Cut to the Chase (13 page)

Drinks came, as well as more people than Paige could count. Avalon talked to them all, but it was obvious that she was trying to be as short as possible with them.

Finally, Avalon said, “This place isn’t going to allow us to talk. Would you like to go somewhere else?”

As they left, the same crowd of jean-clad cameramen surrounded the security guards who escorted her and Avalon, but this time she didn’t talk to any of them.

In the car, Avalon apologized for the quick exit.

“I imagine that happens a lot,” Paige said as they headed west on Hollywood Boulevard.

“Yeah. Try shopping for shoes on Melrose. Even getting a late-night hankering for Häagen-Dazs incites a small mob. Those guys are everywhere. I think they radio each other because they turn up at the strangest places. Funny thing is, they pretty much leave me alone at my house.”

After her partial meltdown earlier, she debated a moment. Before, when she thought “my house” was Avalon’s place, it had shocked her. But she was a grown woman and could edit her own principles. Did she even have principles in a first-date situation like this? And it was only a first date. Ah, hell, she thought. “Do you want to go there?”

Avalon turned to look at her a moment. “Sure.”

She couldn’t tell from Avalon’s response whether she was waiting for that question or not, but it didn’t matter. As Avalon sped back down Hollywood Boulevard, Paige took a deep breath. She was nervous about the possible consequences of her question. It was only a heartbeat ago that she’d left Avalon’s house after their movie night, feeling lucky to have dodged a big bullet of potential disappointment. If Avalon was just looking for some fun, Paige could be dumped right after, and that would hurt.

She realized she was anxiously jiggling her foot back and forth and stopped. An old college psychology class came to mind. She remembered Gestalt therapist Fritz Perls asking a client, “Your foot is shaking, what is your foot saying right now?”

Well, her foot was saying, “I’m getting ready to run the minute I feel she’s just using me for her own amusement.” And if the question was supposed to heighten her body awareness, she’d have to add that her stomach was a Keno cage of tumbling numbered balls and her shaking hands might as well have just arrived from a winter in Alaska.

She clasped her hands together to calm them.

Yes, this was a first date, she reasoned, and maybe a last date. What was so bad about that? She was here, wasn’t she? And whatever happened was better than not being with Avalon at all.

That logic might not hold up, but as she pushed her clenched hands into her stomach, to slow down the tumbling Keno balls, she decided she’d try to relax and just enjoy the evening.

Avalon deactivated a very elaborate alarm system while Paige stood by the bay window. The street had few lampposts and was very dark, and she wondered why until she realized there was a reason for that design decision. Out the large bay window, the moon’s reflection shimmered on the water like a million amber fireflies floating in a magical line from the horizon to the shore.

She stepped in and, just as Avalon turned some lights on, Avalon’s cell phone rang. As Paige turned away from the view, she saw Avalon turn the cell phone off and drop it on the coffee table.

“I’ve got water, some hard stuff, wine…”

“Red?”

“Merlot?”

“Sure.”

She followed Avalon into the kitchen.

“So, you were born in Indiana?”

Avalon retrieved two glasses from a cupboard and a bottle from an elaborately carved wine rack on the counter. “Yup. I wasn’t kidding when I said I was that girl fresh off the bus.”

“Who’s at home?”

“My mom. I’m an only child. My dad died when I was seven. So it was just me and her.” She poured two glasses of dark scarlet wine and gave one to Paige. “My mom was one of those triple-P types.”

“Triple-P?”

“Popular and perfectly poised. She drilled that into me, too. I was her main focus, even before Dad died. Sometimes I think that focus somehow caused my dad’s death. He was always kind of a third wheel. I don’t even remember much of him.” She took a sip. “I was the center of my mom’s world, like a sculpture she was chiseling away at, night and day. And I lived for her spotlight, no matter how hard it was to dwell in the triple Ps. I mean, I love her, but it was so hard to be her daughter.”

She rested against the counter by the sink, a few feet away from Paige. “What about you? Where were you born?”

“Here in Los Angeles. Never left.”

“A native Californian? That’s as rare as rocking-horse poop.” Avalon paused. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean you were poop. It’s just that I haven’t met many real California-born people in LA.”

Paige laughed. “I know what you mean. It seems like everyone who’s born here leaves to make room for all your Indiana buses.”

Avalon laughed. “Touché.”

“I have two brothers who live here, as well. And my parents are still in the same house.”

“That’s really nice.”

She shrugged. “I suppose. But the truth is, everyone in my family is an accomplished academic in the university system. They’re not too keen on what I write.”

“You mean they think textbooks are the only true forms of literature?”

“Yeah. My mom calls my work soft literature. My brother calls it picture books. I mean, I guess they are, but it’s just the way they say it.”

“But you’re successful, so what do they say to that?”

“The same thing they’d say about anyone who didn’t pursue a career in line with their college degree. That I’m wasting my life. It was a travesty that my BS took a backseat to my liberal-arts interest.”

“Well, I never went to college, so I’d for sure be a boundless dinnertime topic of conversation.” Avalon refilled their glasses and then reached for her hand. “Come here.”

Avalon led her to the couch and as they sat she said, “So, who encourages your work?”

“My best friend, Chris. She’s proud of me, and that makes up for a lot.”

“It’s important to have a support system. There are too many naysayers out there and it’s hard not to listen to them. Especially if they’re related to you. What about you? Who’s the most important person in your life?” She imagined there were a million fans who reminded her every day that she was loved.

Avalon didn’t answer right away. She blinked a few times and her face seemed to be frozen. The look of vulnerability or uncertainty struck Paige hard. She felt the thudding pang of concern in her heart.

Then, like a September snowfall, Avalon’s smile came a little too quickly. “My agent and my manager. I confide in Tawnya the most. And,” she laughed, “the most important person in my life is the next producer who will hire me.”

When Avalon had appeared to be searching for a response, Paige wasn’t sure whether she was picking one person of many or choosing the right answer. It stunned her that Avalon seemed to be struggling for any answer.

“Tell me about Chris.” Avalon had changed the topic.

“She’s a K9 police officer with a beautiful dog named Abel. We live fairly close to each other and we’ve been friends forever, it seems. She’s more down-to-earth than anyone I know.”

“Were you two ever…”

“Together? No. I never seem to fall in love with my friends and never seem to like my lovers.”

“Yeah, why is that? I think my lovers end up hating me with as much passion as they loved me.”

“Opposite and equal forces, I suppose.”

“How long has it been since your last relationship?”

“Not long enough. Marlene and I broke up about three months ago, but the way she still finds me to bitch about me makes it seem like we’re still together.”

“What does she have to bitch about?”

Paige counted off on her fingers. “I was always working. I’m boring. And I’m not good in bed. Oh, my God, did I just say that?”

“No. She said that.”

“I’m so embarrassed.”

“Don’t be.” Avalon placed her fingers on Paige’s knee. “Tell her to fuck off.”

The gesture stirred together a strong brew of comfort and nervousness. “Oh, that would be something you could do. I…I’m not like that.”

“Mean?”

“No! Just bold and in-your-face. Sometimes I wish I could be.”

“Hand me your phone.”

“What?”

“Hand me your phone. Let’s call her and tell her right now.”

“No!”

“It could be liberating.”

Paige raised her wineglass. “I’d need a few more of these. But then I still don’t think I could do that.”

“Well,” Avalon said, “I’ve said it to my ex a few hundred times, but she hasn’t gotten the message. Maybe it’s not as liberating as I thought.”

“That photographer said that Jessica was back in town.” Paige hesitated because she might be prying.

“If you want to know where the gay bars are in a new town, ask a taxi driver. If you want to know where your ex is, ask a stalkarazzi.”

“Did it bother you?”

“A little bit. She won’t accept that we’re done. It was a relief when she went out of state on vacation.”

“Hand me your phone.”

Avalon paused and then laughed so genuinely that Paige’s nervousness calmed.

“I think we should introduce our exes,” Paige said. “That way, they can go off and torment each other.”

“Okay. Enough about exes. It’s not a good subject for a first date.”

“Agreed.”

“How’s the book going?”

“Very well, actually. I’ve got a crazy deadline so it’s upped the ante, but I think I’ll make it.”

Avalon didn’t reply but her expression softened quite a bit, and Paige relaxed. In the silence, she regarded her, wondering what her life was really like. Did she have trouble finding people who saw her for her? It was hard to trust in a town that was often devious and corrupt.

Avalon edged closer. It seemed, at that moment, that Hollywood was very far from Avalon’s mind. “You’re beautiful.”

Paige took in a breath and held it. Their faces were inches apart and a quiver of excitement buzzed in her ears. It seemed too silly to tell her she was beautiful, too, so she kept looking into her eyes without saying anything. The moon glowed through the bay window, casting Avalon in a honey-colored luminosity.

“You’re a unique woman,” Avalon said. “Different from the ones I’ve met.”

The moment was surreal. Paige’s brain tried to collect and analyze the thoughts she was having but just couldn’t. Chris had told her not to overthink and to shut her brain off. It was a scary move for her, but she surrendered the mental effort. More than anything, she wanted to just feel.

She didn’t register any sounds, no waves crashing on the beach below or cars passing by. The silence itself rang loudly in her ears. She felt the pulse in her neck increase when the sweet and spicy aroma of Avalon’s perfume drifted toward her.

Avalon inched even closer. With the gentleness that the seeds of a dandelion globe float through the air, their lips met. Her mouth was sexy and yielding, and Paige felt dizzy with sudden bliss. At first, she just responded, letting Avalon take the lead, but her desire grew quickly. She cupped the back of Avalon’s head in her hand and their mouths opened in unison, tongues gently exploring and tasting.

Somewhere in the distant alcoves of her logic, a voice of caution rose, warning her of the consequences of where this first date was going. She fought the urge to slow the pace. Avalon certainly wasn’t throwing her down on the couch so she reminded herself to just…stop…thinking.

They kissed for a long time, and then Avalon moaned softly and took Paige’s hand. She guided her off the couch, and into her bedroom.

When they got to the bed, Avalon unzipped Paige’s skirt and unbuttoned her blouse, letting them fall about their feet. As Avalon undressed, slowly revealing her breasts, stomach, and legs, the sight transfixed Paige.

She’d never forget the first time their warm, exposed skin met as they embraced. Breast against breast, hips against hips, they stood together, kissing in the darkened room. Avalon’s nipples hardened against hers and Paige’s breath quickened.

A gentle push from Avalon landed them on the bed, side by side. Their kissing grew more intense, and when Avalon wrapped her leg over Paige, pushing her hips into her, Paige’s excitement skyrocketed as if the fuse of a one-ton Roman candle had just hit its ignition point.

She moved on top, growing wetter as Avalon’s obvious agreement came out as a moan.

“You fit so well,” Avalon said, “right here, between my legs.”

As Paige pushed against her, she felt Avalon’s wetness and went weak inside. Raw desire seized her as they kissed. The exquisite raking of Avalon’s nails down her back made her arch up and coaxed her to follow the path downward. Jolts of electricity spread from her stomach like hot currents of desire and craving, searching for a circuit to blow. And when she moved downward, kissing a path to Avalon’s hips, she longed to let her fingers and mouth be the instruments to express those hot rushes of raw need.

Avalon opened her legs and lifted her head, holding Paige’s in her hands. She brushed the hair from her eyes. Paige paused briefly before tasting the woman who was driving her crazy. Avalon laid her head back, moaning slightly as her body undulated under her. She was slick with velvety wetness and Paige slipped two fingers inside her, coaxing little gasps from Avalon as she found the tight band of her G-spot.

Avalon lifted her head again and their eyes locked. The desire to please her, to be part of her in that moment, pounded against her chest. She found where Avalon was the most sensitive and swirled her tongue lightly, slowly. Avalon’s eyelashes dipped but she kept her eyes open. A dreamy half smile formed on her lips before she licked it away with her tongue and moaned.

Avalon’s breathing quickened and her hips moved faster so Paige slowed down, wanting the feeling to last.

“Don’t stop, please,” Avalon murmured, almost desperately.

Paige learned, in just a short moment, exactly what Avalon needed. And they were one in their desire to visit that same place of ecstasy and depth. Suddenly, Avalon’s body opened up and her orgasm gripped Paige’s fingers. Their eyes met again and Paige matched Avalon’s bucking hips with strokes of her tongue. As Avalon came, her eyes showed her the depth of her soul. Paige’s heart wanted to burst because Avalon was letting her into the deepest place inside her. And even after her moans started to quiet, Paige, her chin slick with Avalon’s wetness, didn’t want to stop.