Page 73 of Moonstruck at Midnight
I left Lily’s and opened the door to my apartment. There was an enormous package leaning against the wall. There was a note on the foyer table from Mimi saying she had received it on my behalf. It was a giant framed poster of Matisse’s Red Studio.
It wasamazing!
I called Thomas to thank him for the gift, but again, he sounded weird over the phone. I regretted having called him. He didn’t sound okay, and it didn’t seem to have anything to do with me. He was distraught, and I urged him to talk to me, but he refused and hung up on me, claiming he had to get back to the rowing machine.
I’d reached my limit. I couldn’t keep overlooking his mood swings. Maybe he was done with me, and if so, why make me go through the ups and downs?
What if everything Nicholas said at the party was true? I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Was Thomas with me for me? Or to please his father’s expectations? Being around his father for three weeks must’ve been taxing. I just wished he would open up to me and tell me what the hell was going on.
July 17, 2009
Ben and Nolan left early, around six in the evening. We had everything ready for the next day. We were thrilled about the shoot, and I told them my friend had agreed to pose for the photos, but I still hadn’t told themwhoshe was.
By six-thirty, I climbed on the treadmill and walked for a few minutes to warm up for my class. Grant arrived ten minutes before seven to set everything up.
“Let me get your hands ready,” Grant said, gesturing to come forth. He bandaged my knuckles, and I was so ready to start punching things around. He helped me put my gloves on, and I was good to go.
“Okay, stand here for me.” He pointed at one of the small cones. He explained a few things like how to stand up correctly to hold a right guard. We began with basic combinations, and he received the punches I gave on the pads.
Grant was intense. I was sweating like crazy throughout the class. His energy was contagious. “We’ve got eight minutes left. Let’s work on your abs. Lie on your back on the mat.” I did as I was told, and he held my feet firmly on the ground to assist me with the crunches.
“Grant, I can’t,” I said after a few minutes, completely out of breath and not at all used to this type of exercise.
“Don’t stop, one more minute left.” He kept encouraging me.
William and Joel stepped into the gym together, talking in Swedish.
The last few seconds of the workout were killing me.
“We’re done, Billie, great job.”
I threw my head back slowly on the floor and laid down to catch my breath. Grant knelt beside me and removed my gloves. I couldn’t sit up yet, which he found amusing. “Careful with this one. She’s tough,” Grant said, laughing.
“Oh, you don’t have to tell me. I know she’s rather feisty,” William said, leaning against the wall behind Grant, watching as he finished removing my bandages. “I’ve already taken a few punches myself. Well, that depends if slaps in the face count as such.”
I looked over Grant’s shoulder and stuck my tongue out at William. He raised a brow in return.
“I’m sure he’s earned them by pulse,” Grant said, making Joel laugh.
Thanks, Grant.
I got up, grabbed my things, and walked toward the exit when Joel said, “Good luck tomorrow, Billie. Let me know if you guys need anything, okay?”
“What’s tomorrow?” William asked.
“Don’t worry. You’re not invited.” I winked, just as he always did. “Thank you, Grant! See you on Monday!”
July 18, 2009
WE PLANNED TO LEAVEat 8:00 a.m. from my apartment. We were just waiting for Ben and Nolan to arrive. Aaron, Caleb,andDavid were going to escort us to the Hamptons. If I hung out with Lily, the three of them had to come.
“Isn’t it a bit excessive?” I whispered to Caleb.
“We need to comply with your father’s orders, Miss Murphy.” He looked away after replying with a flat tone.
Our dynamic was still awkward since the condom package incident. Caleb was furious with Thomas. And he probably thought I was an idiot for not confronting him—yet. But he didn’t know what I was thinking, and I was obviously going to talk to Thomas about it. I was doing thingsmyway, which was very different from what Caleb would’ve wanted.
It was a two-hour ride, that’s why we decided to leave early. We wanted to have as much sunlight as possible to play around with different lighting. Lily brought a few changes of clothes for the shoot, and we were all packed and ready to go.
