Page 63 of 7 Miles High
Chapter 20
Natalie
I’m glad he told me about Nia being part of the stunt crew. He reiterated the fact she is not in his life at all. Hasn’t talked with her for six months. Not that it makes a difference in my life. Her being here shouldn’t affect me in the least. That’s what I tell myself every time I feel any sense of jealousy about the woman who lives in Parker’s past. It’s not like they were married.
I do believe him when he says there’s nothing between them now and nothing to worry about. But it’s also understandable to have a hesitation. And I do. You can’t be wounded by a man like I’ve been and come out of it unscathed and unchanged.
I know it will eventually pass, but for now I’m going to forgive me my own insecurities. Being one hundred percent confident like I was in my marriage ended up to be a glaring negative. Being the gullible girl wasn’t the person I ever imagined I’d be. I was too smart. Ha!
Little by little I see myself believing in love again. Actually it’s a done deal. There’s no doubt I love him deeply. Before this week the only time I voiced it was in my journal.I love Parkerwas written like a schoolgirl does of her first boyfriend. I did it then and now, writing it in the late hours. It’s the safe place for being vulnerable. Now I don’t need to hide my feelings within the pages of a book. I feel a lightness I haven’t felt in years. And it’s bolstered by a feeling this time it’s undeniable.
“Are we meeting at the pool?” I ask.
“Yeah,” he says, squeezing my hand.
The elevator doors open and we step out into the lobby. You’d be hard-pressed to believe it’s three in the morning. Cast and crew members mill around as if it’s the middle of the day. Everyone’s schedule is upside down. Night and day have become new concepts.
“Are your parents going to join us?”
“I told them about it, but they didn’t look too excited. I think staying up all night took it out of them.”
“I get it. It’s even hard for me to adjust.”
He wraps an arm around my shoulders as we walk through the doors leading behind the hotel and to the pool.
“Oh, poor baby. We’ll just stay an hour then head back. Okay?”
“I understand. You stunt people need to come down. Unwind.”
His eyes meet mine and he chuckles. “You’re learning, girl. We are an odd bunch. We like to do our job and then we like to talk about it. There’s a lot of pent up energy to let out.”
“I see that look in all your eyes. The one I thought was just specific to you.”
As we approach the group sitting in a circle of chairs by the pool their laughter and voices announce the good time they’re having.
“Parker! Natalie!” Someone calls for us to join them.
Almost every stuntman and woman are here tonight. This is the biggest bunch by far. Cans of beer and cocktail glasses brought from the rooms dot the shape of the circle. Someone is smoking weed. Maybe a few are. Only one guy smokes a cigarette and he tries to blow the smoke away from his neighbors.
Every night the group has expanded and it’s easy to see why. It’s such a great group of people, sharing funny stories from the films they’ve been in, or telling tales out of school about the actors they’ve worked with. Which ones can’t throw a punch, who had an affair with whom, and the times a stunt went wrong. It’s all laid out on the table.
“Great car work today, Gene.”
Parker compliments the youngest stuntman here, bringing a proud smile to the kid’s face. He can’t be much more than twenty. I think I heard someone say Isaac is his Uncle.
Just as we find our seats there’s an odd sound coming from the pool. An inebriated song, if you can call it that. And the female’s voice is loud and out of tune.
“Ooo mizze luv mizze darli I hunger fr you luv…”
One slender arm raises from the water. A head peaks up from the edge of the pool and hands attempt to hold on. She tries her best to steady the sway. It’s Nia.
By the look on Parker’s face I’ve got a sneaking suspicion the Righteous Brother’s “Unchained Melody”could have been their song. Because she’s looking in his direction and trying to act sexy. Fucking bitch. Is she purposely singing to him? Reminding him of their past?
As the thought passes through me I’m aware of the real response I’m having. The actual things I’m feeling. As much as I don’t want to admit it, I feel sorry for her. She’s making an ass of herself. Then I come to a more understandable conclusion. How could Parker have been with this woman? What weird character defect does he have to be attracted to both her and me? We arenothingalike.
“Crap,” Parker says under his breath.
“Fucking Nia,” one of the stuntmen says with a disgusted tone.
