wiping my tears, getting into my pajamas and making myself a comforting cup of hot chocolate. I settled down on the couch with my laptop on my knees and my kitten snoozing at my feet and sipped my warm drink as I googled Nate Watson.

  Jeff and my mom had been wrong about him. He wasn't a millionaire, he was a billionaire. His restaurant chain had recently gone international and gotten rave reviews from famous food critics all over the world. There were interviews with him on YouTube that I watched with interest, appreciating the deep tone of his voice. He even had his own website with a list when he would be appearing and where. Paris, Seoul, Dubai. This guy obviously lived a jet setting life. Weirdly enough though, his next appearance was a talk that he would be giving next week at the community college he had attended. I knew the place, it was only a few blocks away from where I lived. The talk was on entrepreneurship. As a professional, it might be helpful to me. Nate might actually have some good ideas about how I could make my career really talk off.

  No. I took another sip of my hot chocolate and promised myself that I wouldn't go. No matter how valuable this guy's advice might be, I couldn't risk seeing him again. It was totally out of the question.

  "Hey Lucy," I said to my kitten, who miaowed in response, "I'm not going to the talk, OK? I'm never gonna see Nate Watson again."

  She purred and rubbed against my feet. It was good that she liked me so much. If I was going to grow old and become a cat lady, I might as well get a good start.

  Nate

  People always ask me why I bother to speak at my old community college. It's a good question, really. I could be in any other city in the world, speaking to men and women who have achieved extraordinary things and drinking alcohol that costs more than most people's wedding china. I always make the time to speak at Lincoln community because that's where I had my start. I was a kid who hated school, drank way too much and was rude to everyone I encountered, but somehow that college made something of me. Now, I don't have to worry about money or not having a bed to sleep in at night. The least I can do is visit every once and a while and share my so called wisdom with the kids. The idea that I could inspire someone to achieve their dream is always pretty cool.

  The kids and the teachers all listened eagerly as I told them about myself. They all knew who I was, of course. Many of them seemed impressed that I'd gotten this far in life while being completely covered in tattoos. More of them seem impressed by my humble upbringing and how I turned a small loan into a fortune. At the end of my talk, the floor was opened up to questions. A girl asked me what my favorite subject in school was. I told her math. A guy asked me what advice I could give to someone who wants to enter the restaurant business. I gave a long spiel that sounded good, though I know a lot of my success was down to luck and being in the right place at the right time. One girl asked me if I was single and the auditorium dissolved into laughter.

  "Please keep questions on relevant! Mr. Watson doesn't want to answer silly personal questions!" warned one of the teachers.

  "It's OK, really. I am single, actually. I'm young and I still want to see the world and experience everything, so I'm not tying myself down right now."

  It's my standard answer, but as soon as I finished saying it I saw her. She was standing at the back of the room, her auburn hair in two braids and wearing a soft pink sweater. It was Ruby, and she was listening to every word I said. She must have been here for the whole talk. I suddenly felt embarrassed, wondering if she thought all my advice is cheesy. She must have realized that I was looking at her because she imminently blushed and pushed her way out of the big double doors at the back of the auditorium.

  "Mr Watson, thank you so much for being here," said the same teacher who had scolded the students a minute ago, "I just hope that our students will take something from this. Perhaps some of them will be standing here with you in a few years time."

  I thanked the school for having me and made my way as quickly as I could to the back of the auditorium. This was no easy task, as I kept being stopped. Students wanted to ask me more questions. My old teachers wanted to congratulate me. The auditorium was so packed that it took forever to get through those double doors, and by the time I did I was sure that Ruby would be gone.

  I looked all over the place but couldn't find her. She h
ad fled, like a nervous little sparrow who had just seen a fox. I was surprised at how crushed I felt, though I didn't know why. After all, she had left the hotel room so rudely and abruptly. I should be pissed.

  I wasn't pissed though, I was just bummed. I talked to a few more people but eventually managed to slip away. My old smoking spot had been at the back of the school by the old vending machines that hardly worked. I stepped outside and was delighted to see that it was as deserted as it had been back in the day when I had spent all my time there.

  Though I was trying to quit, I pulled a cigarette out of my pocket for old time's sake and lit up.

  "That's a filthy habit," Ruby stepped out from behind one of the vending machines. She looked even more beautiful than I remembered, the snug fit of her sweater and her short skirt showing off her figure. In the past, girls usually became boring to me after I slept with them. It felt like the mystery had dissipated once I had seen them without their clothes on and touched them everywhere I had been wanting to touch them. For some reason, Ruby had only become more mysterious to me after we spent the night together. She hadn't left my mind since, but I tried my best to play it cool.

  "I'm quitting soon, promise," I said, taking a drag. She gave a cute little smirk.

  "Sure."

  "So what are you doing here then? Looking for round two?" I said, trying to keep the hope from my voice. She shook her head.

  "No, I told you that's not happening again. Just put it out of your mind," she pulled out a little flowery notebook from her satchel, "I was here for some tips."

  She showed me what she had written down. It was everything I had said, practically word for word. It was flattering really, but a little embarrassing to see all the crap I had said laid out in front of me like that. I couldn't tell if it was good advice or not. No one had ever given me any advice and I had still somehow managed to succeed. Still, I had tried my best to be helpful.

  "Learn anything good?" I asked. Ruby shrugged.

  "I'm not sure yet. When I become a billionaire I'll let you know," she said dryly.

  I chuckled at her sassiness.

  "So, miss future billionaire. Do you have plans for tonight?" That signature blush returned to Ruby's features.

  "Yes. Well, I mean, no. But we can't hang out. If that's what you're asking, I mean. I told you, we're not having sex again. It's not right," she insisted.

  "Yeah, yeah you made that clear. What I am proposing is a strictly platonic dalliance between two friends," I said. Ruby nibbled on her bottom lip like she wasn't sure if she should believe me or not. She closed her eyes and I noticed how long and thick her eyelashes were, like the kind you'd see on an antique dolls. She took a deep breath and opened them again.

  "Fuck it, OK. I could use a friend, I guess. But strictly platonic," she said. I nodded.

  "You have my word."

  Ruby

  "You've got to be fucking kidding me."

  A motorcycle. Nate expected me to get on a motorcycle. He did look great in that leather jacket, but the idea of hurtling so fast down the highway with my arms around his waist was crazy. No fucking way.

  Nate grinned and passed me a helmet. I watched him sit down on the bike. He looked amazing, like a model or a movie star.

  "What, did you think I'd have a limo waiting for us or something? Get on, babe. You'll like it," he said, winking at me. I shook my head stubbornly.

  "No way! I'm wearing a skirt, it'll blow up and everyone will see my panties. And don't call me babe!" I argued. Nate shrugged and revved the engine just enough to make me nervous.

  "No one will see anything. Now come on," he reached out his hand, "You can trust me, Ruby."

  I wasn't so sure. Yet, despite my apprehension my curiosity had been piqued. Truth be told, the sight of Nate on the bike like that, like the bad boy he was, thrilled me. Sitting behind him felt like playing with fire, but I did it anyway and after putting on my helmet.

  "That's my girl," he said, starting up the death machine.

  "I'm not your girl!" I shouted, but the engine was so loud that he didn't seem to hear me. Either that or he didn't want to hear me. Suddenly we were hurtling forward and I was screaming at the top of my lungs. The bike was so fast, so loud, so dangerous. All I could do was clasp Nate tightly and trust that he would get me to our destination in one piece. That was the other scary thing. I hadn't asked where we were going.

  We rode through street after street together. Some of them were familiar to me and some of them were strange, areas far too classy for people like us. I was broke as shit and Nate, despite being insanely wealthy, didn't seem to quite fit the mold of the upper class business man. I saw people shooting us dirty looks as we sped past them but for once in my life I didn't care. By the time Nate Parked the bike right next to the beach, my fear had disappeared and the adrenaline was pumping inside me. I tore off my helmet.

  "Aw, why'd you stop?" I asked and Nate laughed, taking his helmet off and looking back at me.

  "Because we're here? Fuck Ruby, I can't figure you out. One minute you're yelling at me for making you ride on the back of my bike and the next you're yelling at me for stopping. I can't win," he scolded, though he was smiling. I watched him get up and hang the helmet off of the bike handles, so I did the same.

  "So, what did you take me to the beach for? What kind of platonic fun will we have here?" I asked. Nate ignored my little jab and pointed to a restaurant on the edge of the beach.

  "You see that? That's my restaurant. The first one," he looked down at me, "How would you like a free Italian dinner?"

  I shrugged, trying to seem casual though it sounded like an incredible offer. Otherwise I'd be having oatmeal for dinner again. It couldn't hurt to say yes, could it? I had already ridden on his motorcycle without incident. Maybe we really could have a great friendship together.

  Nate

  By the time Ruby and I finished our dinner, the sun had set and the beach was deserted. She had been very sweet and shy, obviously not wanting to order anything too expensive. The thing is that that really isn't an option in my restaurants. I eventually convinced her to order what she wanted and she enjoyed a delicious salad, squid ink pasta and tiramisu for dessert. She relished every bite of food and thanked me profoundly for treating her. She obviously didn't eat very well at home, though I wasn't sure how she could on an artist's salary. I was glad to see her look so happy as we left the restaurant.

  "Wow, the beach is totally empty," she said, as we walked alone the sand, "and it's still so warm. I bet the water feels incredible right now."

  "I'll bet it does," I said, "But you can't see anything."

  The two of us had had a few beers after dinner and I could see that Ruby had loosened up considerably. She didn't walk. Instead, she skipped alongside me and couldn't keep a smile of her face. She wasn't drunk, not by any means, but certainly a little bit tipsy. It was adorable and made me want to kiss her more than anything. But I had been banned from that. For a while we didn't say anything, she just sang softly as I walked and she skipped. Then she stopped in her tracks and looked at me.

  "Nate," she said, giggling, "Nate, I have an idea."

  "What?" I asked. She giggled a little but more before finally answering me.

  "We should go skinny dipping together!" she exclaimed. The words confused me but as I tried to argue with her she began to strip off, "I bet the water is so nice."

  "But Ruby, I thought we were being strictly platonic?" I asked. She rolled her eyes at me as if I had just said something incredibly stupid.

  "We are, silly. I just want to have some fun. Now are you in or not?" I watched her undo her bra and let those soft white tits come out before I answered.

  "OK, I'm in."

  Ruby gave a squeal of delight before pulling off her panties and rushing in to the water. I pulled my own clothes off in record time and ran behind her, diving in only seconds after she did. The two of us rose to the water's surface and had fun splashing each other before we swam ou
t a little bit further.

  The moonlight shone on Ruby's alabaster skin in a way that illuminated it perfectly. I desperately wanted to touch her and could feel myself getting erect, but I did my best to resist her. Suddenly she stopped giggling and was looking right into my eyes, a serious expression on her face. I thought that she might kiss me but the moment passed and suddenly she was splashing me again.

  We got the childishness out of our systems by splashing each other, racing each other and splashing each other some more. After a while we had tired ourselves out so we just swam around lazily, enjoying the slight movement of each gentle wave.

  "Jeff wants me back," Ruby said, suddenly. I tried to keep my cool.

  "Your ex?"

  "Yeah, Amy dumped him. He's been begging me actually. It's funny, a few months ago I thought that was what I wanted. I wanted him to suffer, and then I wanted to take him back. It's funny how that stuff changes so fast," she said softly.