Chapter 2 Jim
JIM
Istared at him like he was insane. “You’re what? I mean, I know you’re a professional, but can you do this with no rehearsal?”
“I can. I’ve been a swing in enough shows that I’ll be fine.
I’ve seen this show in enough rehearsals that I could step in for almost anyone.
I choreographed all the numbers, and have been listening to this show for quite some time, so…
I should be good. If not, I’ll have to quit in shame,” he teased.
“Would you run away with me? Could you leave Foggy Basin with me in shame, or would you be the first to cast me out as you threw rotted fruit and vegetables?”
“I do like to throw a good tomato every now and then,” I chuckled and walked over and stood behind him. I placed my hands gently on his shoulders and squeezed them. “You’re tight.”
“No shit. I’m stepping into Scrooge tomorrow night and… It’ll be the first time I’ve ever performed here. What if people hate me?”
“God, why did I fall in love with an actor?” I groaned and really got into his muscles with my fingers. I kneaded his muscles, and he moaned and hissed as I found every knot. “You know you have to pay me back for this.”
“What… Oh, God… That is so good. Pay you back for what?”
“This massage.”
“Oh, really? What payment methods do you accept? Do you take Venmo?”
“No… I don’t take cash.”
“Ah… Is this a ploy to stop me from looking over this script so I don’t embarrass myself and give you some ass?”
“I was thinking blowjob, but… yeah.”
“Well, I suppose your sexual needs are more important than looking good in front of all our neighbors,” he chortled. “Can you at least wait until I feel good about act one, or do you need sexual satisfaction stat?”
“You have killed my hard-on,” I grinned and bent down and kissed the top of his head.
“I’ll tell you what,” he laughed happily, “Give me an hour, and I will meet you upstairs in your bedroom and make you a very happy man. Deal?”
I kissed the top of his head again.
“That could work. I need to wrap Buffy’s gift anyway.
She has a key to the house, and I’m sure she sneaks in and looks for it when we’re not here.
She has always snooped for her presents.
The parents used to hide her gifts at Mom’s work so she wouldn’t find them.
One year, she found mine and sent me an email with a complete list. I like the surprise, and she’s the exact opposite.
” I took my keys out of my pocket and placed them in the small bowl that was set by my door on the console table.
I put my wallet down beside them. If I didn’t do this, I’d spend hours looking everywhere for them.
“I’ll be up in an hour. I promise.”
“If you’re not, I’m going to come down here and carry you upstairs over my shoulder. I can spank your ass on the way up to teach you a lesson.”
“Ooo… So, caveman, I love it. Seriously, you are super butch.” He didn’t look up from his script.
“Stop teasing me, or I’m not gonna be able to wait,” I teased and walked back over to him as he stared at the script. I reached down, placed a finger beneath his smooth chin, and raised his head. My lips gently touched his, and I kissed him.
God, I loved losing myself in him. Every kiss and touch that we shared made my heart race. You’d think that after four months, it would change in some way. It just got stronger and more passionate. I knew a good thing. I would hold onto him for as long as he’d let me.
I hoped for forever. I bit his bottom lip.
“Hurry up.”
“I’ll speed read.” His grin lit up his handsome face. He reached up and interlaced his fingers through mine. “Promise.”
“I’ll be waiting.” I stepped back, and our fingers stretched to keep our touch. Eventually, I stepped away too far, and our arms fell. “Maybe I’ll finally finish that book.”
“The prince will definitely fall for the handsome event planner. It has to happen,” he teased.
“I love happy endings,” I called as I started up the stairs. “Why do you only read depressing books? It’s a real issue in our relationship.”
“We can binge Hallmark after the show closes. I know that will make you happy.”
I could hear his sweet laugh as I climbed the last stair and turned into our bedroom.
Well, my bedroom. He was here most of the time, so it felt like our bedroom.
He even had a couple of drawers and space in the closet.
I’d give him more if he wanted. The only shirts I had hanging up were a few heavy flannels and a couple of polos.
I preferred t-shirts and pullovers. He liked dressier types of clothes and almost all of his clothes hung from a wooden hanger.
The first thing he did after moving his clothes in was to get rid of all the metal hangers I had, as he screamed lines from Mommie Dearest. Actors… What are you gonna do?
I threw myself down on the bed and grabbed my book.
I loved to read, but I was a very slow reader.
It took me months to finish a book these days.
I was busy, but I also had trouble sitting and focusing when I tried to read.
I loved getting lost in a book, but it took me time to get there.
This one was great, and of course, I already knew the ending.
I only read books that assured me a happy ending.
I had lived long enough to not want reality. I wanted fantasy and romance.
Finn preferred non-fiction or heavy drama in his books.
Yuck.
Buffy has really thrown me for a loop when she called to check in on how Finn was handling learning his lines.
What was I going to get him for Christmas?
I had thought about it, but couldn’t decide on anything.
He didn’t need clothes or anything for his house.
Power tools were definitely a no. I didn’t want to have to rush him to the hospital.
What do you get the person who completes you? I thought about a bracelet or some other kind of jewelry. But it felt like a copout. I wouldn’t get him jewelry until I decide to give him a ring. We weren’t there yet, even if I knew it would be our endgame, eventually.
It had to be. I was old-fashioned.
When you knew, you knew.
I knew.
Finn was who I had been waiting for, so the gift I gave him had to mean something. I wanted him to know that I cared and tried.
I sucked.
It wasn’t that I wasn’t thoughtful of the people I loved. I just wasn’t the kind of person who put importance on material things. I showed I cared by always being there and making sure that I was always present. If people needed anything, I would be there to help them.
Finn needed to learn lines, but I knew he didn’t want my help. He was a pro. He had been on Broadway, and this town was so lucky to have him leading our community theatre. It was the most special place in town for me since I grew up there. Now I was the technical director, and Finn was my boss.
I was fucking my boss.
I was in love with my boss.
What the fuck do you give your boss when your cock is buried deeply within him almost every night?
I opened the book and read about the hidden prince. He had run away from Allyria, where his mother was trying to get him to grow up and marry someone. He had another thing in mind.
I lost myself in the story and barely heard Finn knock on the door. I glanced up from my book and laughed out loud.
“That’s… I think my hard-on is back.” I stared at his naked body as he grabbed his leg and slowly lifted it into the air above his head.
If you can fuck a Broadway dancer, you definitely should. The flexibility is everything.
“I finished early.”
“Before I ravish you… Do you feel good about it?”
“I knew it better than I thought. I’ll work on the last couple of scenes in the second act tomorrow. I have time. I’m a fast memorizer. Do you feel inspired? Can I pull you away from your book?”
I set the book down on the table, stretched my body out, and put my hands behind my head. “I mean, I’m a little tired now.”
“Really?”
“Get your ass over here,” I growled.
As I touched him – fucked him – All I could think about was how much I loved him.
What do you give the person you love besides yourself?