Love's Autograph (15 page)

“
Sure, call anytime, but call back, okay? Tell Maggie I said hi if she's not mad at me,” Ellie said.

“
She's not mad. I can explain more later,” Ria said. “I'll call. I promise.”

Ellie sat on the couch with the phone in her hand. Minutes passed,
a half-hour passed, and time just passed. Ellie showered and kept her ringer on the highest volume. At 2:00 a.m. she fell asleep. She woke to the phone ringing at 5:00 a.m. It was Ria.

“
Hello,” Ellie answered. Her voice was raspy from staying up most of the night. She needed to repair it before tonight's concert.

Ria said,
“So, I can't sleep.”

“
Gwen snores?”

Ria answered,
“No, she's fast asleep.”

“
Oh, she's over?”

“
Yeah.”

“
So, Gwen is in your bed and it’s midnight your time. Why are you calling me?” Ellie asked.

Ria said,
“I need to know something. You threw a wrench into things with me.”

“
What? And know that it's early so I'm prone to pure truth… too early to be tactful,” Ellie admitted.

Ria laughed and said,
“Well, so you know, I have a lot of drinks in me. That's what I had to do to muster up some confidence.”

“
Okay, Drunk Doctor Diaz, shoot,” Ellie said.

“
So, when you met me were you relieved to not have to go out with me? Was Maggie a way out?” Ria asked.

Ellie answered,
“Not at all. Maggie is a bonus. And when I found out you were not only hot, but also a doctor, that made me regret giving you up even more.”

“
So, you are or were attracted to me?” Ria asked.

“
Yes, first time I saw you,” Ellie said as she walked across the room and knocked on the door that was between her and her bodyguards. “When I saw you, I involuntarily stood up. That's how attracted I was to you. A coffee and a bagel or something,” she whispered. Clara nodded and picked up the phone to call room service.

Ria said,
“Oh, is someone there? I can let you go.”

Ellie said,
“No, I told you. Nobody is here, and I'm not seeing anyone. Ordering room service. It's morning here. You're the only one with someone in your bed.”

Ria laughed and said,
“I miss you. I didn't realize how much I missed you until you were not around. I have such an easy and fun time with you.”

“
Yeah, I feel the same way.” Silence fell over the phone. Ellie shift her phone from ear to ear. She could hear Ria breathing. Ellie jumped up and down during the silence and did not know what to say.

Ria broke the silence
by letting out a huge breath. Then she said, “Okay, so there were some moments that I felt something between us. I'm not sure if you did too.”

“
Ria, where are we headed here?” Ellie asked. “What are you asking? What do you want? You’re with Gwen now and…”

Ria answered,
“Well, I need to know.”

Ellie said,
“Okay, whatever you want. Yes, yes there were many times that I felt something.”

“
Like?”

“
Like when?” Ellie asked.

“
Yes,” Ria said.

Ellie answered,
“Well, I felt attracted to you when we were wrestling over that scrap piece of paper, when I tried on my new shirt, when you were stitching my arm, when you were wearing those black boots… there were a lot of times.”

“
Me too, why didn't you act on it?” Ria asked.

“
Why didn't you?” Ellie countered.

“
First because you were supposedly dating some fictitious woman,” Ria said. “Why did you lie about that? Is it because of that chick that broke your heart? Then I didn't think you were interested. I don't know.”

Ellie answered,
“I guess my reasoning was a combination of putting myself out there when I wasn't sure if you were interested, and I didn't want to ruin what I had with Maggie.”

“
Great, the one time I find a woman who likes Maggie, I don't realize she's interested in me! How did you let this happen?” Ria asked.

Ellie said,
“Shh, you're being loud. Don't wake Maggie or Gwen. I threw out a ton of flirtation and you never picked it up,” Ellie said. “I didn't think you were interested in me.”

“
I was. I am,” Ria said. Ellie's heart dropped.

There was a knock at the door and Ellie opened it
, directing room service to roll in the cart. Clara had coffee, juice, eggs, sausage, and fruit delivered.
Clara was situated in the hallway watching the hotel staff like a hawk.

“
So, now I'm with Gwen. What am I supposed to do?” Ria asked.

“
What do you mean, what are you supposed to do? I don't know. You were the one asking questions. I wasn't the one pouring my heart out unsolicited,” Ellie said.

“
Maybe you should've been the one pouring it out,” Ria said angrily.

Ellie pulled some money out of her wallet and gave the server a tip. The staff smiled and walked out. Ellie nodded to Clara before the door shut.

Ellie closed the door and said, “This is the first time I've had someone being mad at me for being in love with them.”

There was a long pause. Ellie's last words rang in her ears. She told Ria that she was in love with her. Ellie pulled the phone away from her ear and checked to see if she had lost service. She put it back t
o her ear and she could hear Ria breathing.

Ria
asked, “So, either I'm really drunk, or do you want to take your last statement back?”

“
No, I'm not taking that back. It has been driving me crazy. I'm head over heels in love with you. I know we don't know each other that well, but you make me feel like I've never felt before. Every time I'm in the same room as you and anytime I think of you, you drive me crazy. And when you, Maggie and I are together, it's even better. Hello?”

Ria answered,
“I'm here. I shouldn't have called.”

Ellie said,
“Don't say that. You said you felt something too.”

“
Yeah, but love. I'm not sure,” Ria said.

“
You don't have to know,” Ellie said. “I need you to know how I feel. I've been trying to tell you since the first time I met you. If you want to try, let's go on our first date. This time you get someone else as a Maggie-sitter.”

“
I love that you don't say babysitter. Oh, Ellie, Gwen moved in!”

“
What? It hasn't been but what a few weeks?” Ellie exclaimed.

“
Two months. I know. I know. I'm so… I'm so sorry.”

“
You happy?” Ellie asked.

Ria answered,
“Yeah, I think.”

Ellie said,
“But you're on the phone with me, and she's in your bed. Okay, well I guess that's it then.”

“
Ellie, when are you coming back?” Ria asked.

Ellie answered,
“I'll be back in Boston in five weeks.”

“
Can we do lunch and maybe you can see Maggie?” Ria asked. “That's all I can do right now.”

Ellie said,
“Yeah, I'd love to see both of you, but let's keep Dr. Barbie out of it.”

“
Deal,” Ria said. “I better go to bed. Call me when you're back. Have fun on your tour. Don't sleep with many groupies.”

Ellie answered,
“I won't. I can't get you off my mind. Sweet dreams.”

“
Good night or good morning,” Ria said.

Ellie sat down and started eating her breakfast.

A text came through her phone. Ria:
What was on the paper that you wrestled away from me?

Ellie
answered,
Lyrics to a song.

Ria asked
,
About?

You,
Ellie typed into the phone and then reluctantly responded to Ria.

Ria said
,
Oh, like Natalie, huh. Can I hear it sometime?

Ellie answered,
Not like Natalie. Stronger because it is about you. Maybe someday you'll hear it. We'll see.

Good morning, again.

Good night and please stay in touch,
Ellie said.

Ria texted,
I will. I promise.

Ellie ran that night over and over in her head.

Ellie texted Dina,
I should have told Ria that I wasn’t the Maggie-sitter. Gwen is taking my spot in Ria's bed. She’s eating off the dishes I should be. She’s getting the chance to make Ria laugh. She’s spending time with Maggie. She’s kissing Ria's lips. She’s having my late night conversations with Ria. She’s eating Ria's great cooking. Gwen might have Ria's heart.

Dina texted,
Buck up. Fish in the sea and all that crap.

“I’m saying the tour is going great, but we just need more,” Robert said. “Right guys?” Robert addressed the staff in the room.

“
And I'm saying that this is the best show I have ever put on, and the art of it all and the music should speak for itself,” Ellie said.

“
And I'm saying that if there are not big headlines about EJ Way then we're not doing our job. What can we do?” Robert pleaded.

“
And I say no, I'm going to go get some rest. Come on Clara,” Ellie said. Clara scowled at Robert before they left the room. “See you later.”

“
Remember we have the meet-and-greet at three today!” Robert called.

Ellie answered,
“Yeah, I got it covered.”

Ellie went back to her room. She had spent four weeks on this European
tour and was exhausted. She checked her phone. There was no text from Ria, but she had been better about calling her. Maggie had begun texting Ellie periodically.

Do you know that most soups are in fact not healthy for you?

Red lobsters are dead lobsters. So cartoon red lobsters are dead.

Some cats like mint, I heard from a girl in my class.

Don't tell Mom, but I think I like boys not girls. I don't have a boyfriend.

Some people cannot snap their fingers. Why not?

Can you teach me to whistle? Mom tried and she can whistle but can't teach me.

Ellie guessed this was Maggie's way of saying she had forgiven Ellie. No matter how well the music sets went, how packed the venue was, or how much money Ellie made, these texts were the highlight of her days. Every love song she sang had Ria glittered all through it.

Tonight she was playing in Paris at the POPB (Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy), an indoor sports arena. She was expecting about 20,000 people to attend. She did a sound check and did the meet-and-greet. The show started up fine until the second to last song before the finale.

She started to sing the song,
You Don't Know Me
. The crowd went wild. There was cheering, whistles, and clapping. Ellie tried to keep her composure as she nonchalantly looked around. Her guess was that a fan had got on stage and she knew Clara or Jim or one of the roadies would protect her. Then she heard it. Someone started singing along with her. They were harmonizing to
You Don't Know Me.
She looked up at the jumbo screen above her. Someone was walking up the stairs that lead to the drum set. The cameras zoomed in. It was Jenny.

Robert is behind this.
Ellie sang the song through with Jenny, and gave her a hug after the song. Jenny leaned in and kissed Ellie on the lips. Ellie tolerated it for what she thought was an acceptable amount of time. She then pulled away from Jenny and pulled the microphone to her.

“
Let's hear it for Jenny!” Ellie said. The crowd roared. Jenny leaned in again and gave Ellie a kiss on the cheek and skipped off the stage.

Did she skip off the stage? How was I ever dating someone who skips?

Ellie finished the set and performed a double encore. After meeting some fans backstage she was driven back to the hotel. Clara entered the hotel room before her and came back out to Ellie.

“
All clear,” Clara said. “Have a good night.”

“
Thank you,” Ellie entered the room and started to strip off her clothes.

“
You didn't seem as pissed off as I thought you would be,” a voice said from her living room. Jenny was sitting on her couch with her feet on the coffee table.

“
I’m a good actress,” Ellie quickly answered. She walked over to the wall and banged on it with her fist. “Clara!”

Clare entered the room,
“Yes, Ms. Way?”

“
You checked my room and you seemed to have missed a rather large pest.”

“
Oh, I thought... I mean you... would you like her to leave?” Clara stumbled on her words.

“
Yes,” Ellie answered.

“
All you had to do was ask. You didn't need to get the gorilla here to bully me out,” Jenny answered.

“
Goodbye, Jenny,” Ellie said. Clara gave Ellie an apologetic look as she followed Jenny out. Ellie shrugged and held up both her hands motioning that Clara should not worry about this little mix-up. Clearly, Robert had let her in to the hotel or had someone else do it. Clara was dedicated to Ellie. Clara was mortified at the mob that attacked her months ago. She tried to resign and Ellie had to beg her to stay. There was a knock at the door. Ellie opened the door to Clara.

“
Ms. Way, I'm so sorry. I assumed. I won't assume again. I'll ask you. I thought it would be an awkward situation. I felt as if you have little privacy as it is on this tour. I'm sorry,” Clara said.

“
Clara, the only person who needs to apologize is Jenny. Oh, and maybe Robert, but he is like a two year old, he doesn't know any better,” Ellie answered. Clara chuckled at this.

“
Okay, but if there’s anything you need...”

“
I'm fine. It’s been a long day, good night,” Ellie said. “Wait, there is one thing that you can do for me.”

“
Yes, anything,” Clara said as she stood at attention.

“
You can stop being so hard on yourself. Give yourself a break and lighten up.”

“
I'll try. That's easier said than done. Good night,” Clara answered.

“
Good night.”

Ellie
sank into the couch and thought about the night. That was the first time she had seen Jenny alone since the break up. It was the strangest break up Ellie had ever had. Ellie came home to an empty apartment. Jenny hired a moving team to move all Jenny's stuff out. Jenny did not even have the courtesy to communicate with Ellie about the break up. Jenny had her publicist call Ellie's publicist to coordinate the details of their break up for the press release.

Jenny never returned Ellie's calls, and Ellie tried to avoid any questions about Jenny. That was not easy in the wake of a tour. Ellie's way of dealing with her broken heart was writing songs and making millions of dollars with them.

She went to her fridge and pulled out a beer. She used the remote to dance through channels that came up with nothing entertaining. She caught a few seconds of the news and she and Jenny were on every channel. Another dagger to her heart was just publicity in Robert's eyes. Ellie knew Robert was probably in bed with a good-looking blonde or two patting himself on the back with his latest scandal creation. She picked up her phone.

She text
ed Robert,
You're in the dog house.
There was no reply. She wanted to talk to someone.

She text
ed Jazzie,
Hi, chica how are you?
No response.

Ellie texted Ria,
What you doing?

Ria answered
,
At work, how are you? How's Paris?

Been better.

You're in the City of Love and not having fun,
Ria said.

Ellie said
,
You say it that way and it seems bad. How's work? Can you talk right now?

Yeah,
I'm doing an overnight. I have a kid I'm checking in on,
Ria said.

Oh, so how are things with you?
How's Maggie?

Ria said
,
She's okay. I talked to her earlier and she was in some sort of mood. Not sure why. Gwen has no idea what is wrong with her.

Huh. Can I call you? My fingers are tired from playing the guitar, and
I would love to hear your voice,
Ellie asked.

Ria texted,
Sure.

Ria answered the phone,
“So you know, phone sex is off limits.”

Ellie said,
“Hello to you, too. Phone sex? You wish.”

“
So what's so horrible in Paris?” Ria asked.

“
Snails,” Ellie said.

“
Seriously.”

Ellie thought for a second and then answered,
“I ran into an old girlfriend.”

“
The
old girlfriend?”

Ellie answered,
“Yes, the one and only worst one.”

“
So, what happened?” Ria asked.

Ellie closed her eyes.
I love Ria's voice. I'm not sure if this call was a good idea.
Ellie answered
,
“She was there. That was enough.”

“
What happened with you guys?” Ria asked.

“
You know. Total fuck-up that's how it always is. Can we talk about something else?”

“
Okay, what do you want to talk about?” Ria asked.

“
What are you wearing?” Ellie asked.

“
I said no phone sex,” Ria answered. Her voice had some flirtation to it.

“
Where is your mind? I was wondering what you wear to work.”

Ria said,
“You know that I wear scrubs.”

Ellie said,
“Nice.”

“
You?”

“
What?”

“
What are you wearing?” Ria asked.

“
Jeans and a t-shirt,” Ellie answered. “Underneath my clothes I'm naked if that helps you get through the night.”

Ria answered,
“It might.”

“
Umm… I thought you have Gwen?” Ellie asked.

Ria answered,
“I do, why?”

“
You’re flirting with me.”

Ria said,
“I can stop.”

“
I'd rather you didn't. I'd rather you hop a plane to Paris right now. I’ll even shower,” Ellie said.

“
In that case, do you miss your friends and family when touring?”

“
A lot of my friends are with me, and I’m not that close to my family,” Ellie said.

“
Oh, it’s hard for me being away from my family. But at the same time, sometimes I need the distance,” Ria said.

“
Can we get back to what you’re wearing?” Ellie asked.

“
Stop it, you're funny.”

“
I’m not kidding. You’re all I can think about. How do I get rid of Gwen? Does she want to move to Africa and do some noble doctor-type thing?” Ellie asked.

Ria laughed and said,
“She’s nice. You’d like her.”

“
I’m sure I might. I just hate anyone dating you that's not me,” Ellie said. “Do you know that Maggie has been texting me?”

“
No, that's nice. What does she say?” Ria asked.

“
Random things. So to let you know, she likes boys, but doesn't have a boyfriend.”

“
All I need is her dating. What else does she say?” Ria asked.

Ellie said,
“I'll show you at some point. It’s random facts and stuff. It’s too long to recite right now.”

“
Okay.”

There was a long silence. Ellie was exhausted and started to dose off.

“I think about you all the time,” Ellie said. There was silence.

“
Did Maggie tell you why she was mad?” Ria asked.

Ellie asked,
“No, I'll let you know if she tells me. Do you want me to ask her?”

Ria asked,
“No. Well maybe. Yeah, but don't tell her I asked.”

Ellie answered,
“I'll try to be discreet, hold on let me text her. I'm putting you on speaker phone.”

Ellie texted Maggie,
Hey, how are you?

Maggie texted,
Is “Your Profile” about my mom?

Ellie stared at the phone.
How does Maggie know about my newest, unreleased song, Your Profile, and that I am EJ Way?

“
What did she say,” Ria asked.

Ellie answered,
“Um, we're not there yet. Hold on.”

Ellie texted Maggie,
How do you know about that song?

Maggie texted to Ellie,
I saw parts of the concert online the other night in Italy. A fan posted the song. Is it?

Ria asked,
“What's she saying?”

Ellie answered Ria,
“She's asking me if I like you?”

“
Like me, like me? What did you tell her? Did you tell her you like me? Did you answer her?” Ria seemed panicked.

Ellie answered,
“I think she picked up on it. She heard the song I wrote about you.”