“Brilliant idea. Don’t burn the house down, boys!”
The four of us sit out by the pool having drinks and passing a joint around while we wait for dinner to finish. There’s small talk and a little teasing from both Lexi and Jamie directed at Chase, which he dishes back. The dogs run around the pool, chasing and playing fetch. That feeling of belonging comes back again, and I wish I could follow my heart. It’s all I’ve ever wanted, to belong somewhere.
“So, where are you headed next?” Jamie asks, blowing out a lungful of smoke before passing the joint to Lexi. They’ve been holding hands while we talk and it’s adorable.
“I’ve got a TV spot in Atlanta in a couple of days, then I’m back in LA for a bit. Oh, and I uhm, Cyn says I’m going to Cannes.”
“No shit! For that indie flick?”
“Yeah. From what she told me, it’s on fire and everyone has been talking about it. Cyn’s suckered me into an event that’s supposed to be for charity, but it’s nothing but as ass kiss party for a bunch of old Hollywood guys. She says it could end up finding more funding for the release since those guys have deep pockets.” He turns his focus back on me. “I could really use a not-date to go with me in a few weeks. Jamie refuses to go to those. He claims it’s because he’s busy, but secretly he’s scared to wear the dress. I keep trying to explain that I’m the movie star, so I get to wear the suit.”
“Dick,” Jamie flips him off with a laugh.
“That’s a little…public, isn’t it?”
“Shit, yeah. You’re right. Duh. I’m too high to brain right now. Cyn will probably come with me anyhow, or she’ll send one of her people.”
A timer goes off, and Jamie goes to get up, but Chase stops him. “Stay put, chill out. I’ve got this.”
After he disappears, there’s a moment of silence between the three of us until Lexi breaks it. “Ren, what the hell? When did you start dating Chase, and why didn’t anyone tell me?” She laughs. “Did Dani the matchmaker have anything to do with this?”
“Yeah, she set Chase and I up.” Jamie answers before I can. Realizing how that sounds, he laughs. “Wait, not like that. I mean, that’s why she suggested the art class at Ren’s school. Sneaky minx. I thought she’d be here tonight?”
“Well, first off, we’re not dating, but yes, that’s when we met.” I take a drink of some fruity but delicious wine Chase brought out earlier. “Dani is, uhm, she’s at a show. She kind of set me up tonight, too. Telling me she’d be here and not telling me where it was.”
“Wait, you’re not dating?”
“No. Just friends.” I smile, but they’re trying to understand why. “It would never work between us. A-list celebrities don’t date school teachers who like to play with robots.”
“Oh, come on,” Lexi argues. “There have been a few movie stars with us lowly working class types!”
“You sound like Dani,” Jamie chuckles. “And you can’t claim working class anymore, babe. We’re upper class now. Sorry, that’s entirely my fault, but you did marry me.”
“Yeah, when you were still a broke ass artist. And I’d do it all again. Okay, maybe not all of it, but the whole marrying you part, totally. Wait, don’t change the subject!” She glares at me, or that’s what she thinks she’s doing. The face she makes has both Jamie and me giggle.
“Pretty white boys with blue eyes and a smile that outshines the stars like Chase don’t date short, overweight, poor Mexican girls. We’re too spicy for their delicate nature. In another life, maybe, but in this one, we’re doomed.”
“Well,” Jamie says as he goes to stand. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to the kitchen to beat the ever-loving shit out of him for being too fucking pretty. Fucking moron.”
“No! Wait! It’s… it wasn’t his idea. It’s mine. It’s what I want and what we agreed to.” He flops back into his chair and looks dejected. “I have no desire to be wrapped up in that chaotic lifestyle. He’s a wonderful guy, and he deserves someone amazing at his side.”
“You’re amazing! And that dress!” Lexi yells.
“Yeah, Dani changed out the clothes I planned on wearing tonight, too.” I sigh. I have to remember to smack that girl when I get home. “But I live in a tiny bungalow with my mother and sister in East LA. I don’t need the press dangling off our state-of-the-art rusty ass chain-link fence or spooking Mama when she thinks she’s sneaking outside to have a cigarette like we don’t know. The school doesn’t need that either. We’ll have our fun, and after that, who knows?”
“Well, for what it’s worth, I agree with my beautiful wife. You’re fucking stunning,” Jamie replies with a half smile. “I hope you two change your minds, but I get it if you don’t. His life isn’t easy, but ole Pongo over there helps.”
“God, you’re a perfect example of why I don’t wear dresses. She look so fucking good! I would never look that good.”
“Cherry Blossom, you would put me in an early grave if you had that dress on. I mean, hell. I wouldn’t hesitate to bend you over this table right now, even if you were wearing living room curtains from a retirement home.” He takes her hand and kisses each of her knuckles.
For two people who have been through so much, you wouldn’t know anything bad had ever happened to them. The world did them wrong, but they found each other and fought back. Even I’m swooning a little over how they stare at each other. Like no one else in the world exists, just them and the stars.
It’s the same way Chase stares at me.
Shit.
“Okay, you fuckers better be hungry. Come in here and grab a plate.” Chase yells from somewhere in the house.
