Chapter Sixteen Mr. Nightmare
I was not looking forward to meeting Jack, for lots of reasons.
I stood in front of my closet. “Should I wear a suit?”
“No. Jeans, T-shirt, hoodie, you’re good. I never dress up to meet Jack.”
“Yeah, but he wants to date you. He doesn’t know me from a hole in the ground.”
“You’re overthinking this. What you’re wearing looks good to me.”
The meeting was at some locally owned coffee shop a few subway stops and a ten-minute walk from our place. When we got there, before we went in, he took my hand and squeezed my thumb once, like he knew how keyed up I was.
“You’re gonna be great,” he said.
I recognized Jack right away. Eddie had sold him short. Even sitting, I could see he was tall and ripped, and he looked like he’d just come from a GQ photoshoot. He was wearing a super expensive-looking navy blue sweater that matched his eyes.
Eddie let go of my hand and introduced us. He sounded normal. Casual, not flirty.
Jack had this ultrafirm handshake. Authoritative. Like, Don’t even think about fucking around, kid. And he sized me up in a completely nonsexual way.
Eddie and I sat at the table. Eddie did all the talking, which was good, because Jack was intimidating.
But Eddie seemed relaxed. I got the impression they’d known each other a long time.
And I got upset. Because Jack was ignoring me.
His eyes were on Eddie. He was hanging on Eddie’s every word.
I knew that look. I’d given Eddie that same look on the regular.
“This is Craig’s showreel.” Eddie gave Jack my DVD. “He used to dance professionally.”
Jack looked at the back. “I’ve never directed any dance pieces. I don’t know any dance choreographers off the top of my head.”
“Craig’s got experience,” said Eddie. “I’m not asking for a part for him, but maybe he could dance in the lead-up to the scene on the boardwalk with me and Edgar. Build some atmosphere.”
Jack stopped staring at Eddie and said to me, “Can you act, Craig?”
Eddie burst out laughing so loudly that other people in the coffee shop looked over.
He knew I couldn’t act, because he’d had me read lines with him once when he was rehearsing.
He had this laugh. If I didn’t love him, I’d find it super annoying.
But because I did, it made my world feel like a better place.
“I act about as well as Eddie taps,” I said.
Eddie doubled over laughing. I’d let him try on my tap shoes once, because he’d really wanted to. I didn’t think it was possible for someone to have no musicality at all, but there he was.
After Eddie calmed down, Jack said, “I’ll watch your showreel, Craig, but no promises. If it looks like your work would fit with what I’m doing, I’ll consider you.”
“Thanks for the opportunity,” I said.
Eddie finished his drink. I’d finished mine while they were talking.
We said our goodbyes, and I got up to leave.
I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.
But when I got to the door, I noticed Eddie was still back at the table with Jack.
Jack had his hand on Eddie’s arm, and he was talking to him, looking serious.
Then Eddie pulled out of Jack’s grip casually and came after me. I waited for him outside.
“What did he say to you?” I said.
He took my hand. “He asked me if you were the one I turned him down for. I told him you were. What did you think of him?”
“He’s in love with you.” What the hell else would I think?
“Seriously.”
“I’m serious, Eddie. The way he looked at you. It’s obvious.”
“Well, I don’t have it bad for him.”
I let go of his hand.
“What?” he said.
How could he not see? “Why did you turn him down?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Look at him. He’s taller than me. He looks like a movie star. He’s got a career as a director. You’ve known him way longer than you’ve known me. And he’s in love with you. Why would you want me when you could have him?”
“Geez, Craig. Cub might have thought he was hot, but he’s not my type.
And he’s bossy, which is fine on the set, but I don’t want someone telling me what to do when I’m not working.
And he’s a real killjoy—he’s always serious.
And since when is being tall a selling point?
I don’t want to feel like the guy’s kid walking next to him. ”
I could see his point. I didn’t want to go out with Jack either. But...
“I guess I don’t understand why you want me,” I said.
“Are you kidding? You’re exactly my type. Your body is perfect. You’re a greyhound.”
“I’m nothing special. Even when I was dancing, I never looked like Jack.”
“Your body drives me crazy,” he said, running his hands over me. “And you’re an amazing dancer, and you give the best blow jobs I’ve ever had. You’ve got the kind of stage presence I’d kill for, and you don’t realize how hot you are, and that makes you even hotter. And you know what else?”
“What?”
“You’ve never been with a guy before, so everything you do with me is your first time. Jack could never give me that.”
“Oh.”
“And also,” he said, “I fell in love with you before Jack asked me out. I just hadn’t told you yet, and I wasn’t gonna tell him before I told you.”
I hugged him. I didn’t care who saw us. He felt perfect in my arms. And then I knew: I wanted to marry him.
“Eddie?”
“Yeah?”
And I chickened out, because how the hell do you propose outside a coffee shop with no preparation? And what if he laughed at me? So I just said, “I love you.”
He squeezed me once, then pushed me away gently. “Let’s go home, make each other come, and go to sleep.”
That was the best idea I’d heard all day.