“You took huh?”
“I sneaked phone pictures. Of you. When you were shooting ‘City of Angels.’ I was in love with Dana but I totally had a crush on you.”
“Say what?” It was almost a squeak.
Rory laughed silently. “You were gorgeous, Andy. And you were so funny, and smart, and talented. You’re still all those things. It never surprised me that Victor fell so hard for you. I couldn’t believe nobody else did for all that time.”
“Well, neither could I.” Now his voice was dry. “In a city like Los Angeles, you would think the dating pool would be a little deeper.”
“You didn’t stick with anybody very long. That did surprise me. Because I knew you wanted to be with someone.”
“I wanted someone like Dana.” He knew she would understand what he meant. “I kept meeting people, but it never took long to figure out if
something was going to work. It was never enough. I was never enough.”
“Okay, what.” Rory was annoyed. “How much else could someone fucking want?”
“That’s what I thought!” He got a laugh with that. “But come on, you know what I mean. I wasn’t the right age, or I didn’t make enough money, or I wasn’t tolerant about drugs, or I didn’t want to swing. Lived in the wrong area. Drove the wrong goddamned car. Whatever. A lot of guys liked me, or at least they wanted to fuck me, but they wanted that plus a lot of other stuff.
Victor’s the first one who ever came in and said, you are everything I want.”
“Well, thank God for him.”
“I think that every day.” They were quiet for a while, getting drowsy at last. “You’d better send me those fucking pictures.” Rory snickered. She did send the pictures, the next day. Andy thought, not a bad little photographer yourself, missy, and allowed himself to appreciate his forty-year-old face. It was, objectively, good. He debated forwarding the pictures to Victor, but decided to show him in person. He did send a text: Hi catnip had a sleepover with Rory. She says hi. Can’t wait to sleepover with you. I love you, see you tomorrow
He got a reply a few hours later: Were you that shitfaced or was she being mama bear?
Mama bear. We didn’t drink AT ALL, and put away that surprised face Can’t wait to see you and show you my O face That’s my favorite face
I know it is. I love you
Love you too. Get some sleep, you’re gonna need it XOX
Andy almost wished Victor could have met him at the airport, but apparently everyone in the state knew this movie was filming and was excited about it. A security escort met him and Molly, and took them to the hotel. Then they had to wait what felt like forever before Victor was due back from the day’s filming. Andy tried to come up with some way to surprise him with the beard and finally settled for ambushing him in the bar. He had a few words with the bartender and waited for the text he knew would come when Victor got up to the room and found Molly but not Andy: Hey baby where the hell are you I was hoping to have you in bed by now
Miss me? I missed you too. I’m down in the bar You know I’ve got booze up here
Was not shocked to see that. Come on down, I have a surprise for you Be right there. Andy closed the text app, opened the photo app, handed his phone to the bartender, and got into position. Victor was looking for him as soon as he came through the door. Andy was in a dark corner, turned half away, trying very hard not to laugh. Victor didn’t spot him. He went up to the bar and said something to the bartender. Andy approached from behind him.
He pitched his voice low and silky the way Victor liked it. “You lookin’ for trouble?”
Victor turned toward the voice, already smiling. Then he stared at the face, and looked fully astonished. The bartender was taking pictures. “What the fuck.”
That was completely satisfactory. “Think it’s a good look for a boat captain?” Andy shut down his smile and narrowed his eyes a little, as though squinting into the wind. He hid his own astonishment at the unexpected but unmistakable reaction. Holy shit he’s turned on.
“It’s a good look for any fucking thing,” Victor said finally. His voice was husky.
Andy sucked in a breath. Now he was turned on, too. He turned his head toward the bartender, holding out his hand, and failed to speak. The bartender set the phone in his hand. Now he managed a “Thank you,” and did a ‘let’s go’ thing with his head. Victor didn’t say anything else, simply followed him out.
They didn’t speak until they were in the elevator. “My God you look like Sean fucking Connery,” Victor said, “with better hair,” and grabbed him.
They were still kissing when the doors opened on their floor. They stumbled down the hall, passing the security guy who hadn’t recognized Andy at first, and to the door of their room. Victor’s hand was shaking as he pushed the key card into the lock. He was completely floored by his own reaction. Never knew I had a thing for beards. He’d never seen Andy with more than a couple of days’ growth. They were through the door. Victor double-locked it, said “Hi Molly” through the open door to the connecting room, and pulled Andy toward the bed. “Off. All the clothes. Off.”
If he hadn’t sounded so desperate Andy might have been amused. As it was, he had barely enough time to start the camera he’d set up before Victor
was stripped and throwing back the bedspread. Andy got naked as fast as he could. Then they were kissing
