Page 18 of Dangerous Curves

“Oh, I see.” Silence falls between us as the elevator comes to a stop. I motion for Kenndrix to exit first and I follow behind her with her luggage. I lead her down to my suite and open the door. My luggage is just inside the door. When I arrived at the hotel, I was starving so I dropped off my luggage and then went straight back down to eat. Without a second thought, I take Kenndrix’s luggage into the bedroom off the living room area.

I feel her presence before I turn around and see her. “I can sleep on the couch.”

“Nope, I’m good. It’s a queen size sofa sleeper so there will be plenty of room.”

Kenndrix takes in the cream colored walls and mixture of light and dark furniture. I see her studying the lamps on either side of the bed, crystal look alike lamps, something she’ll love. She always did love some bling. “Why did you get a terrace suite?”

“Kosi was supposed to be here. She wanted to come to the premiere because she was convinced her future husband was going to be Chester Alms.”

Kenndrix laughs. “Aw Kosi always did have such a vivid imagination. So, why isn’t she here?”

“She got a new job last week with Bowie’s help. Well, actually his friend Roscoe helped her get a receptionist job at the sky diving school he teaches at. Since, it’s her first week she didn’t want to ask for the time off.” I shrug my shoulders.

She nods her head. “Yeah, I can imagine that would be hard to ask for so soon.”

“Yep, so here I am.”

Kenndrix’s head falls to the side as she studies me. “Why do you make that sound like torture?”

Laughter barks out of me. “Because it is.”

“How can you say that? This is your world.” She steps farther into the room.

I shake my head while I study those jade green eyes that used to tell me all her secrets. “No, I never wanted this. I never cared about the fame or the premieres. I’m just the daredevil and I get paid to do that for a living. I’m a lucky son of a bitch don’t get me wrong but this red carpet crap and what not, it’s not me. I rarely attend premieres unless someone in my family wants to see the movie or meet someone from the cast. I wouldn’t be here now if it weren’t for Kosi.”

“I didn’t expect that to still be your answer.” Her voice is quiet again. I can feel the past, our past, intruding on this moment. She’s thinking about all those times I’ve told her that before. The difference is she never believed me before, she never really heard me. I think this time she did. She shivers as the air conditioning kicks on.

I cross the room and open the bathroom door. “You should hop in a hot shower to get warmed up. You’re probably freezing I’m sure.”

“Yeah.” I nod and head for the bedroom door when her voice stops me. “Thank you, Jaxx.

This is by far my worst idea ever but I guess if I’m going to go down I might as well go all the way. “Yeah, no problem.” That’s not what I want to actually say. No, what I want to tell her is I’d do anything for her even if she is in town to see her boyfriend but I don’t say any of that as I pull the bedroom door closed.

While I’m unpacking the best I can in the living room without taking up too much space I decide to call down and order some room service for Kenndrix. I’m sure she’s hungry besides, I owe her some ice cream. By the time I hear the shower cut off, there’s a knock on the door. The room service cart is pushed inside and the smell of her favorite food even makes my stomach growl and I just ate. I go to the bedroom door and knock.

“Yeah?” she calls out.

“I ordered us some lunch once you’re dressed.”

The thunder outside rumbles as if it’s angry. I hear Kenndrix yelp in surprise before she replies, “Okay, I’ll be out in a minute.”

I walk over to the window and watch as the town is drowned in water and I wonder just what I’m expecting to happen over these next couple of days. This can’t end well, at least not for me. Something tells me my heart will be as flooded as this city by the time it’s done.

Seventeen

Kenndrix

When I stepped under the steady stream of water memories came flooding back. From a time when I was a much different person, but I knew the person on the other side of the wall like the back of my hand. That’s not true anymore and it’s like my heart is breaking all over again. The problem is I think I don’t know him anymore, but then he goes and says something that is exactly what he used to say. How he was talking about the movie premieres and whatnot…that was always his answer back when it was the two of us against the world. I always just assumed he said that for my benefit. He knew how insecure I was and the idea of a red carpet with my ridiculously hot boyfriend only made that worse. I guess I never truly believed what he told me. I always thought he was just being nice to me.

The steam builds in the bathroom and one particular memory comes back to mind.

****

Jaxx and I had been on a few dates and I was falling hard. He was such a sweet guy, which I never expected. It didn’t hurt that he seemed proud to be seen with me instead of ashamed or embarrassed. That’s something I knew all too well. Tonight has been like a scene I’d write in one of my screen plays. A candlelight picnic on the beach, stroll down by the water, toes in the wet sand as he held my hand and now lying back on a blanket while he points out constellations. They’re barely visible in the city, but even if I can’t see them I imagine I can.

Silence falls between us but it’s comfortable. His arm that my head is resting on pulls me closer. The scent of his cologne reassuring as I snuggle in closer to his chest. His fingers slide through my hair, the motion making me sleepy. “Jaxx?”

“Yeah beautiful,” he asks, his voice a husky whisper. It’s almost as if he’s scared to disrupt the peacefully perfect night.

---