26. James
JAMES
Iwasn’t sure if I should be concerned or amused. Will was having a hell of a time taking his pants off. He’d already fallen over three times, and on the third time, he didn’t bother getting back up. Instead, he tried to wriggle out of his jeans from the floor.
“Need help with that?” I asked.
“It doesn’t matter,” he said, giving up. “I’ll just take them off in the morning.”
I bent down and grabbed the cuff of his pants, eased the fabric over his heel, and yanked. His legs weren’t very hairy, but, like the rest of him, they were toned and muscular. I got the first pant leg off and then set to work on the second.
Meanwhile, Will lay back on a discarded bath towel and tried to explain what his mother wanted.
It didn’t make any sense. How could he shoot all of Travis’s scenes and not be in the movie?
Sure, they could pull off camera angles and editing tricks, but this?
Will wasn’t concerned with logistics, though. He just wanted to nail his metaphor.
“Derek is the presentable wife you bring to dinner parties and church. I’m the mistress, the other woman, the one you’re ashamed of but keep around because I’ll lick your ass and tickle your balls.”
I pushed him up into a sitting position so I could remove his shirt, propping him with my knee. “You’re so talented. I had no idea you could sing like that. Screw acting. You should just be a singer.”
“Whatever. Do you have any idea how many voice lessons I’ve had in my life?”
I managed to slip his shirt over his shoulders and tried not to notice the heat of his bare skin beneath my fingertips and the constellation of moles that looked like the Big Dipper.
“This might be a good opportunity for you. Michelle is a very influential director, and you never know who’s watching.
Some camera operator could pass your name along.
It’s not ideal, I get that, but it’s something. ”
“Derek will hate me.”
There it was. He didn’t want to do it because he was still in love with Derek.
“Don’t give up a great opportunity just because you’re afraid you’ll hurt someone’s feelings. Derek is a big boy. He can handle it.” I offered my hand to pull him up, but he just shook it instead.
“Thank you,” he said.
“For what?”
“I don’t know.” Will closed his eyes and yawned. “Everything.”
I couldn’t very well leave him on the floor, so I scooped him up in a bridal carry.
“You’re like a firefighter”—he threw his arm around my neck—“and you smell nice.”
“Oh, yeah?” I set him on the bed. “What do I smell like?”
“Like campfire and pot and apples.”
“Apples?” I grabbed the sheet and pulled it up to his chin. “Must be the pie.”
“No, it’s not the pie. You smelled like apples before the pie.”
“Sorry about licking your ear earlier. I was just trying to get into character.”
“It’s okay. I kind of liked it, but don’t tell anyone.”
My pulse quickened. “Okay, your secret is safe with me.” He wasn’t going to remember any of this.
“I wish you were my real boyfriend. I thought my mother was going to fire you.”
So had I. In hindsight, criticizing my boss’s parenting skills probably wasn’t the best move.
“I wish I could kiss you.” He rolled onto his side and sighed.
“What’s stopping you?” My stomach swooped, excited by the dare.
“Because I’m not a stalker, and I’m not a pathetic fuckboy.” He turned away from me, curling into a fetal position like a bristly little hedgehog. “I know it’s just pretend.”
“Yeah, right, just pretend.” I reached over and clicked off the light.