All of the color has drained out of Dex’s face. He looks like a ghost. He swallows before he says, “Maybe I’d better go.”
“Do what you do best,” I tell him just to kick him when he’s down.
He doesn’t say anything else. He just turns and walks out the door.
Abby is quiet for a few really long moments. Then she puts her arms around me and gives me a big hug.
“I had no idea…”
“You don’t have to say anything.”
“Dex is kind of a jerk, isn’t he?”
“The guy is seriously diluted.”
She raises an eyebrow. “Delusional?
“Exactly.”
“Did you really mean everything you said to him?”
“Every word.”
“I can’t make Dex something he’s not and probably never will be. I guess I just realized that.”
“I know it’s not an easy pill to swallow. For years I thought my bio dad would come back for me. I think I was ten before I finally accepted the fact that he was never coming back and that he really didn’t care about me.”
“Do you ever think about him?”
I shrug. “Sometimes. It’s more curiosity than anything else. I found him on Facebook. He sells insurance in San Jose.”
“Did you ever think about contacting him?”
“Nope. I figured if he wanted me in his life he’d figure out a way to find me.”
“What are your mom and step-dad like?” she asks.
I give her a quick kiss. “You sure have a lot of questions.”
“I don’t mean to grill you.”
“It’s okay. I don’t mind. I guess I’m just not used to it.”
“No girls have asked you stuff about yourself before?”
I shake my head. “No. Definitely not. Should we use your condoms or mine has been the extent of my conversations with women.”
She places her hand on my face. “That’s sad.”
“It is what it is,” I tell her. “But what we have is different.”
“How so?”
I try to swallow, but my throat has tightened. “I’m here for the long haul,” I somehow manage to get out.
“I don’t think you should say that until you really know what you’re getting into,” she tells me.
“I have a pretty good idea.”
She kisses my cheek. “I appreciate everything you’re trying to do. But you don’t have to pick up the pieces of my broken life because Dex isn’t willing to do it.”
“I want to be here for you. And I want to be here for Sadie.”
“It’s a lot more than feeding her applesauce,” she says pointedly.
“I know that. And I know I’m not an expert on babies. Hell, I don’t know anything about babies. I don’t actually know much about anything other than football and acting…”
“You know about sex,” she interrupts.
“Okay. I’m an expert on sex. That’s true.”
She laughs. “And you’re so modest.”
“My point is that I’m willing to learn whatever I need to know so I can be with you and Sadie.”
She gnaws on her bottom lip for several seconds before she replies. “The reason I haven’t dated anyone since Dex left for school is because I was afraid having a baby in the mix would be too much for most guys to handle.”
“Were you just going to wait to date until Sadie turned eighteen and left home?”
“I was going to wait until she was a little older. Or until I was a little older and it would make sense to date guys with kids. Not many nineteen year olds have children.”
“And some don’t bother to take responsibility for them.” I know it’s mean to get a jab in at Dex while he’s not here to defend himself. But even when he was here he didn’t really defend himself so I don’t feel too bad about the insult.
“My point is that even when I tried to dissuade you from dating me, you wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
“That’s because I’m not detergent.”
Abby finds this hilarious. She laughs so hard she actually snorts. “You’re not easily deterred?”
“That’s exactly what I said.”
She kisses me. “Do you still want to watch the movie?”
I never actually cared about watching the chick flick. “Not unless you do. Did you have something else in mind?”
“We could make out on the couch like teenagers?”
“You are still a teenager,” I remind her.
She grins. “Exactly.”
***
The sound of my cellphone ringing wakes me up. When I reach for it on my nightstand a book falls off my chest. I must have fallen asleep reading the book Abby loaned me: The Big Fat Everything Baby Book.
The book is very fat. Massive. And it does seem to have everything you’d ever want to know about babies, and even stuff you don’t want to know. The person who wrote it wasn’t lying with that title.
“This is Marta Myers. The casting director for All About Ava.”
My heart starts to beat wildly. This is it. I have to get this part.
“We’d like to call you in for a reading with the actress whose been cast in the leading role.”
“Great,” I somehow manage to say even with my incredibly dry throat.
She gives me the details for the callback. It’s this afternoon.
This is it. My big break. I know in my heart I’m going to get this part. I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself because I know how unpredictable show business can be. But if the show does well, and they like me, it could mean a steady paycheck.
I could do a lot to help Abby and Sadie with that kind of money.
I read online that Mae Russell was cast as Ava. It was big news. She’s the new Hollywood it girl. I’ve got to do whatever it takes to impress her and impress the casting director.
Mae Russell has dark hair and dark eyes like I do. I don’t have siblings so I have no idea how much a brother and sister are supposed to look alike.
Once I’m dressed and ready for the day I head into the kitchen with my baby book. Maybe I can get a little reading in while I eat breakfast.
Nellie and Roscoe are already seated at the kitchen table eating toast and drinking coffee when I enter.
“You’re up early,” Nellie observes.
“And you’re reading a book?” Roscoe adds, obviously surprised.
“I have a callback for the MTV show this afternoon and I want to get ready for it.”
“Is the show about a baby?” Nellie points to the book in my hands.
“No, this is a book Abby loaned me so I could learn more about parenting Sadie.”
Nellie and Roscoe eye each other. Then Nellie says, “Are things moving that quickly with Abby?”
Not as quickly as I’d like, but I don’t tell Nellie that. I don’t want to tell anyone because they’ll think I’m nuts. I’d marry Abby in a heartbeat if I could. That’s weird because before I met Abby I didn’t think I’d ever get married.
“Do you think I look like Mae Russell?” I ask.
“That’s a random question,” Roscoe replies.
“Mae Russell has been cast as the lead in All About Ava. That’s the show I’m auditioning for. I’m supposed to be her older brother.”
“You could be her brother,” Nellie tells me.
“You’re not just saying that?”
“I’m not just saying that,” she assures me. “You’re both charismatic and attractive in the same way.”
Roscoe pokes her arm. “But not as attractive as I am.”
Her lips tighten and she glares at him. “Not as attractive as you. Not to me anyway.”
He grins. “That’s all that matters.”
“I’d better call Abby and give her the good news.” I eye the two pieces of toast that are sitting in the center of the table. “Are you two going to eat those?”
“Help yourself,” Nellie tells me.
I grab them from the pla
te. “Thanks.”
***
Abby doesn’t answer her phone the first five times I call. I’m starting to panic. She always answers my calls on the first ring.
Something is wrong. I just know it. I debate going over there on my moped.
She told me she wasn’t going to work at the nursery until later in the afternoon so she could take Sadie to the park.
I try phoning one more time and when she doesn’t pick up I decide I need to see her.
Has she changed her mind about me? I try to remember if there was anything that happened on our date last night that could have made the wrong impression.
When I left she told me she was excited to see me again. We made plans to meet for brunch on our next date.
“Good luck with your audition,” Nellie tells me as I make my way to the front door.
“Thanks, I’ve got to stop by Abby’s place first.”
She frowns. “Is something wrong?”
I shrug. “I have no idea. She won’t answer her phone.”
***
I’ve never driven my moped so fast before. I know I’m straining the engine, but I don’t care. I know something is not right and I have to see Abby.
Luckily her aunt and uncle’s car is not in the driveway. They’ve probably already gone to the nursery. Once I’m parked I practically run to the front door and start pounding.
When Abby finally opens the door I try my best not to gasp. Her eyes are red and swollen like she’s been crying.
“What’s wrong?”
“What are you doing here?”
We both stare at each other, neither one of us actually answering the question the other asked.
All I want to do is take her into my arms and make whatever is hurting her go away. But something stops me. The look on her face tells me to proceed with caution.
“You wouldn’t answer your phone,” I state.
“I can’t.”
“But why? I don’t understand. Please tell me what’s going on.”
She blows out air as she wipes at her eyes.
I want to kiss her and tell her that everything is going to be alright, but I’m not sure it is. She looks like someone just died.
“Is Sadie okay?” My stomach knots when the words pop out of my mouth. She has to be okay.
“She’s fine,” Abby replies quickly.
“Your aunt and uncle?”
“They left for the nursery a little early today to get set up for a big sale.”
“Can I come in?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
My chest tightens and I feel like I can’t breathe. “Are you breaking up with me?”
Tears begin to stream down her face. “I don’t know.”
Fuck it. I pull her into my arms. I expect her to pull away, but she melts into me instead. I hold her as tight as I can and allow her to cry.
When the waterworks start to subside I place my hand on her face and look deep into her eyes. “What’s going on?”
“Dex and his dad stopped by earlier. I think I told you his dad is a lawyer. He told me that he and Dex didn’t approve of me having strange men around Sadie. They didn’t think it was appropriate. Dex’s dad threatened to take me to court and sue for custody of Sadie if I continued to engage in behaviors that they believe make me an unfit mother.”
I can hear the words coming from Abby’s mouth, but they don’t make any sense. How could anyone ever call Abby an unfit mother? Especially someone who hasn’t taken any responsibility for Sadie at all.
“Can they do that?” I ask.
She shrugs. “I have no idea. He’s a lawyer. And I don’t have any money to hire one myself.”
“I have money,” I tell her even though I have no idea how much a lawyer costs. “If it’s not enough I’ll get more.”
“You can’t do that,” she tells me. “Supposedly you’re the problem. Or my dating you is.”
“He can’t do what he’s doing to you. You’re a fantastic mother, and he’s an irresponsible prick. He’s just pissed off because he can’t have you whenever he feels like it anymore.”
She sniffles. “I just don’t know what to do.”
“I do,” I tell her.
She frowns. “You have a solution to this problem?”
“Do you still want to be with me?” My eyes search hers.
“Of course I do,” she says without hesitating.
“I have to go to a callback for that television show. That’s actually what I came here to tell you.”
Her face brightens a bit. “That’s fantastic.”
“As soon as I take care of that, I’ll help you deal with this.”
She places her small hand on my cheek. “Please concentrate on your audition. I know how important landing this role is to you.”
“Nothing is more important to me than you and Sadie,” I tell her.
She gives me a quick kiss. “Break a leg. Isn’t that what we’re supposed to say instead of good luck?”
***
Mae Russell is much smaller in person than she looks onscreen. I’ve noticed that most actors are tiny in real life. That’s one thing that makes me unique and a standout in the business. I’m a big guy, and I look huge compared to most other actors.
Which is perfect for someone who is supposed to be a former football player. The character, Beau, is supposed to be a dumb jock. If I had a dollar for every time someone used those words to describe me I’d be so wealthy I wouldn’t need to act at all.
“Thanks for coming in today,” the casting director tells me. “We’d just like to get an idea how you read with Mae and how the two of you look together.”
“Great.” I give them the best smile I can master, or is it muster? Who knows?
I have to admit that it’s hard for me to think about anything but Abby and that mindfuck Dex has pulled on her. The guy is a piece of shit and continues to demonstrate just how shitty he is.
“Mae, whenever you’d like to start,” the casting director says.
There are two other people seated at a table with her: the guy who is directing the pilot episode and the creator of the show. They’re all staring at me and not Mae, which is making me nervous.
Once again I don’t have any real lines. I just say okay and yeah a few times and then at the end of the scene I pick her up and carry her away as a joke.
Mae is a great actress. She says all the lines so convincingly I feel like I’m having a real conversation with her. I make a snap decision that I’m going to pick her up a little before she’s expecting it, so she’ll react like it’s a real surprise.
When I lift her into the air she squeals and starts hitting me just like a real sister probably would in that situation. I give the audience a big, smug grin before I carry her away.
The three big wigs watching us actually applaud.
“You can put me down now,” Mae says.
I got so carried away with the scene I forgot.
When I carefully place her back on the floor she puts up a hand for me to high-five her.
“You’re cool,” she tells me.
“Thanks.”
“I hope you get the part.”
“Me too.”
***
The casting director said they’d let me know in a few days. They want to start shooting as quickly as possible because Mae just signed a contract for a major role in a big studio film.
I never thought I’d say that an acting job wasn’t the most important thing in my life. Landing a big job like All About Ava has been my dream for over five years.
But now I have a more important dream to make a reality: one that includes Abby and Sadie.
I stop by one of the upscale malls on my way home from the callback. I comb every jewelry store until I find exactly what I’m looking for. It’s an expensive purchase. More than I’ve spent on anything in my life. Hopefully Abby will like it as much as I do.
***
&
nbsp; “What’s that?” Nellie corners me in the hallway as soon as I enter the condo.
Her eagle eye spotted the small velvet jewelry box in my hand.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I tell her because I don’t feel like hearing a lecture about how crazy my idea is. I know it’s crazy and I’m still going to do it.
I would do anything for Abby. And I would do anything to be with her.
Nellie doesn’t give up that easily though. I should have known. “That small box in your hand.”
Before I have a chance to stop her she grabs it from me and opens it. She lets out a gasp. “Is this an engagement ring? For Abby? The two of you just started dating. Are you insane?”
“Yes. Yes. I know. Maybe.”
She frowns. “A few weeks ago you were a one-night-wonder manwhore and now you’re asking a nineteen-year-old to marry you? I think you’ve just given me whiplash.”
“Abby and I aren’t into the whole bondage thing, but if that’s something you and Roscoe want to explore more power to you.”
“Whiplash,” she repeats. “I wasn’t talking about actual whips or bondage. We’re not into that either. Whiplash is what happens to your neck when it moves too fast.”
I stare at her because I really have no idea what she’s talking about. “Abby’s ex, Dex is giving her a hard time about seeing me.”
Nellie laughs. “Her ex is really named Dex? Dex the ex?”
I laugh with her because the jerk deserves to be mocked. “Abby is intimidated because his dad is a lawyer and he threatened to take her to court. I don’t think he can do anything if Abby and I are married.”
“I’m not sure whether that idea is incredibly smart or incredibly stupid. It could probably go either way.”
“The story of my life,” I joke.
“If by some miracle she does say yes when are the two of you going to tie the knot?”
“What time is it now?” I ask.
Beautiful Abyss (California Dreamers #3) Page 9