“Awww, Bug! It’s about damn time someone made you feel as wonderful as you are!”
I sobered at her comment. Lizzie had helped me through so many rough spots in my life. She had literally seen me at my worst.
“Thanks, Liz. He was just... sweet, gentle, adorable… not to mention fucking hot,” I said. “…and you would approve. We thoroughly discussed consent beforehand.” I smiled as we spoke. Not right now, but at some point I’d have to tell her about my new favorite game…
“Damn. Maybe heisa keeper,” she said. I could hear her wheeling around the kitchen of our apartment. “So, when do I get to meet him?” she asked.
“Meet him? Umm… I don’t know…” the question made me pause. I hadn’t really thought any further than last night.
For the first time I felt torn about Lee. His life was here, in Ohio, with his family and the business. I couldn’t ask him to come to Seattle… could I? This was all too fast, anyway. I mean, we’d only known each other a few days, but what agloriousfew days they had been. I shivered as my eyes fell on the used washcloth hanging out of the dirty clothes hamper. It had been an amazing night, but it wasn’t even close to being the sum total of all the things we could have done with each other…
“Earth to Mason, Earth to Mason. Come in, Mason…” Her voice sing-songed over the phone.
“Sorry Liz,” I said, snapping my mind back to our conversation. “I just hadn’t thought that far ahead.”
“Oh, I think you were thinking aboutAhead,” she giggled.
“Oh my god, woman! You have a one-track mind,” I complained. “Do you think about anything other than sex?!”
“Occasionally, but then Everett reminds me about what’s important,” she continued.
Lizzie and Everett had met her senior year in college. Lizzie was graduating with a degree in business management and Everett had graduated the year before with a music degree.
They’d met at a geek-themed bar near the university called AFK Tavern. When they met, Ev hadn’t been phased by Lizzie’s disability. He’d always been focused on her abilities instead. I'd a feeling a Christmas engagement was in her near future, but I wasn’t going to ruin the surprise.
“How’s Ev doing?” I asked again.
“Good. Busy. Angsty. You know – an artist,” she laughed.
Everett was a songwriter and Lizzie had been managing him since college. He was the one who had gotten her into the talent management business to begin with. She’d been out of work after college, trying to find a job where she could use her degree, but that would also allow her the flexibility she needed to be able to manage her obligations with her family.
Ev had written an amazing song about Lizzie shortly after they met but before he’d worked up the courage to ask her out. Even not knowing that it was about her, Lizzie loved the song. She had reached out to friends and friends of friends and had gotten him connected to a star who shall not be named, but who’s name rhymes with “ink”, and Everett sold his first song.
“Wheels of My Heart” had been in the Top 10 for sixteen weeks, and number one for three. Not bad for a first-time songwriter and his freshman talent agent.
She’d worked the same kind of magic for me and my art. After graduation I’d started out doing some graphic web design, but I’d hated it. I was tired of just telling other people’s stories and never my own, but I’d been too terrified of discovery to publish anything. I hadn’t even shared my whole story with Lizzie at that point, but we had decided to get an apartment together.
One day when we were straightening up the apartment before some friends of hers came over, she found my sketchbook and the outline for Dark Angel Series I. I’d refused to publish, though, afraid that Ricky would find me. She introduced me to the magic of creating a pen name and Mason Cameron was born. Before I knew it, we were reviewing proofs and scrambling to meet deadlines.
My success helped her cement her reputation as an agent with a great eye for new talent. Now she had a moderate-sized group of new talents that she coaxed, cajoled, swore at, and supported as they began their careers.
We laughed and talked for a few more minutes before she had to take off for work. Before saying goodbye, she reminded me of the guest lecture at Akron U that afternoon. I was really looking forward to this event.
I eyed the clock and realized we’d talked for almost an hour. We’d only been apart a few days, but damn, I missed her.
I dragged my body out of bed and showered and dressed.
I was debating whether I should look for Lee or just request a cab or Uber to take me to the school. As I exited the hallway, I noticed the fire had been extinguished in the hearth. I smiled at the slightly rumpled look to the cushions on the couch.
In the kitchen itself stood Lee, and my heart sped up as I looked at him. Damn, he was hot! His short blond hair curled in the steam from the stove. He wore an old t-shirt and a pair of cutoff jeans that hugged his delectable ass. The shirt was black with a white a scrawl across the middle, with words underneath proudly proclaiming “The Burninator.”
He was stirring something on the stove, humming slightly to himself as he cooked. I wasn’t sure what he was singing – I didn’t hear any music playing but I saw the telltale sign of earbuds in his ears. I looked at the phone on the counter and couldn’t help the bark of laughter that escaped me.
“Taylor Swift? Really, dude? And in a Trogdor shirt, no less?” I asked teasingly, smiling as he jumped and fumbled with the phone asmusic poured from the earpieces he pulled from his ears. “That’s grounds for having your geek card revoked.”
“Whaddyou mean? Taylor’s classic!” he exclaimed. His face had turned a bright red, and I didn’t think it was from the heat. I could see the thoughts pass like lightning across his face and saw the instant when he just decided to own it and sang into the wooden spoon he was using to stir whatever was bubbling on the stove.
“I knew you were trouble when you walked in… Trouble! Trouble! Trouble!” he sang.
