Big Apple Dreams (9 page)

Chapter Nine

“Are you sure you have to go?”

Chris ran his hand down the length of my back, his skin whispering over the silkiness of my dress.

“Yes,” I giggled, leaning in and stealing another kiss.

He quickly grabbed my face in his hands and held me there, drinking in what I had to offer. It felt like I could float away on a cloud, I was so happy.

“We don’t even have to do anything,” he insisted, his lips moving against mine. “We can just sleep. I want to know what it’s like to wake up to your face.”

“No!” I said, pushing myself up off his couch and walking over to the window. “I probably have bad morning breath and my makeup will be all runny. You’ll never see me the same way again.”

“I don’t care,” he said, joining me. His lips brushed over my bare shoulder as his arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me close.

“We have to leave some of the magic intact,” I laughed, leaning into him.

“You’re such a tease!” he moaned, rest his chin on the top of my head.

We’d gone out to dinner and a movie, followed by a walk back to his apartment. My heart soared to be with him and to know that he wanted me in that way, but something didn’t feel quite right. I wasn’t ready to give it all away
, yet.

“Of course, I will take you home.” He sighed and kissed my shoulder again before releasing me. “Keep enjoying the view while I grab my coat.” He smiled and turned to walk into his room.

“Thank you,” I called after him. It was relieving to know I would never be pushed into anything I didn’t want to do.

He was back almost in an instant and grabbed my hand, kissing it as he
led me to the door.

“When can I see you again?” he asked once we were in the elevator.

“I don’t know,” I said half teasing and half honestly.

“You do know how to make a man crazy,” he growled, pulling me up against him and crushing his mouth to mine.

Before I knew what was happening, my back was against the wall and I was lost in what had to be the most passionate kiss I’d ever experienced. My heart raced as I held him tightly, moving against him in a way that could only be described as longing.

Chris’s lips pressed against mine hungrily as his hands slid down my sides, grabbing onto my hips and pulling them as close as possible to his. His breath was catching
, and I could feel the tremble in his touch.

A bell sounded and we instantly parted, smoothing out clothes and wiping our mouths before the doors opened. He took my hand as we crossed the threshold, acting as if nothing had happened.

I felt thoroughly bothered, but in a good way. It was all I could do to keep from telling him to do it again. The thrumming in my chest scolded me for asking to be taken home in the first place.

“Mr. Williams,” the man at the front desk said with a nod.

“Good evening, Michael,” Chris said with a smile.

We walked through the front doors and surveyed the line of waiting cabs. Among them was a black stretch limo. As soon as he smiled at me, I knew exactly what Chris was thinking.

“You don’t need to spend that much money,” I laughed.

It was no use
, though. Within minutes we were comfortably seated in the back while the driver headed towards Harlem.

“Thank you,” Chris said again as he rolled up the privacy screen.

“I’ve never ridden in a limo before,” I giggled.

“I’m sorry that you won’t get to experience it fully,” he said seriously.

“What do you mean?”

He grabbed my hand and pulled me as close to him as he could get before attacking my mouth once more
.

My breath caught as he rested his hand on my thigh, just under the hem of my shirt. My brain screamed at me to stop now
, if I wasn’t ready to go right back to his place.

“Wait,” I said breathlessly, a laugh escaping me. “Calm down for a minute.”

“You’re going to kill me,” he laughed as well, breaking away as I asked, but still holding onto my hand.

“I’m sorry,” I said sympathetically. “I’m just not ready to go that far
, yet.”

“I understand,” he said with a smile. “One can hope
, though.”

“Thanks,” I chuckled.

“When can I see you again, really?”

“I’m actually not sure. I signed up for a couple of classes to stay on top of my performing stuff. It’s going to take up a lot of my evenings.”

“Well, that’s no fun,” he frowned.

“I’m sorry,” I grimaced. “I really need to
stay on top of that stuff, though.”

“I’ll call you then. How does that sound?”

“It sounds wonderful.”

I smiled appreciatively at him
as the car rolled to a stop.

“I’ll walk you up,” he said as the driver opened the door for us.

We walked into the building hand in hand, talking together as we climbed the stairs.

“So, I was wondering if you would like to attend a benefit dinner with me next month?” he asked casually as we reached my floor.

“Of course!”

“It’s a black tie event,” he added. “There will probably be some people there you could make good work connections with.”

“Thank you for thinking of me,” I beamed as we reached my door.

“I wouldn’t want to bring anyone else,” he said softly, pulling me gently against him.

He looked into my eyes as a hand wove its way into my hair. As he leaned in to kiss me, though, the door flew open and shocked us both apart.

“Mara!” Evan said in surprise. “It’s late. I thought you weren’t coming home tonight.”

He looked positively gleeful to see me on the doorstep. Chris, on the other hand, did not look so happy to be interrupted.

“Hi, Evan,” I said, embarrassed. “I didn’t know you were coming over tonight.”

“Liz got bored without you,” he said with a huge grin. “I have to go now, though. It was good to see you.” He squeezed between the two of us and closed the door behind him.

“Have a good night,” he said, his arm brushing up against mine as he headed down the hall.

“Okay.” Chris said once Evan was out of sight.

He pulled me to him and gently kissed me on the lips. We were both quickly lost in the moment.

“I’m sorry,” Evan’s voice said from behind us. “I forgot my phone.”

I jumped back from Chris in shock
, and Evan wiggled between us and back into the apartment, closing the door once again.

Chris laughed and grabbed me
, again, pressing his lips against my neck when the door opened, again.

This time Evan only cleared his throat before pressing past us, not looking near as happy this time.

Just as Chris reached out to me once more, the door opened, again.

“Evan, wha—” Lizzy yelled after him, stopping when she saw the two of us standing there. “Sorry!” she squeaked, quickly shutting the door again.

“If I try to kiss you right now, is someone going to come and interrupt us?” Chris laughed.

Instead of answering, I kissed him myself, wrapping my arms around his neck.

“You’re still welcome to come back with me,” he flirted once our lips parted.

“Good night,” I laughed, opening my door and crossing the threshold.

“I’ll call you,” he said again.

“Looking forward to it.”

I smiled at him one more time and then closed the door, leaning against it and sighing contently once it was locked.

“I am soooo sorry!”

Lizzy was sitting on the couch, the most apologetic look I’d ever seen on her face.

“You’re fine,” I laughed, sliding my shoes off.

“Evan was acting down all night, and then when he came back to get his phone he was laughing. I have no idea what got into him.”

“What had him so down?” I asked, knowing that the laughter was probably caused from interrupting Chris and I.

“I have no idea,” she sighed. “He seemed so happy when he came over. The later it got the more moody he got, though. It’s like he was waiting for something and it never happened. At least he left happy, I guess.”

“I’m sure he’s fine,” I replied. “He seemed fine when I saw him.”

“Well, I hope so. Otherwise, he’ll probably still be all emo when we meet him tomorrow night.”

“What for?”

“Oh yeah! He invited us to come watch the show he’s working on. I guess we’re going to sit backstage, or something.”

“Are you serious?” I shrieked. “What show is it?”

“Uh . . . one of the ones on Broadway?” She shrugged apologetically before getting up to pull her bed down.

“Oh my gosh, Lizzy! Do you understand what this could mean for me? I might make the connections I need to start getting parts!”

“That would be awesome!” she said, stifling a yawn.

“I can’t wait to find out what show it is,” I rushed, noticing that I had suddenly started pacing in my excitement.

“I’m sure you’ll enjoy it, whatever it is,” she laughed.

“Are you sure, Lizzy?”

The sound of vomiting greeted me and I sighed. She was obviously too sick to go out tonight. I felt bad leaving her, but she was insisting that I go and see the show by myself.

“I don’t know how hard it was for Evan to get permission,” she said from the other side of the bathroom door. “And you said yourself that this could be really important for your career. I’ll be fine, really. I need rest, that’s all.”

“It’s not a bi—”

“Get out of here!” she laughed sickly. “You’re going to be late. I’ll text Evan and let him know.”

“I’ll feel like a bad friend if I go,” I continued to argue.

There were a few shuffling sounds and the door suddenly flew open, revealing a very pale and tired Lizzy.

“I
’m telling you to get out of here,” she said seriously. “Now, you’ll be a bad friend, if you don’t do what I want.”

“Oh, Lizzy,” I laughed, pushing through the entryway and wrapping my arms around her. “You promise me you’ll try and sip the soup I heated up and get some sleep. Then I’ll go.”

“I promise,” she said with an eye roll as she pushed away and waved me on. “Now get out of here!”

“Call me if you need anything,” I said as I picked up my bag and headed for the door.”

“I’ll be fine,” she said again.

“I’ll be back in a few hours.”

“Yeah, yeah.” She shuffled into the kitchen and made a show of getting a bowl and pouring broth into it.

Satisfied that she would indeed be okay without me for a while, I said goodbye once more and went on my way.

I felt bad leaving her behind, but I couldn’t wait to get backstage at a Broadway theatre. The subway ride seemed to fly as fast as my heart, carrying me forward into my fulfilled dreams.

I still wasn’t exactly sure how Evan’s job worked. I’d always thought that if I were lucky enough to be working on Broadway that I would do everything I could to keep the job I had. It must have worked differently from the technical side of things
, though. Maybe it was just like any other job that you worked until you were bored with it.

Once I was off the train, I punched in the address that Lizzy had texted to me. She couldn’t remember exactly which theatre we were supposed to meet at. As I walked down the street, eagerness almost overtaking me, I suddenly caught sight of the marquee rising up ahead.

It’s the Gershwin!

What were the odds that Evan was working on the crew of
Wicked
? Not only was I going to get to see it, like I wanted, but I was going to have a seat no one else in the audience would!

I joined the crowd of people walking to the same destination, a wide grin plastered on my face. I quickly became lost in drinking in my surroundings, taking note of the acting school right on the corner. It was one that I’d looked at while I still lived at home, before I decided to skip school and just go for it.

Finally, I walked into what I thought was going to be a parking garage, only to find that it was a driveway that went right in front of the waiting room doors. With an excited breath and same smile, I walked through the doors and into Oz.

Immediately, my eyes were drawn to the one thing in the room that didn’t have to do with
Wicked
—the Theatre Hall of Fame plaques on the wall. I’d forgotten that this was where all of the awards were on display. My attention then became divided between that and the decorative items from the show.

The room was buzzing with people waiting to walk up the stairs that must have led to the actual theatre.

It must be like The Majestic,
I thought to myself.
A waiting room downstairs, bars and waiting areas upstairs, and the actual theatre sitting in the middle of it.