Page 10 of Party Animal
Julie had never told me this before.My heart twisted.“You’re a beautiful girl, sweetheart, inside and out.”
She wiped her eyes and smiled at me.“I know that now, thanks to you.When you brought me here, everything changed.Suddenly, I wasn’t living with people who never let me forget I was different.My world expanded.I met people who treated me like an equal.Finally, I could accept myself.”She paused for a moment.“I met someone.”
I’m sure my surprise showed on my face.“How long has this been going on?”
“Just a few weeks.He’s smart and ambitious.And he sees me as an equal and a partner.”She blushed.“Alek, he makes me feel beautiful.”
I actually felt a little jealous.“When do I get to meet this perfect man?”
Julie shrugged.“I don’t know if this is happy ever after, but it’s happy for now, and that’s good enough.”
“I don’t want you to get hurt, Julie.”
“It’s okay.Maybe I’m an idiot, but I’m willing to risk it.”
“You look happy.”
“I am, and I want that for you.”
“I’m happy if you’re happy.Now let’s finish up this pizza and watch a movie.”
I didn’t catch much of the movie.All through it, I thought about what Julie had said, and her new boyfriend.She’d grown up too fast.I’d been taking care of her for a while and I wasn’t ready to give up being her protector.
* * *
When I left home, I started sending Julie money regularly.It wasn’t much at first, but it increased along with my fame.No one knew what I was doing until I went back to collect Julie and move her to LA.My parents couldn’t understand why I had so much money.They accused me of being a dope dealer and threatened to call the police.I finally blew up and told them the truth.I’ll never forget their horrified expressions.They thought porn was worse than selling dope.But Julie knew I was working to build a better life for us, and since she was eighteen, they couldn’t stop her from leaving with me.
Julie accepts what I do, but I know she’d prefer me to have a regular job.She always tells me one day she’ll make a lot of money and support me so I can retire.“I know you will,” I tell her.“We’ll always be there for each other.”Now I wasn’t so sure.What if she really fell for this guy?She didn’t seem anxious for us to meet.Did I embarrass her?
I tried not to dwell on that.I didn’t want to spoil the holiday.The rest of the week I kept her busy.One day we rubbed shoulders with Hollywood celebrities at Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum.We clowned around and took dozens of photos.Another day we went shopping and I bought her a bunch of clothes she didn’t want.She worries that I spend too much money on her.Mostly we hung around the pool and talked.She told me a little more about her boyfriend and I tried not to act like an overbearing father.
Julie and I enjoy cooking together and we planned the menu for Easter dinner, then went food shopping.The ham is ridiculously easy, and my friends always bring the wine and desserts, so we made lots of side dishes -- smoked salmon deviled eggs, a classic green bean casserole, fresh peas with mint, and candied sweet potatoes.
On Easter Sunday, Julie wore one of her new dresses and I put on khakis and a shirt.She was beyond excited.Julie loved Joey and Paul.
The buzzer went off promptly at three and I let them up.“Welcome to my humble abode.”
Paul and Joey had their arms full of packages.Julie led them into the kitchen so they could deposit the goodies.I heard her sweet, joyful laughter echo through the apartment as I went to greet Lee.He was looking around, probably wondering why I didn’t live in an expensive high rise in a fancier neighborhood.I had my reasons.I wanted to be close to Julie, and besides, she loved this building.
“Happy Easter.”
He handed me a bottle of Prosecco.“Thanks.Happy Easter to you.”
I noticed Lee had a box in his other hand, but he held onto it.Just then, Paul and Joey entered the living room with Julie.They were still laughing and Julie’s face was flushed.
“Casey,” Joey said.“Julie gets prettier every time I see her.If I weren’t gay, I’d make a pass at her.Maybe I will anyway.”He grabbed her from behind and whirled her around.
“You’re too late.She has a boyfriend.”
Joey released her.“I’m heartbroken.”
Julie kissed him.“We’ll always be bff’s.”She walked over to Lee.“You must be Lee.Alek told me all about you.”
Lee looked over at me.“Did he?”
“Well, no.Just that you were coming for dinner.”
Lee grinned.“He didn’t tell me anything about you.”
