Love's Autograph (36 page)

“
Oh Mom, she was making a joke,” Maggie said to Ria.

“
Yes, what are we going to do with her?” Ria asked.

“
I don't know,” Maggie said. “She is your girlfriend and your problem.”

“
She's not—” Ria started to say and Maggie trotted up the stairs.

“
Your girlfriend, huh?” Ellie laughed.

“
A corny girlfriend who I can't kiss,” Ria nudged Ellie and they followed Maggie upstairs. “My feet are killing me...”

Just Ria saying the word kiss drives me wild.

“I can massage them...”

“
Rule five,” Ria said.

“
I better get my act together. I removed all the fun, huh”?” Ellie said.

“
Yup,” Ria said. “So I was thinking…”

“
Uh oh, what?”

“
Wednesday is Maggie's last day of school,” Ria said. “I know you’re going back home tomorrow. I was wondering if we could visit.”

“
Both of you? For the day or staying over?” Ellie asked.

“
Stay over?” Ria asked as she batted her eyelashes and flashed a cheesy smile.

“
Okay, but rules will be in full force,” Ellie said. “You and Maggie can sleep in my loft.”

“
Yes, I’ll be on my best behavior,” Ria said. “I've never seen your house, and Maggie brags about it so much.”

“
Sure, it’ll be great,” Ellie said.

“
I can make pancakes and dinner,” Ria said.

“
So when do you want to come out?”

“
How about Thursday morning to Sunday afternoon?” Ria asked.

“
Yes, that’ll be fine,” Ellie said. “As long as you don't mind entertaining yourselves when I'm in the studio working on some albums.”

“
Oh sure,” Ria said. “So your studio’s not doing well? Sorry I overheard that.”

“
Yeah, it's okay. It’s no secret. Dina is freaking because we're losing money,” Ellie said.

“
You’re not worried?” Ria asked.

“
I’m worried about people losing their jobs. That's why I paid them twice as much as the job was worth. Built in severance.” Ellie said. “I put a chunk of money away that I promised myself I wouldn’t use. If I can get an album out, as well as a sponsor, we'll be fine. I’m trying to avoid a tour.”

“
Well, I'm sure you can work it out,” Ria said.

“
I think so,” Ellie said. “Let's hope so.”

“
She coming out this weekend,” Dina asked on the other end of the phone.

“
Yup, Maggie and Ria are coming out Thursday to Sunday,” Ellie answered.

“
And?” Dina asked.

“
And what?” Ellie asked.

“
So, when are you guys going to start dating? Like really be together instead of this platonic, crazy break you're on?”

“
I don't know,” Ellie said. “I think soon. We'll see what happens this weekend.”

“
What are you doing? What's that racket in the background?” Dina sounded annoyed as she asked.

“
I’m washing some new pots and pans and a set of knives I bought,” Ellie said.

“
Why, you embarrassed for Ria to cook on your family hand-me-down kitchenware you've had since college?” Dina laughed.

“
Maybe,” Ellie laughed. “Stop, I’m nervous about this. I feel like we're playing house, and seeing how I still seem to live like a bachelor isn't impressive. All day I cleaned, organized and went shopping for food. I even bought new sheets.”

“
Oh, so what will the sleeping arrangements be?” Dina asked in a teasing manner.

“
She and Maggie are sleeping in my bed, and Remi and I on the couch,” Ellie said.

“
Does she know that?”

“
Remi sure, she doesn't care,” Ellie laughed. “No, Ria knows. I was very clear on that. The only flexibility in the rule is that Remi might ditch me to sleep with Maggie. Remi is more loyal to Maggie. She's such a traitor.”

“
Well, call me if you need anything,” Dina said. “We have a pool going,” she mentioned as an afterthought.

“
What? Who does?”

“
Just me, Jazzie, Davie and Jim,” Dina said.

“
Jim the sound guy?”

“
Yup, so we have a pool on a date that you guys will do the jump in to bed again. We even have a special pool for this weekend and what will happen.”

“
Nice. I have to get working on my to do list and find a new group of friends,” Ellie said. “What did you bet?”

“
I can't say. We're up to $800. There's a rule that says I can't influence your decisions,” Dina said.

“
You know that Ria is scared of you,” Ellie said.

“
Fabulous,” Dina said. “I was serious when I said she was going to have to deal with me if she broke your heart again.”

“
You’re too much,” Ellie said. “At some point you guys will have to get along.”

“
Oh, I actually like her. I trust your judgment despite the Jenny decision. But, you come first,” Dina said.

“
Thanks Dina,” Ellie said. “I hope you make some good money off the pool.”

“
Speaking of money,” Dina said. “Can we discuss some work stuff?”

“
Yeah, it’ll distract me from waiting for them to arrive,” Ellie said.

“
So, Jazzie is doing a great job filling the recording studio. We're booked until October with only a few slots open. We saved some room for you. So as far as sponsors, we have a few. One is a beer.”

“
Nope,” Ellie said.

“
I figured you would say that. I already politely said no. Then there was Stagger Strings.”

“
Yeah, they have quality strings,” Ellie said. “Let's do that. What does that entail?”

“
Just a photo shoot,” Dina said. “They aren't doing radio or television ads yet. Then we're close to getting an offer from some cereal, a cell phone carrier, and then there is a car company.”

“
Really? That's huge. Which car company?” Ellie asked.

“
Does it matter?”

“
No, I guess not. Do I get a car?” Ellie asked.

“
Yeah, and usually the deal is you have to agree to drive that car. That deal would include TV, radio and photo shoots. I'm excited because that'll bring in a lot of money. How many sponsors are you willing to use?”

“
I’m willing to do whatever you think is good. As long as it's something that we support. Like no alcohol, guns, or things like that. But that list is small. There is also a conflict of interest clause in the sponsorship agreements usually...” Ellie said.

Dina interrupted,
“Yes, I got that covered. I’m your manager you know.”

“
Okay okay, I was trying to be helpful. I can't believe you guys got all these sponsors -that's impressive. I knew you were the woman for the job,” Ellie said.

“
I might need a raise after this,” Dina laughed. “It's a lot of work.”

“
Name your price,” Ellie said.

“
I was kidding Ellie. Are you kidding me? I get paid more than most managers. I checked. I probably owe you some change,” Dina said.

“
No way. You signed the contract,” Ellie said. There was a beep on the phone, as she pulled it away from her ear she saw a picture of Ria. Ria was sticking out her tongue and was making a disgusted face. They had retaken pictures of each other for their phones. Their goal was to make each others pictures the least enticing. Ellie still thought Ria looked adorable. “I’ve got to go. Ria is calling.”

“
Okay, have fun, but not too much fun,” Dina said. “That's my way of being neutral.”

“
Thanks,” Ellie said. “I'll call you soon.”

Ellie flipped over to Ria's call,
“Hey Ria.”

“
Ellie, so we're in Ware,” Ria said. “Not sure if we're lost.”

“
Where?”

“
Ware,” Ria repeated

“
Where?”

“
Yes Ware,” Ria yelled into the phone.

Ellie heard Maggie in the background,
“Mom she is joking with you.”

“
Ellie!” Ria said. “I’m not good with directions. Is this how this weekend is going to go?”

“
If you mean me being hilarious and adorable, yes,” Ellie said. “Yes, you're right on track. You should be following route 9 to 189 to 202. I'm not far off of 202.”

“
It's a miracle that I haven't gotten us lost,” Ria said.

“
How much farther?” Maggie called to the phone.

“
You should be here in about seven minutes give or take a wrong turn,” Ellie said. “You can call me back when you hit 189 and I can walk you through the last two minutes if you want.”

“
I might do that. I can't wait to see your place,” Ria said.

“
And I can't wait to see you guys,” Ellie said. “Especially you.”

“
Guidelines,” Ria reminded.

“
Platonic of course. Well, mostly platonic,” Ellie said.

“
Okay, I'll call you when I hit 189,” Ria said.

“
I'll be here,” Ellie said. Ellie hung up the phone. “Remi, Maggie is coming!” Remi lifted up her head, barked and searched around the room. “Not yet, but soon. Ria is coming too. You have to get along with her, okay? I kind of like her, okay?” Ellie scratched behind Remi’s ears and Remi jumped onto the couch next to Ellie. “Okay, you're right. I'm so in love with her. Even you can tell.”

Ria's Jetta pulled up
in Ellie's dirt driveway without Ria giving her a call. Ellie opened her front door and Remi barked and sprung toward the car. Ria barely had time to stop the car as Maggie jumped out and greeted Remi.

“
Hi Remi! How are you? I missed you. What have you been doing? I am staying here for the weekend? Do you want to go on the trail?” Maggie shot questions at Remi. Remi only understood the word trail. “Can I?” Maggie looked at Ellie. Remi sat obediently at Ellie's feet. Ria shrugged.

“
Maggie, are you going to say hi to Ellie?” Ria asked.

“
Hi Ellie,” Maggie said as she hugged Ellie. “Sorry Remi distracted me. Can I?”

“
Sure. Make sure you listen for me or your mom calling. Also, Remi has been running after b-u-n-n-y, so if she runs off call her back,” Ellie said.

“
I know the command you are using is 'Leave it,’ right?” Maggie asked.

“
Yes, good memory,” Ellie said. “Remi go with Maggie.” Maggie and Remi ran off into the woods.

“
She'll be okay?” Ria asked.

“
She did this a hundred times when she was out here,” Ellie said. “It's a short trail. Remi won't let anything happen to her.” Ellie walked up to Ria who was wearing khaki shorts and a striped v-neck shirt that Ellie had never seen. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail. “New shirt?”

“
Yes, I got it the other day,” Ria said. “You noticed. You always notice those things.”

“
We're as bad as Maggie. Hi, it’s so good to see you,” Ellie said as she moved in and hugged Ria. She smelled of berries and something spicy. Ria ran her hands around Ellie's waist and tingles went throughout Ellie's body.

“
How are you?” Ria asked.

“
Good, how was the drive?”

“
Not bad at all. It was shorter than I thought it would be. Your house is isolated, huh? Far cry from Boston. We’d have been here by 7:00 a.m. if Maggie had her way. She was ready to go by five,” Ria said.

“
Yeah not a bad drive. I like being out here. It's a nice break from the city. You could have been here by seven. I was up,” Ellie said. “Let me grab your bags.” Ellie and Ria grabbed the bags from the car, and Ellie escorted her into the house.

“
Oh, Ellie,” Ria said, “This is beautiful. Look at that kitchen!”

“
I knew you would love the kitchen,” Ellie said.

“
Well, yeah,” Ria said. “So your bedroom is up there?” Ellie raise an eyebrow to Ria. “I’m only asking because that's where Maggie and I are sleeping, right?”