Call Me (21 page)

*

“You have got
to be shitting me. Courtney Liza Pierce, tell me you didn’t know he’d be here,” I demand, squeezing Court’s arm as we make our way to where Jax is standing inside the expansive theatre lobby surrounded by a group of people. A group that includes Ace-flipping-Ryan!

He hasn’t spotted me yet. He’s too busy laughing with two guys, one who looks likes Dr. Mercer Reynolds, but the hat is making it hard to be certain from this distance.

“Can’t do that, bestie. Sorry. It was top secret. I knew you’d deny yourself this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity if you knew he’d be here.”

“Easy, Drama. It’s a preview screening, not an invitation to write the screen adaptation for
She’s Come Undone
by Wally Lamb.
That
would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I could have waited like the rest of the world to see this.” I try to steer her to the side so we can make our way to Jax unnoticed.

“Yeah, that’s a lie. We both know this is right up at the top of your geek list, to see
The Force Awakens
before the masses. I know you, Els.”

“Okay, okay, you’re right. It’s totally once-in-a-lifetime. But you should have told me he was going to be here.”

“Boo-hoo. You’ll get over it. Besides, you two are close. We both know it. I’m hoping this will help push you two to even more closer-ness. That would be epic.”

“He’s my professor, Court. It’s a conflict, as is whatever’s going on with you and Jax,” I remind her.

“Well, sometimes you’ve gotta take a risk to see if it’s worth it. You’ll never know if you hide behind the whole ‘he’s my teacher’ crap. We’re adults, and on top of that we’re graduating in less than three months. Soon it won’t make a lick of difference.”

“Huh. I hadn’t thought of it like that.”

“That’s why you pay me the big bucks.” She winks at me. “Want to wait here, and I’ll shoot over to Jax and let him know we’re here, then we can grab our popcorn? That way you can avoid Ace for a few more minutes.”

“Okay. I’ll meet you right here,” I agree, standing off to the side.

“You’re such a chickenshit,” she mutters, walking off towards Jax.

After what feels like forever, I decide I’m tired of waiting in the corner like a loser. Court’s obviously in a Jax trance and needs a reminder that I’m here. Moving through the crowd, my eyes find my targets. I’m too focused to realize I’m heading into the eye of a hurricane, one I was set on avoiding for as long as I could. I’m a constant voice of “excuse me’s” and “sorry’s”, and I’m almost to them when I smell it.

Him
. His now familiar scent that has created an imprint on my senses even when he isn’t around. I’ll know his smell for the rest of my life. The earthy smell that is purely his and his alone.

A gentle grasp on my arm to steady me confirms I’ve walked right into him. His hard chest acts as a cushion for my face, another clue, as I slam right into the storm that is Ace Ryan.

“Shit, I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention,” I say, meeting his surprised eyes.

“E, are you okay?” He slides his hand down to my wrist to take my hand, but quickly releases it, realizing what he’s done. I feel the loss, and think I hear him murmur something about soft skin. I want to ask him if he’d like to feel more, maybe, say, my whole body? But I bite my tongue instead.
Who knows if I even heard him correctly?
Clearly, Courtney is getting inside my head.

“Yeah. I’m good. I’m so sorry. I was keeping an eye on Courtney, trying to make my way to her. It’s so busy in here, I was worried I’d lose her.”

“No. It was my fault, Ellie. I was focused on something too.” I’m trying really hard to pretend he didn’t mean his focus was on me, because that wouldn’t be good.
Right?

Meeting his gaze, I see him smirking as a throat clears beside us and I step back. Ace puts his hands in his pockets. I nod to Mercer.

“Hi, sorry, let’s try this again. Good evening, Doctor Ryan, Doctor Reynolds.” I try to regain some composure and offer them both what I hope is my least awkward smile.
Oh God, do they realize their last names combined make…?
I tilt my head, assessing them as they stand before me. They must know, but I can’t not ask. “Hey, do you guys kno—”

Laughing, predicting the epiphany I’ve just come upon, Ace finishes my thought. “Yes we are aware that together we are Ryan Reynolds. It’s been years of jokes, trust me.” He rolls his eyes.

“Yeah, in university they called us ‘The Ryan Reynolds’,” Mercer adds, shaking his head. “We are that lame.”

I nod, unable to hide my laughter. “That’s so bad. I can only imagine. Ha! Ryan Reynolds.” I motion between the two. “Well, it was good to see you both. I’d better go find Courtney, she has my ticket.” I wave. I’m about to move around Ace and Mercer when Ace moves in close to my ear.

“See you around, E,” he says, and rubs the inside of my wrist as I pass.

My voice is non-existent, I can’t seem to find any words. Instead, I’m too focused on how much more I’d like to feel him touch me.

“Hey. Els, where ya been?” Court asks, as I rock up beside her.

“Are you kidding? You were supposed to come back to me. What, being around Jax makes you that forgetful? Are we that smitten, my little kitten?” I say, using her words against her.

“Whatever. He’s hot. My brain goes mush. I’m a bad friend, blah, blah.” We both laugh.

“You really are. Luckily, I understand. Now let’s go find our seats. And then you can buy me popcorn.” I nudge her.

“About that,” she pauses. “Don’t kill me.”

“You know when you start a sentence like this I know it’s bad, right? What’s going on, Court?” I ask, hoping I’m not going to have to kill my friend in public.

“I’ve got bad news, babe,” she says. “Seeing as there are so many of us, we have assigned seats. Just like with
Fifty Shades
, it’s too busy. This is their way to control it. So we’re not sitting together.” She drops the tiny bomb. I sigh, then she leans in to whisper: “I’m beside Jax, though. You okay if I don’t ask him to trade you, like the good friend I usually am would?”

“You really are the worst friend. You know this, right?”

“The worst.” She jumps up and down.

“Fine. Ditch me. Give me my ticket and let’s go so you can get me my popcorn before you go suck face on your date, you ass,” I smile, looping my arm in hers as we walk to the concession stands.

“Thank you. You’re the best, Els. Layered butter for you tonight.”

Ellie

Y
ou’ve got to
be kidding me.

Now I know what Courtney was referring to when I overheard her telling Jax that she thinks they pulled it off. And cue the “it” she was talking about…

“Ellie.” Ace’s husky voice appeals to every inch of my body as I slip into my seat. The one right next to his, of course.

“Ace, hi. No Mercer?” I swear my voice squeaks, as I look past him, clearly my name
should
be Captain Obvious.

“No, we got separated, too.” He looks past me, referencing my missing friend. “Looks like it’s you and me.” His voice drops, and I swear it takes all my might not to admit how good the words “you and me” sound used in the same sentence when he says it.

“Yeah, looks that way.” I jam popcorn into my mouth, causing him to laugh out loud, the deep sound making my body hum with awareness.
I’m so screwed.

“You’re cute, Ellie.” He leans in close, something he seems to like to do, and I wonder if he realizes how much I like it. “I’m excited to watch this with you.” He runs his thumb under my bottom lip, and I almost jolt off the seat with the force of his touch.

“Butter. There was a bit of butter there. Sorry,” he says, moving his thumb to his mouth and licking the butter off.

“No. Don’t be sorry. I liked it,” I whisper, so low I’m not sure he catches it, but he does.
Oh. My. God! Did I just say that in my outside voice?

“Jesus. You’re killing me,” I hear him mutter.

“Mmm,” I stuff more popcorn into my mouth, mortified, as he chuckles beside me, his shoulder brushing mine as he shakes.

“Fuck, you’re sweet.”

“Mmm hmm.” I stuff more popcorn in my mouth, still speechless, but saved by the dimming of the lights. Knowing we’re both huge Star Wars fans, I know I’m safe from further words.

He chuckles, gripping my knee. “Let’s sit back and watch your girl.”

I nod, appreciating his Leia reference.

After a few beats, swallowing, I find my voice and lean into him this time, “My
woman
, you mean. And I bet she’s totally kick-ass.”

My comment causes him to bark out a deep laugh before looking me in the eyes and telling me: “I think
you’re
pretty kick-ass, Ms. Hughes.”

“Ssssh!” someone hisses behind us.

With that little revelation, I spend the rest of Courtney’s “non-date” enjoying one of the best dates I’ve had. And if I had big green ears, they would most definitely be twitching.
Like him I do, yes.

Ellie

“B
reathless Whispers—”

“Chanel, lovely. How are you?”

“Hey Jake,” I reply excitedly. “I’ve been hoping you’d call again soon. It feels like it’s been a while.”

Seeing his name across the screen did make me happy. It’s been weird not talking to him for a few days. Strange as it may sound, I feel an attraction to this stranger. Talking to him excites me, and not only sexually, either. I’m curious about him, what he looks like, how he acts, what he does in his day-to-day life. Over the last few weeks, he’s disclosed little things about himself: he’s in his early-thirties, his favourite band is The Tragically Hip, he recently moved here, he’s a movie buff, and Star Wars is his life, apparently. I might have fallen a little bit with that last revelation.

Truth be told, I’m intrigued. Jake sounds like my type. I know it’s insane but I want to meet him in person. I think we’d make great friends, maybe even more. I know I can’t (it’s a serious no-no at Breathless Whispers; the Conrads would have my head on a plate) and that it’s a silly
Pretty Woman
fantasy, but I do think about it. Maybe it’s because I can’t have Ace. Maybe on some level my brain is trying to manipulate my heart, when in reality both notions involving both men are beyond fucked up? One’s my teacher, the other’s a stranger. I definitely need a reality check. I’m sure even Destiny would tell me to put down whatever I’m smokin’. Lost in my wavering thoughts, Jake’s voice soothes my uncertainty, his words bringing me back to him, or, rather, to my job.

“I missed talking to you too, lovely. Work’s been crazy. My stu—pid job has been busy.” He’s quick to correct himself and I can’t help wondering what he was going to say. “With the holidays coming, I’ve been on a deadline at work, trying to get things wrapped up before the break. Then I’ll be taking some time off and working on a big side project.”

“Well, I’m sorry to hear that. I’m glad you’re calling now, though. And please tell me that this side project is something fun and sexy,” I tease.

“I’m glad I called too. It’s a fun project, there are some elements that are sexy, but I don’t want to think about that right now. I need this tonight. I won’t be calling again until after the holidays, beautiful.”

“Boo.” I offer my best pout. Over the past few weeks when Jake calls, it’s not always to get off. Sometimes he simply likes to talk. He’ll ask me things about my life—well, Chanel’s, anyway—we talk about movies, books, dating and relationships. A few times I’ve even shared a few crazy caller stories with him. He tells me those ones are his favourites to listen to me talk about. Says he wishes he could see me telling him my adventures, wants to see if he’s imagined my facial expressions and mannerisms the way I actually look when sharing my stories. Sometimes I feel as if I’m Scheherazade in
One Thousand and One Nights,
telling Shahryar different stories night after night. If you were to ask me honestly, I’d say Jake and I are sort of friends. Maybe even friends with phone sex benefits, if that makes any sense. Except that he pays for it, of course, and I do have a job to do. I clear my throat.

“I need you too. Are we gonna play tonight, Jake? You going to get me off as hard as I plan to get you off?”

“Fuck, yeah. I’m wound so tight from work and this gir—other shit going on.”

“I’m sure I can help you relax. I happen to have a little present for you. I know how much you like Star Wars, and with Christmas coming this week, I ended up finding the perfect present when I was out shopping. I was grabbing a few new sets of panties and matching bras when I spotted it. Right away, I knew it was perfect, that I needed to grab it so I could send you off into the holiday season with a special treat if you called on time, and lucky for me, you did,” I say in my sultriest voice.

“Oh yeah? This sounds promising.” His deep voice sounding rich with excitement spurs me on.

“There I was in this lingerie store called
Avec Plaisir,
when I come across a table featuring Star Wars merchandise. With the new movie coming out, it seems
Star Wars
stuff is everywhere.”