When she notices I haven’t even touched mine she glares at me. “Are you going to drink that?”
I hand it to her. “I was just holding it for you.” Then I give her a big grin.
If she drinks enough of the bubby maybe I won’t have to perform tonight. She’s been known to pass out and not require my services.
Once she’s downed my glass I order us two more drinks.
She takes a little more time drinking her fourth glass, but not that much.
By the time I hand her the fifth, she’s already a little wobbly.
Knowing Penny she probably hasn’t eaten anything all day. She starves herself before parties like this one so she can fit into her size two dresses.
Personally I like a woman with a little more meat on her bones. Abby isn’t all skin and bones like most of the woman in the business. She looks like a normal girl and not a walking skeleton.
When I notice Penny’s champagne glass start to tilt I take it from her hands.
“Maybe I’d better take you home,” I suggest.
She giggles. “Are you going to put me to bed?”
“That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
“You have to be my blanket,” she states. “I want a Chris blanket.”
“Okay,” I tell her even though I have no intention of staying at her place once she’s passed out.
When she reaches for my dick I know it’s definitely time to go.
“I want to play,” she whines as I pull her towards the front door.
“You can play when I get you home,” I tell her.
“Goodie,” she exclaims right before she passes out in my arms.
I do my best to get her outside and into the taxi that is waiting for us. Luckily she already paid the driver for the entire evening.
The cabbie helps me load her into the backseat, and I opt to sit in the front passenger seat.
“Girlfriend have a little too much to drink?” he asks as he pulls away from the McMansion.
“She’s not my girlfriend,” I correct.
“Is she your wife?” he asks.
I shake my head. “Definitely not.”
He glances into the rearview mirror. “She’s an attractive woman.”
“When she can’t talk.”
He nods. “I’ve got one of those at home myself. That’s why I drive a cab all night. She works all day. I work at night. It’s the perfect relationship.”
***
I have two options. I can lie and tell Penny that we screwed all night and act hurt that she doesn’t remember it. Or I can tell her the truth: that I tucked her into bed and left.
At this point I’m not sure which option will get me into less trouble. It’s hard to tell with Penny. Maybe it’s because she’s going through that change of life that women her age go through, but she’s very moody and extremely unpredictable.
When I see her number pop up on my cellphone I have a moment of panic. I consider not answering at all, but I know for sure that will piss her off.
“What’s up?” I ask, trying to be casual.
“Where are you?” Penny sounds like she smoked fifty packs of cigarettes before she went to bed and then got run over by a truck.
“I’m home.”
“Why aren’t you here?”
I have to quickly decide which road I want to go down, and neither path looks too shit hot.
“You were wasted,” I tell her. “I thought it would be best to let you sleep.”
There’s silence at the other end of the line, which is not like Penny at all. She usually can’t keep her mouth shut. Then she moans. “I feel like someone is trying to shove an icepick through my skull.”
“Sparkling vitamin water,” I tell her. “Drink lots of it.”
“I hate that shit,” she fires back.
“You’re probably dehydrated,” I tell her.
“Did you suddenly become a genius overnight?”
“I may not know a lot about a lot of things, but I do know something about hangovers. Trust me.”
“I don’t trust anyone,” she reminds me.
“Why don’t you take some aspirin and go back to sleep?”
“Why don’t you keep your advice to yourself? Last time I checked you aren’t a doctor. I didn’t call for your expert medical advice. I called to find out when you were planning to finish what we started last night.”
“We didn’t actually start anything, if I remember correctly.”
“You left me high and dry.”
“I left you passed out in your bed. You couldn’t start anything let alone finish it.”
“What’s gotten into you, Chris?”
Abby Sullivan. “Maybe we shouldn’t—um—see each other anymore.”
“What?!” Her scream into the phone makes my ear ring.
My heart feels like it’s going to beat right out of my chest. Did I just tell her I don’t want to screw around with her anymore?
My career is just starting to get off the ground. Am I insane? That’s sure to be career suicide.
“I met someone…” I can hear the words come out of my mouth before I can stop them.
“Who?” Penny sounds like a wild woman. “Is it Rita Reynolds?”
“I don’t know Rita Reynolds?”
“She’s a manager. She’s in her 50s. A slutty cougar. She fucks almost all of her clients. Male and female. I could tell she had her eye on you at the Montgomery’s party last month.”
“It’s not Rita Reynolds. She’s not in the business.”
There’s a really long silence. Then Penny says, “Let me guess. She works at a nursery.”
“How did you know?”
“Because I’m not stupid. There had to be a reason you brought me all of these ridiculous houseplants.”
Then she really does hang up on me.
I’m not sure what to do. Does this mean she’s not going to represent me anymore either?
I really don’t feel like calling her to ask. Maybe I’ll just wait a while and see if she sends me on any more auditions.
***
“You’re back,” the older woman at the card shop counter says when I enter.
“This time I know exactly what I want.” I head right over to the three cards I picked out yesterday, but didn’t get the chance to purchase.
I remember exactly where I hid them so no one else could scoop them up before I had a chance to come back.
The older woman gives me a warm smile when I place the cards on the counter.
“This is one of my favorites.” She picks up the round sunshine card, my favorite of the bunch as well.
“For a special female friend?” She raises a bushy eyebrow at me.
I nod.
“She’s a lucky girl,” she comments as she rings up the cards.
“I’m the lucky one,” I reply. Or I will be if she decides to go out with me again.
***
My chest tightens as I get close to the nursery. What if she doesn’t want to go out with me again? I’m not sure I’ll be able to handle it.
I’ve already screwed things up with Penny. That bus has sailed. There’s no getting it back into the stable.
When I enter the nursery with my sunshine card in hand I’m a little disappointed to see Abby’s aunt standing at the counter.
Her eyes narrow as I approach. I don’t think that’s a good sign. Hopefully it’s not a bad o-man.
My throat tightens just as I’m getting ready to speak. I cough, but it doesn’t help very much. “Is Abby here?” My voice sounds like a five-year-old girl.
“She’s working in the back office.”
“Can I see here?”
She shakes her head. “She’s busy.”
I hold up the card. “I wanted to give this to her.”
Her aunt stares at me. “Why?”
It’s such an odd question. “Because I like her. I’d like to go out with her again.”
“She didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
She doesn’t reply. She turns and heads into the back room.
Now it’s not just my throat that’s tight. My chest has tightened too. What didn’t Abby tell me? Does she have cancer? Is she dying?
I think maybe I’ve seen one too many of those teen angst movies.
When Abby’s aunt returns Abby is following right behind her. She won’t look at me though. Her eyes are planted on the ground.
“Tell him,” her aunt demands.
Abby heaves a sigh. Then she moves from the back of the counter and grabs my elbow.
She pulls me into the back of the nursery before she speaks.
“I don’t think I should see you anymore.” Her voice is so soft I have to strain to hear her.
“Why not?”
When she finally looks up at me her eyes are moist. Seeing her so upset is like a knife right in the heart. “There’s something I didn’t tell you. I’m sorry. I should have told you right away. I guess I just wanted to go out on a date and feel young for once.”
I wipe away a tear that’s trickling down her cheek.
“I really do like you,” she tells me. “And it’s okay if you don’t want to go out with me again.”
“You have to tell me what’s going on,” I urge. “Why do you think I won’t want to go out with you again?”
“I have a baby,” she says.
“A what?” The ridiculous question hangs in the air between us.
“I’m a mother. I have a baby girl. She’s eleven months old.”
“You’re only nineteen.” Nothing like pointing out the obvious. How many stupid things can possibly come out of my mouth?
“I got pregnant my senior year of high school. That’s why I’m working here and not going to college.”
“Did you want to go? To college?”
She nods. “I was supposed to go. I even got a scholarship. Sometimes things don’t go the way you planned.”
We both stare at each other for what seems like an eternity. I’m not sure what to say or do. I’ve never dated anyone with a kid. Do I want to? I’ve never even given the question any thought.
“I’d better get back to work,” she says.
“Is your baby here?” I ask.
“That’s why I work in the back office most of the time. My aunt and uncle let me take care of her while I work. It’s not ideal, but it’s my only option. I’m not really qualified for any jobs that would enable me to pay for daycare.”
“Can I meet her?” I’m not even sure where the question came from. It surprises me as much as it seems to surprise Abby.
“I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.”
“I bought you this.” I hand her the card.
She stares at the envelope for several seconds before she opens it. Then she takes her time reading it.
“Thank you. This means a lot to me.”
I point to the card. “As you’ve probably figured out I’m not great with words. But everything that’s in this card is true. I do feel that way about you.”
She shakes her head. “You got this for me before you knew I had a baby. Dating someone with a kid isn’t easy. We’re kind of a package deal. Two for the price of one.”
I don’t even hesitate to kiss her. The world stops again and all that exists is the two of us and our kiss.
Until she pushes me away.
“I don’t think you really know what you’re getting into,” she tells me.
“You’re right.” I shrug. “I don’t. But you could show me. Help me figure it out.”
“There are plenty of other girls out there who don’t come with a built-in family.”
“That’s true. I’ve been with a lot of other girls, but not one of them was anything compared to you.”
She blinks back tears. “Fine. If you’re sure you want to go down this road you can meet me and Sadie at the swimming pool. That’s where we go every Sunday morning before the nursery opens.”
I gulp. “Text me the address and I’ll be there.”
Three
“She has a what?” Roscoe’s eyes look as large as pie plates.
“Abby has a baby,” I repeat.
He shakes his head. “Dude, that’s some other guy’s problem. You need to get out now.”
Nellie swats his arm so hard I can hear the whacking sound. “Don’t be an asshole.”
“But I’m so good at it.”
“A baby definitely complicates things,” Nellie offers. “But I think you could make it work if you want to.”
But do I want to? That’s the question. “I’m confused.”
Roscoe frowns. “How is that any different than any other day? You’re always confused about something.”
“I was never confused about women. Get in, get out, get on with life. There was nothing confusing about that.”
“You could always go back to yoga,” Roscoe suggests.
I shake my head. “I’m done with yoga and I’m definitely done with yoga girls. I want Abby. I’m just not sure about the mini version that comes with her.”
“They’re a package deal,” Nellie reminds me.
“That’s exactly what Abby said.” I run my fingers through my hair. “I don’t have any experience with kids. Maybe I should just meet the baby and see what it’s like.”
“Did she say anything about the baby daddy?” Roscoe asks.
That’s like a slap right in the face. I’m not sure why I didn’t think about the other guy: the baby daddy. He adds another wrinkle to the sweater.
“I didn’t ask.” But now I want to. “It sounded like she was struggling to take care of the baby by herself.”
What kind of a guy would do that to Abby?
I can feel my muscles begin to tense with anger. I know I need to hear the whole story before I can call the guy a prick, but if he knocked her up and then took off, he’s a prick.
Just like my father.
He took off when I was a baby and left my mom to raise me on her own. Luckily she met my step-dad not long after that so she didn’t have to struggle too long.
They weren’t the world’s most loving or caring parents, but they did keep a roof over my head and food on the table.
As far as I know my step-dad didn’t think twice about marrying my mom, even though she came with a baby.
“I gave you my opinion of the situation,” Roscoe says. “But it’s your life.”
Nellie shakes her head. “Don’t listen to him. Do what your heart tells you to do.”
“My heart isn’t the problem. It’s my head that’s got me all screwed up.”
My heart wants to be with Abby. My head is all mixed up.
***
When my phone buzzes I expect it to be a text from Abby with the address of the pool. To my surprise it’s a text from Penny: Call me.
I hope it’s a professional call, not a personal one, but knowing Penny she just wants to bitch me out again.
Or she’s itching for a booty call and I’m her last resort.
“What’s up?” I say when she answers.
“An audition,” she replies coldly.
“And you’re calling me?”
“Not by choice. The client insisted on you. It’s your lucky day.”
She doesn’t give me a chance to respond. She hangs up on me. But she does text me the address and the time of the audition. She just doesn’t bother to tell me what it’s for.
I guess I’ll be flying in the dark.
***
It’s a television pilot with some big stars in the leading roles. The part I’m reading for isn’t large, but it could grow into something bigger.
I’m surprised to see there are only a few other guys in the waiting room when I sit down with my script for the audition.
We all look the same: dark hair and eyes, young and buff. The character is supposed to be a former high school football star, stuck in the small hometown where he grew up. He’s the brother of the main character, who
is still in high school. It’s a show for teens being produced by MTV.
I know I shouldn’t be putting so much pressure on myself, but I have to get this part. I have a feeling it’s the last part Penny will recommend me for. Who knows if I’ll be able to land another manager?
As I review the script pages I was given I realize there aren’t any actual lines.
Okay, not completely true. The character says things like: Dude, and Oh, Man. He mainly reacts to things going on around him, and tosses a football a lot.
It’s like the part was written for me.
That’s when I know in my heart I’m going to land the role.
“Chris Rhodes,” the casting agent calls.
I follow the middle age woman into another room where two men and another woman are seated at a table.
Before I have a chance to process what’s going on one of the men tosses a football at me. Luckily my reflexes are still really good and I catch the ball.
“Nice catch,” the guy says.
“Thanks.”
“You played football?” The woman raises an eyebrow.
“All through high school. I led our team to the state championship.”
The woman slowly nods as she looks me up and down. “Let’s hear you read.”
The casting agent who led me into the room reads the other lines for me. It’s so easy I feel like I’m back at the condo having a conversation with Roscoe, if Roscoe was a female casting agent.
“That’s great,” the man who tossed the football at me says. “We’ll definitely be in touch.”
And that’s it. My biggest audition to date lasted all of five minutes.
But there’s no way that I didn’t get that part.
***
“You can’t go out in public like that,” Nellie says as she passes by me in the hallway.
“Why not?” I cross my arms over my chest.
She stops and points to my bare chest. “You’re half naked.”
“I’m going to a swimming pool,” I remind her.
“That should be illegal.”
“I hope I impress Abby as much as I’ve impressed you.”
She gulps. “I don’t think you need to worry about that.”
“I hope she likes more than just my body.”
“What was that?” Nellie is still staring at my chest. Any moment I expect her to start drooling.
Beautiful Abyss (California Dreamers #3) Page 4