Chapter 24 #2
The director of the building greeted them personally and walked them through the space, pointing out items of interest. Their steps were loud on the stone floors and the whole building had an air of hush and awe.
Cal wasn’t sure if that was because the building was empty with all the workers resting on the weekend, or because the planetarium was impressive in and of itself, or because he and Jesse kept stealing glances at each other and smiling when they caught the other doing the same.
When the director led them out on the balcony and gave them permission to wander on their own, Cal slipped their hands together, as easily as he had at the beach, and they walked in silence around the perimeter of the building.
“I’ll bet this must look incredible at night,” Jesse said at last.
“We could come back and see it.”
“That would be nice. Although I’d hate to make your secretary pull strings again.”
“Are you kidding? He was so pleased with himself that he forgot to steal one of my ties. We’d be doing him a favor.”
Jesse laughed. “Does he often steal your ties?”
“Sometimes I think I’m supplying his wardrobe rather than my own.”
“Why do you keep him then?”
“He’s always there when I need him. Which, granted, is his magic. But it’s definitely handy in a secretary. And he’s become one of my best friends. So as irritating as he is sometimes, I put up with it. He’s usually right anyway.”
Jesse gave a thoughtful sort of hum. “Mrs. Nelson back home had a way of knowing things. I think it was part of her magic. But she was usually right about things, too. Can we sit here for a bit?” he asked, pointing to a bench in the shade.
“Of course.”
They sat and, to Cal’s delight, Jesse leaned against him just as he had while they’d watched the fireworks. Cal dropped Jesse’s hand in order to wrap his arm around the other man’s shoulders.
“Did you move here to be a movie star?” Jesse asked.
“Not really. I moved here for pretty much the same reason you moved to Atlanta: to find a job. I worked as a soda jerk for a couple of years until Kay discovered me.”
“What happened?”
“There was a customer crying into her milkshake because her girlfriend had broken up with her. I was using my magic to calm her down and Kay noticed.” He shrugged.
“She says it had nothing to do with my magic. That she knew a movie star when she saw one. But I’ve always suspected she knew how useful my magic could be in the flurry of a movie set. ”
“Do you use it often?”
“I used to use it every day. Tensions can run high on a set, so it’s important to make sure everyone is calm and collected.”
“That doesn’t sound like your responsibility.”
Cal didn’t know what to say to that. He’d always felt it was his responsibility.
Jesse tilted his head to look up at him. “You think it is, though, don’t you?”
“Why else would Kay have picked me otherwise?”
“Do I need to buy you a mirror?”
“Why have such a skill if I’m not going to use it? And I know it helps. I’ve managed to dissipate fights just as they’re getting started. I’ve gotten notoriously temperamental directors to collaborate beautifully with picky cinematographers. If I can help, I should.”
“So, you’ve spent the past few years acting like a movie star any time you leave the house, and then you’re using your magic constantly to keep everyone in a good mood?” Jesse gave a low whistle. “No wonder you were tired.”
Cal felt his thumb rubbing up and down Jesse’s shoulder.
It was a soothing motion, but he realized he was doing it to soothe himself.
“I didn’t want this musical role, you know,” he said quietly.
“The day Ezra gave me the script, I was trying to figure out how to ask him for a vacation.” He gave a humorless huff.
“Go figure I get assigned the hardest project of my career instead. I guess that’s what I get for not being clear enough. ”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s been the hardest, but it’s also been the most rewarding.
I don’t plan on being a musical star any time soon, but I like the challenge of it.
” He paused, the realization hitting him right before he said his next words: “And since I started working with you, I’ve felt less of a need to keep everyone calm. ”
“Oh?” Jesse sat up a little to look at him.
“You don’t ever need my magic. Every time I try to use it on you, it bounces back at me. That hardly ever happens. And then I kind of got out of the habit of using it.”
Jesse grinned. “I’m glad. We’ve gotten along swimmingly, all of us on set. It’s nice that you’ve gotten to relax a bit.”
“Oh, sure, relax. With King churning dance after dance out of us? Practically a vacation.”
Jesse elbowed him. “You know what I mean.”
“I do.” He took a deep breath. “And I can’t deny that I’m grateful to Ezra for casting me in this role, because it led me to you.”
Jesse pulled his bottom lip between his teeth.
Cal had come to recognize it as a tic to hide his smile.
He selfishly wanted to see that smile in all its glory.
It occurred to him that they were alone, far from any prying eyes, or nosy reporters, or gossipy friends.
He traced one fingertip over Jesse’s mouth.
“You don’t need to hide your smile from me,” he said softly.
Jesse’s response was a full grin, as dazzling as a flash bulb. “I know,” he whispered.
Then, finally, without a script he had to stick to, Cal cupped Jesse’s cheek, leaned forward, and kissed him. And Jesse kissed him back. The kiss was as sweet and as gentle as Cal had hoped it would be.
When they broke off, he stroked Jesse’s cheek with his thumb. “Should we continue our tour of the city?”
“Do you think the director would mind if we stayed here for a little bit?”
“Not at all.”
So Jesse nestled back against Cal’s chest, and they talked about their families and their childhoods.
Cal resumed his stroking of Jesse’s shoulder and Jesse took Cal’s free hand and held it on his lap.
They fit together perfectly. They didn’t move from the bench until they’d watched the sun set over the city.