Page 3 of Jace 4Ever
“You,” I said.
“I…I mean…” he stuttered. “What about all your Hollywood hotties? All those gorgeous women you hang around, and all the women who hang off you? I’m not a woman.”
I put my hand over his. “I am well aware you’re not a woman, Jace.” He coughed and looked lost. He stared at where my hand was resting on his and he gulped. I considered him. “Would you like to find a more quiet spot to talk? There’s a balcony up there and I suspect it’s a little more private and we can chat.”
“You…you’re really…”
Standing, I motioned for him to walk ahead of me to the narrow stairs on the left of the room. He grabbed his beer and headed over. I grabbed my own and followed. He picked a table at the back of the balcony, near the window that looked down on the street outside, and sat.
Taking the chair across from him, I saw a flicker of confusion and fright flit across his face, then he was back to himself. There was a lot to this guy, and I wanted to know more about him.
“I had no idea who you were when I walked in,” I said. “You just drew my eye. I thought it would be a good idea to introduce myself. I didn’t mean to scare the crap out of you and land you on your ass.”
“I didn’t land on my ass. I landed on you.”
“I rather liked that part.”
He squeaked a bit, and I smiled. He leaned in. “Are you leading me on?”
Drawing back, I shook my head. “Jace—”
“I’m not into straight curiosity and I’m not into being in the closet. There is no closet that can hold me, no matter how much I want it to. I don’t want to be someone’s dirty secret or once in a while—”
Grabbing his hand, I shook my head. “No. Jace, stop. I’m sorry if you think that at all. I’m gay—well, bisexual. I’ve known since I was thirteen. I’ve never made a secret of it. It’s that Hollywood ignores it. Yes, I have had some beautiful women on my arm, but I have also had beautiful men there as well. I prefer the men.”
Blinking at me a few times, I watched him blush again. “I’m sorry. I’m just…” He stared at the beer and stood slowly. “I’m going to go. I’ve made an ass of myself and I insulted you—”
“What makes you think that?”
“I just… You’re not? Insulted?”
“No. Why would I be?”
“Because I…”
“Assumed I was straight? I’m straight passing, and that’s what Hollywood wants to portray. You were within your rights to think that. I’m not, though. Not at all.” I tugged him back down into the chair and didn’t let his hand go. “Please, Jace, have a drink with me. Have more than one drink with me.”
He looked out toward the main part of the party and let out a sigh. “All right. Yes. I will. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make this all so awkward.” He took another drink of the beer.
“I think awkward started when we tripped over each other.” I chuckled.
“Okay, yeah, that much is true.” The little smirk that appeared was perfect. “You do make an excellent cushion.”
The laugh he coaxed out of me was one of the most genuine I’d let out in a long time. Hollywood was actually pretty much exhausting, and I needed some real interaction, which was also why I’d accepted Marcus and Hailey’s invitation. I needed non-showbiz friends. Yes, this was a listening party, but it wasn’t Hollywood. Marcus and Chase were adorable together, and the whole crew of people they hung out with was a wonderful change.
I looked over at the cute guy who had agreed to hang out with me. “So, you’re a master key grip. How’d you get there? You can’t be old enough—”
“I’m twenty-sex—er,six.” More blushing. “I went to film school in New Jersey, at Rutgers. I’m also a licensed electrician.”
“That’s a nice pedigree,” I said. “Usually the grip just kind of points the lights and the rest of the crew figures out how to make that work.”
“Not if you’re working on my crew. Everyone works.”
“Ooh, you’re a hard ass.”
A genuine laugh spilled out of him. “Only if you don’t do your job.”
“Did you like film school?”
