“Ah, there’s Jesse.” I see a redheaded man standing across the way, gesturing to us. Next to him is a tall, dark and handsome stranger, who looks a bit familiar. He looks slick and all-knowing, with gelled back hair and a quick grin.
“Who is that?” I ask, cocking my head while squinting a bit. Bruce nods.
“That’s Keith Flemings. You know, the guy who owns Flemings Gas Company?”
“Oh, okay.” For a moment, I’m briefly intimidated. Of course I’ve heard of Flemings Gas. They provide electricity and gas for oh, just about everyone on the West Coast. But it goes to show who I’m rubbing shoulders with tonight. All of these people are insanely wealthy, not to mention extremely successful. Meanwhile, who am I? A spunky girl who started her own business on-line. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, and yet, I feel out of place. Sure, my panty-selling business is going well, but it’s nothing compared to the companies these men own. To my surprise, the two men stroll over in our direction.
“Keith.” Bruce steps forward, shaking the dark man’s hand. “Good to see you.” The man glances in my direction, looking at me with hungry eyes.
“Bruce, nice to see you too. And who might this lovely lady be?” He reaches out, offering his hand to me, but Bruce steps back, tightening his grip around my waist in a blatantly possessive manner. With any other man, I would have thought this controlling, but somehow with Mr. Lockhart, it makes me feel safe. I lean my head on his shoulder and flash a smile at the stranger.
“She’s with me,” Brace answers with a threatening look on his face as if to say, The prettiest girl in this room is mine, so hands off.
Suddenly, the room falls into a deep silence. I look around, wondering what’s going on. “The main actor is about to make an appearance,” Jesse whispers in our direction.
An eruption of screams sounds from the doorway. Women lean forward to catch a glimpse of the mystery individual, their mouths opening with anticipation. The energy is infectious, and I’m tempted to rush forwards as well, but Bruce tightens his grip, keeping me in place.
Sure enough, a handsome man appears. It’s Tom Benning, he of the Paul Newman smile and bright blue eyes. He raises one hand to the crowd in a practiced wave, a smile breaking open to reveal teeth like bright white Tic-Tacs. People move out of the way as if his presence alone is enough to push them aside, but to my surprise, the movie star comes straight to us.
“Hey Bruce,” he says casually. “I’m so glad to see you here. It’s been a while since you’ve been to one of my premieres.”
“So it has,” my man answers with a nod. “Benning, I’d like you to meet my date.”
The movie star turns in my direction, his eyes crinkling with delight. “What a beautiful woman. It’s my pleasure.” He reaches forward and grabs my hand, kissing it ever so slightly. “You’ve got a good one here, Lockhart,” he says with a grin.
Oh. My. God.
Tom Benning just kissed my hand.
This has to be some sort of a dream.
The Tom Benning is standing right in front of me. My movie crush, who is downright one of the most handsome men on the planet. I had his pictures cut from magazines and taped to my bedroom wall not even five years ago.
My knees knock together, becoming weak. I’m going to pass out. But as I struggle for words, feeling like an idiot, his smile melts right through my soul.
“It’s nice to make your acquaintance,” he says in his thick British accent.
It’s absolutely dreamy.
I blink before blurting out like a goddamn idiot, “I love you, Tom!”
Oh my god.
Did I really just say that, like some teenage nincompoop?
My face goes beet red.
“I… I mean… the characters you play… and how you play them… Obviously, I don’t know you – the real you – you know?” God, I sound like such a buffoon.
Bruce’s deep baritone laugh echoes through the room.
Meanwhile, Tom smiles, chuckling to himself. “Of course, I understand what you mean,” he says. “Happens to me all the time,” he quips with another teasing smile before heading off and paying his regards to some of the other guests.
I watch him go, and want to disappear into the floor. How could I have embarrassed myself like that? I swear, everyone around us is looking sideways at us now and talking under their breaths.
“Come along,” Bruce whispers into my ear as he places a hand on the small of my back, guiding me forward.
We settle down on a couple of balcony seats. It’s completely private with a thick curtain behind us. Bruce wraps his arm around my shoulders and pulls me into his chest.
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry,” I babble before we’ve even taken our seats. “I just … you know, Tom Benning has been my crush since I was in junior high, and I thought I was going to move to London and marry him, and …”
