* * *
She was right, and two months later the guys are getting ready to go on the show. It's here in Chicago, but they have to stay in the housing provided for the duration of the show. I sigh. How long is that, you might ask? Close to four months.
When they get there, they'll work with the people there so they can get used to their sound and make accommodations for the shows. Every single episode will be planned out before the season even begins. That'll be a couple months, then a couple months for the episodes, and after that it'll likely be chaos. I think they'll end up tacking at least two more months on to that.
Shea said she'd keep me busy and try to distract me, but we both know that's not going to happen.
Xander pulls me to him, wrapping an arm around my naked shoulders, my leg resting on top of his. He kisses my forehead.
"If you're thinking that hard already, I don't think I fucked you hard enough," he teases.
"Oh, you fucked me plenty hard and very,verywell."
"So what's on your mind?"
"Just thinking of all the free time I'm going to have." I don't let on that I'm upset, but he knows. He always knows.
He hugs me tighter, kissing my forehead again, then the tip of my nose.
"The time apart is going to suck, but you can come visit as much as you want. It's only an hour's drive," he soothes.
"Without a back up in traffic," I counter.
"True. You could probably stay the weekends. I asked about it and they said it would be fine. Plus, you know Jesse. He's going to need to find a chick to bang."
"Oh God. Don't let him screw any of the girls on the show or staff. No one involved in this. That won't be pretty," I advise.
"We've already given Jesse 'the talk'."
"Good. That's good." I'm truly relieved because lately I've been seeing more and more girls at school giving Jesse either: A. The evil eye, or B. Fuck-me eyes. They go back for seconds, thirds,fourths, knowing all they're getting is a quick lay. No standards.
"What are you going to do with the rest of your time? I know you'll be with Shea, but any other plans?" he asks as he lazily strokes his fingers up and down my arm.
"Not really. I'm going to paint and draw a lot. Mrs. Stark mentioned a competition so I think I'm going to enter it. I just need to decide what I want to paint. Shea's been heavy into her sculpting instead of painting so she's entering too."
"That's cool, T." He sounds genuinely excited for me and I love him even more for that.
"I thought about using something I've already done, but I think I want something new and fresh."
"Still life? Landscape? People on the street? Kids at a playground? Me naked?" he smirks.
"I won't share you naked with anyone. You're mine."
"Damn right I am."
"That means, no screwing anyone else while we're apart," I say softly, toying with the sheet.
"Hey," he says. He lifts my chin so I meet his gaze. "I won't, T. You know that. I swear to you, I don't want anyone but you. You could put a line of naked women in front of me naked and while I'll enjoy the show, I won't want them. Not like I want you."
"That's a lie."
He considers. "Maybe an exaggeration. But seriously, baby. I only want you."
"It'll be different when we're not together, Xan."
"We'll see each other on the weekends. I'm not Jesse. I don't need sex that much. My hand works. Rosy Palm can be my girlfriend during the week," he jokes.
I laugh. "That's fair. I think she's going to get more action than I will."
