"My plan is to get you completely naked and take advantage of you." I have become a nymphomaniac since the first touch of her skin against mine. But, if I gotta have an addiction, this is the best one I can come up with.
"I must admit your plan is even better than mine." Her eyebrows rise playfully. She can really get some silly looks on her face when she wants to.
"Would you like to be ravished here or in the bedroom?"
"Decisions, decisions…."
We end up deciding on both the couch and the bedroom. This morning, we decide on the shower. We then share muffins and juice while reading the LA Times and NY Times Sunday editions. We’re news junkies. It’s scary.
When I find the entertainment section, I realize I haven’t seen a first-run movie since the summer and ‘Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace.’ I’m still pissed off about that movie and all its wasted opportunity. Of course, the racist crap struck way too close to home. Mama and Papa walked out after the faux-Asian bad guys were introduced five minutes into the movie. I should have left with them.
"Hey, Tabloid!" Kels calls out, interrupting my thoughts. I turn to see her toss the keys of the Mercedes at me.
I catch them in my left hand and toss them in the air. "What are these for?" I ask. "You’re not giving me your baby, are you?"
She laughs. "Hardly. But the way you’re staring at the movie listings, I figured you want to go see one. So, let’s go."
"And I get to drive? That’s an awful lot of trust there, Little Roo."
"I trust you." Her reply is soft and I definitely get the feeling that we’re talking about more than just her car. "So what movie are we going to see?"
"I dunno." I shrug, turning the paper around for her to read what’s playing nearby. "We’ll figure it out when we get there. Nothing animated or touchy-feely though."
She laughs. "No chick flicks, eh? So I guess ‘Anna and the King’ is out?"
I start herding Kelsey out of the apartment, barely blocking Trouble when he tries to make a break for it. We take the elevator to the parking garage and head to her little red Mercedes. I open the passenger door for her and get her settled in before going around to my side. I wish the top were down and I hop over the door and into my seat. The stalker stopped that fun.
"Nothing bloody or creepy," she says, as if she read my thoughts. She peers at me from over the top of her sunglasses. I love it when she does that. So damn cute.
"’Scream 3’ doesn’t come out until January. It got pushed back from a December release, ruining my Christmas Eve plans."
"Somehow I doubt Mama would let you get away with that."
She called my Mama … Mama. "How about ‘The Insider’ ?" I suggest.
She grimaces. "How about we just go back to work? Jesus, Harper, I have no desire to see a damn movie about a news room."
"Good point." I pull out of the parking garage, running through movies the sounded good when I was reading the paper. "Hey, Tim Robbins has a new movie out. It’s a thirties period piece. A comedy."
"I like Robbins, I could live with that."
"I don’t think he’s in it, though. It stars John Cusack and Susan Sarandon, I think. The review looked good."
"Sounds like a winner to me. And I love Sarandon. She’s wonderful."
I nod vigorously. "She’s a class act all the way. Mama and Papa have worked with her on a lot of causes, especially after ‘Dead Man Walking’."
"Very cool." She settles down in her seat. Then she reaches over and lays her hand on top on mine, which is resting on the gearshift. I could get used to this. If I were thinking about us, that is.
It’s a good thing Kels and I both make good money because the cost of going out to a movie is ridiculous. Of course, I pay for both of us. I’m a good date.
We’re standing in line at the concession stand, waiting with all the other lemmings for our chance to buy severely overpriced popcorn and soda, having a very pleasant conversation about what is most likely going to happen when we get back to my place, when a woman in the line next to us recognizes Kels. I just groan when she interjects herself into our life.
"Oh, wow, aren’t you Kelsey Stanton? The NBC news reporter?"
Suddenly, my relaxed, happy, Little Roo is all business. She seems to have forgotten that we were having a good time. She’s steps away from me and is now barely making eye contact with me.
"Yes, I am."
"I knew it!" the woman squeals. "I knew I would meet some stars while I was visiting out here!"
Of course she’s not from Los Angeles. A resident here would never bother us. Not when they can go over to the Scientology Celebrity Center and see all the big stars.
"Where are you from?" Kelsey asks politely.
"Kansas. I’m from the town that’s the exact geographic center of the United States."
Well, there’s something to be proud of. Of course, I’m assuming she means in the forty-eight states. If Alaska and Hawaii were included, I bet the exact center would be somewhere in the fucking Pacific Ocean. Which is where I wish this Kansan … Kansian … Kansaser … whatever … was right now.
"That’s terrific!" Kelsey says with a bit too much enthusiasm. "Let me introduce you to Harper Kingsley. She’s my field director."
Wow, Kels, actually acknowledging my presence. How thoughtful of you. Nothing like being ashamed of being seen with me.
The woman continues to distract her with more exciting tales of Kansas, until we finally reach the counter. "Uh," I clear my throat, "Ms. Stanton, what would you like?" I can do professional too.
She gives me a puzzled look, wondering why the formality all of the sudden. Gee, you figure it out, Kels. And go away, lady. You are ruining a perfectly good day.
Kels finally manages to break away and tries to get back in the swing of things. "I’m sorry."
"S’okay," I grumble, tossing a twenty on the counter and gathering up a pile of food and a little change.
It wasn’t a bad movie. It definitely had it’s moments. And might have been funny if I wasn’t so tied up in knots inside. All the way through it, I wanted to find a way to apologize to Harper. I know I froze up when that woman recognized me. It was a gut reaction. I’ve been doing it all my life. The best I could do was sit there in that dark theater and hold her hand to try to convey how sorry I was.
Her mood has definitely soured and I can’t blame her. Let’s see, yesterday Erik pulls his crap. And today I pull mine.
Shit.
As we are headed out of the theater toward the car, a woman calls her name. When she turns around, she finds her arms full of a very slender, very attractive brunette. She removes the woman’s arms from around her, but not before receiving a kiss on the neck. Right where I left a mark two nights ago.
Oh God. What a day. We should have just stayed inside.
In New Orleans.
What am I doing? She’s never going to be happy with me. I’m way too uptight for her and she’s going to get tired of that fast. Not when she is so open about her lifestyle. Somehow, I don’t think sneaking around is in Harper’s bag of tricks.
I feel the tears coming and force them back.
I hear my mother’s voice ringing in my ears, ‘Don’t you dare cry, Kelsey Diane Stanton.’
"God, you look amazing, Harper!" the slut exclaims.
"Thanks." I note she doesn’t say the woman’s name. I bet she doesn’t even know it. I wonder if she’ll remember mine in another month.
Snap out of it, Kels!
"How have you been?" The tramp tugs at Harper’s jacket.
Harper shrugs, glances my way. "Good, thanks. But, we need to get going."
The hussy looks acknowledges my presence for the first time. She examines me from head to toe and seems to find me lacking. Bitch.