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“Oh my Gosh, I thought you would never come home! You didn’t call and I thought for sure your plane crashed again!” Kyle rambling and panicked over me not being here.
He doesn’t believe in himself enough.
Kyle is still worrying about all the things that could have gone wrong while I was away as he goes through the whole list again and again. I hug my puppies, matching their enthusiasm with a kiss on every nose and ear possible. “Oh you are both getting so big. I missed you so much.” It feels awkward to be back here, in my own home. My house is not large but it is comfortable, an older house that I restored, the best part being a screened in patio containing my easel that I have yet to use. Out back is the converted in-law house, which holds my office and workspace. There is an extra bedroom on the second floor that Kyle or Anna stay in when necessary.

“So?” Kyle asked searching for some sort of answer to something.

“Sooo?” I shrugged.

“So did we get the project?” Kyle asked impatiently. “What, did you forget the entire reason you went out there in the first place?”

Well he has that about right.
“Oh. Well, I think it’s definitely in the bag.”
More than you know.

Kyle and Anna immediately broke into their customary victory dance and song. “We gettin paid … oh yea - shake it … shake it - dip it to the ground and … pose.” They sang while dancing out of sync.

I laugh at the lunatics, “I hope clients never see you doing that.”

“Okay, now tell us …”Anna looks over at Kyle as he nods at her in encouragement. “Did you get to meet him?”

“Meet who?”

“Who? Ava please … you know who,” Anna persisted.

I breathe in deeply as they take notice and both curl up on the sofa opposite me intensely staring. “Yes, I met Sean.”

“Sean? Oh, so you’re on a first name basis with him already huh?” Anna asked with a giddy wiggle.

“Hold on! I have to get the wine and the popcorn,” Kyle said hurrying out of the room and running back with a bottle of wine and glasses, hugging a big bowl of popcorn for us all to share.

“Okay continue. So his Mom introduced you or did you get to go to the set and meet him? Did you get to meet anyone else? Oh and did he remember you or did you even bring it up? Probably not best for you to do that, Ava,” Kyle inquires excessively.

“DID you get to go to where he was living? OH his bedroom! Did you see his bedroom?” Anna asked wide-eyed and dreaming.

“Did he shake your hand or hug you?” Kyle asked.

“He wouldn’t hug her Kyle,” Anna scoffed.

“He might,” Kyle said to Anna’s disgusted expression. “Whatever. Wait, did you get to go to his house while he was swimming and see him with his shirt off?” Kyle edges closer to the sofa.

“Oh no, even better - while he was working out?” Anna nodded proudly.

“That’s not better, then he’s all sweaty and smelly rather than just being wet,” Kyle said.

“I bet he looks incredible wet, especially his great abs,” Anna gushed.

“I bet you they’re airbrushed, they do that a lot now,” Kyle said assuredly.

“No they don’t!” Anna pouted.

“Yes they do, I read it ... somewhere … but anymore you never know what they actually look like in real life. He could be only five feet tall, chubby, and balding,” Kyle said sitting back and chomping on a mouthful of popcorn.

“Ava is that true? Tell him he is being ridiculous. Don’t ruin this for me Kyle.” Anna griped waving her finger at Kyle.

“Ruin it for you, honey, please. I wanted to go and meet him as much as you did.”

“So then you admit he has great abs?” Anna asked.

“I admit nothing,” Kyle cocks his head defiantly. “Until I see them in person, I will never admit anything.”

Their random comments run together. I am not sure who said what or what I should even answer. I watch their banter like it is some kind of sport, waiting for the final take down so I can award the winner with an answer.

“Ava so …?” Anna motioning with her hands to give it up.

“No, I didn’t see where he lived and he’s six - four, not five feet tall. Kyle you know that. And he isn’t balding or chubby.” I forgot myself for a second thinking about him and sigh. “And his abs are incredible and so are his eyes and his arms and his hands, oh his hands … and his face and his lips are so …”

“Wow Ava, he must be something. I haven’t seen you like this since … well since him,” Kyle said.

“Yea Ava, it’s nice to see you finally noticing men for a change.”

“Thanks Anna but I have noticed men before.”

“You have not.”

“I have too!” I yelled.

“Who?” Kyle asked.

“I checked out that guy …”
Ummm let’s see … crap.
“Oh! The guy at the restaurant.”

“You mean the guy that sent you a drink when he saw you look at him? You nearly came out of your skin to get out of there and away from him.” Kyle said as I shyly nod.

“I think our point has been made,” Anna said folding her arms confidently.

“Don’t worry sweetie, it’s all about the baby steps. Maybe a little gawking at Sean Grant has done you some good and you can get busy with Justin,” Kyle said dancing a provocative number with a smartass chuckle.

“Ava would you like for us to call Justin now? We would be happy to cover for you for one more day if you want to capitalize on your renewed sexual prowess.” Anna smiles wide.

“Speak for yourself! We have been covering for her long enough. She can wait a few more days to screw Justin, besides I’m sure she needs something new and lacy to entice him.”

“Entice Justin? She could wear a potato sack and say a word that sounds like sex and he would be all over her. Damn Kyle where have you been?” Anna laughs.

“I know you’re right about that, that boy looks freaky too,” Kyle grunted. “I like ‘em freaky.” I ignore his comment while the two laugh and joke among themselves. “So Ava did Sean remember you at all? I suppose not but you didn’t embarrass us and remind him did you? Oh God, please tell me you did not do anything embarrassing. I know you haven’t been attracted to anybody in awhile but you didn’t drool on him or anything did you?” Kyle winks at me as Anna spits out her wine.

I narrow my eyes at both of them with a frustrated sigh. “NO. I did not do anything embarrassing. I think you guys should go home.”

Kyle stops his annoying dancing and sits next to me. “Oh sweetie, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I’m sure you were respectable around him.” He puts his arm around my shoulder jarring me a little. “So was he nice at least? Because if he wasn’t I will be more than happy to kick his ass for you.”

“He was very nice,” I said accidentally looking into his eyes too long.

Kyle’s eyebrows shoot up, “how nice was he?” I glance in his direction before returning to my boys and rubbing their ears. Kyle leans over waiting for me to look at him, after a short time he gives up and jerks my face to his looking me straight in the eyes. “Ava? No. You didn’t?” Kyle releases me and begins waving his arms. “I can’t believe it, of all people.”

“It’s not what you think Kyle.”

“I’m sure it isn’t. Well maybe he’ll help get you over the hump ….”

“Ha-ha. But it isn’t …” I try to defend myself before Kyle puts his hand in my face.

“Ava please, I don’t care what he said to you or how he did it but I promise you he has already moved on, probably the moment after.”

“Wait! Did she have?” Kyle nods in Anna’s direction. “Ava. Oh my God! You had sex with Sean Grant?”

“Yes I did and if you don’t mind, it’s supposed to be a secret.”

“Of course it is!” Kyle exclaimed pouring himself another glass of wine.

“NO! I mean he is trying to protect me from the media and …” Kyle nods his head mockingly making me even angrier. “OH! You don’t understand and if you would just listen to me for one second.” Kyle stares at me while Anna bounces her interest between the two of us. “You know what - forget it. All that matters is that I know how he feels about me.”

“How he feels about you? Honey he doesn’t feel anything about you. He wanted to fuck you and you supplied him with the opportunity.” I raise my eyes slowly up to him and his eyebrows shoot up again. Kyle slams his glass on the table, “Ava Kelly! How many times?”

Kyle’s intense gaze burns my skin but Anna’s wide-open mouth makes me giggle before Kyle’s blazing gaze straightens me back up. “How many?” Anna asked with a sparkle in her eyes.

“I didn’t exactly count. But I had a great time and he was wonderful.”

“Well I hope so because that has to be the dumbest thing you have ever done.”

“He didn’t take advantage of me Kyle, he’s not like that.”

“Did you have sex with him more than three times?” I glimpse Anna’s still curious expression. “More than five? Forget that … what it look like?” My mouth drops open. “You know how big is it?” She motions her interest with her hands.

“Oh my God, Anna! What is wrong with you? Besides I am assuming she barely remembers since she must have been drunk as hell!” Kyle yells.

“Kyle why are you acting like this? You should be happy for me.”

“Because I am the one that has been there through everything and now after all that - I find out you gave it up for some cheap experience with an actor that’s never going to speak to you again.”

For a brief moment, I worry that he might be right. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, you’ll see.” I barely finish my sentence when my cell rings, I pick it up smiling at Kyle wide. “Hi.”

“Hello beautiful, I guess you made it home okay.” Sean sensuous voice reassures me.

“I did, thank you for all the extra care in getting me here.”

“You’re welcome.” A few seconds of silence and I hear him sigh deeply. “Wow, all those nights of non-stop talking and now we have nothing to say.”

“I hope that’s not true, we have a lot of time left to do nothing but, Mr. Grant.”

“Well then I guess we are going to learn an awful lot about each other.” My sigh is a little more pitiful. “Now what was that for?”

“No reason.” I try to reassure him.

“Uh huh and I miss you too.” I smile biting my lip, wishing I could hop the next flight to LA.

“Aaahhh there’s that beautiful smile and stop biting your bottom lip.”

“Well, you should stop fidgeting and tossing whatever it is in your hand up in the air or against whatever wall you don’t care about.” I said enjoying hearing him laugh aloud.

Before I can react, Kyle grabs my phone out of my hand and darts to the other side of the room.

“Hello, who is this? This is Kyle her best friend for your information.” He pauses for a few seconds. “Yea right, I’m sure it is. Okay the joke is over, I am not playing the fool any longer. I know this is Justin and yes you and your girlfriend …” I shake my head at Kyle vehemently as I struggle to get my phone from him. “Like I said you two had me fooled for a little while but the joke is over so you can stop now.” He pauses with a confident look that slowly dissipates. “Huh … oh … I am so sorry.” He said handing me my phone.

I take my phone back with a growl, “are you still there?”

“I am.”

“Are you mad?”

“I thought you said that Justin is only a friend?”

“He is. He didn’t mean girlfriend like that.” I growl again with a vicious glare in Kyle’s direction. “I promise he didn’t mean it like that. There is nothing between Justin and me. I promise Sean.”

“Maybe I should call you back after your company leaves?”

“That may be a good idea, I’m sure they will be leaving soon.” I whisper my good-bye to Sean and promise to be alone in an hour. After hanging up I smile proudly at my silent onlookers. Kyle and Anna quickly get some more wine and change out the diet popcorn for the situations more suitable delight - chocolate chip cookies, as they listen to me tell the story in detail or at least most of the details. Anna’s wide eyes stay in constant awe while Kyle eases some but his concern still shows along the edges of his tense jaw. At the end, they both agree and understand the need for secrecy and even agree to help in any way they can. Once they leave, I quickly prepare for bed, making sure the phone is nearby and begin mindlessly flipping through channels until the phone rings.

“Hello?” I asked foolishly.

“Are you in bed?” The deep seductive voice asks.

I smile sinking into my soft bed. “Yes, why?”

“What are you wearing?”

“A tank top and some simple shorts, nothing interesting.”

“Wrong answer.”

“Wrong answer?”

“I told you Ava, no more clothes in bed. Don’t make me come over there and take them off you.” I can hear his smile through the phone as I tug at the seams of my clothes, missing him already.

I
t has only been a couple of weeks but Sean calls every night and I make sure to be there and ready every time. When I sit back to think about it, I cannot believe that I have become that girl! The girl who waits by the phone, the girl who thinks about nothing else other than the phone call she might get at the end of the night. I would be lying to myself if I had not thought at some point the calls would stop. Some part of me waits for that day. I am not sure why it matters, there isn’t anything I can do about it. Despite my worries, I still wake up every morning and the sun is brighter, the news media seems positive and even the traffic seems lighter. My focus is completely on him.

“Ava? Earth to Ava? Can you hear me?” Kyle persisted.

“What? What do you want?” I asked shaking off my daydream.

“We have a meeting in a couple of hours are you even close to ready?”

“Yes, I have everything laid out and prepared,” I lied.

“Okay but we have to leave here in an hour.
You
know how bad traffic is in midtown at this time.”

“I do and I …
We
will be fine.” I look up at him as he glares at me with doubtful eyes. “I promise.” I insisted even though I am not sure.

We arrived at the meeting on time but I winged it from start to finish. The client invited us out for dinner after, leading me to believe I did not do too badly.