John, what are you doing to me? she wonders as her heart swells.
Emotions fill her, and memories of the feel of his skin against hers take her breath away. Her heart skips a beat again, remembering the sight of him when she’d opened the door to her trailer on set and found him waiting for her with those beautiful roses.
Was that only yesterday? she questions.
They have history now, memories branded within the deepest, most intimate, parts of each other. She knows she’s not alone. She can feel it when he takes her in his arms, and when his lips touch her. There is a deep connection between them that they have both been afraid to acknowledge, constantly skirting around and pretending it isn’t there.
Oh God, it’s happened, she moans. I’ve fallen for him…hard!
She heaves a sigh and walks quietly across the large room; it feels even bigger now without John and Brian filling the space. She goes to the shower and turns on the water. As she waits for the water to warm up, she opens his drawers and cabinets, looking at all of his things. She wonders if he keeps peroxide and alcohol under the sink, does he have Band-Aids and a styptic pencil, like her dad did, and does he use spray or stick deodorant. Every little one of his private secrets, she wants to know. She wants to see in her mind how he goes about his day, so that when she’s not with him she can feel him close.
*
-I’m downstairs girlie- Janie texts Elsie.
The three of them are driving to the competition together, Elsie, Janie and Elizabeth. The men are doing whatever it is that warriors do before battle. Elsie’s not quite sure how the driving arrangements worked out for the men, but it was senseless for each of them to drive alone when they are all going to the same place.
Elsie grabs the phone as she’s shoving a foot into one of her boots.
-Putting my shoes on, be right down-
Shoving the other foot in its mate, she takes one last glance in the mirror to check her appearance.
After last night, she feels different. She doesn’t look different, still the same short blue-black hair and blue eyes, same cocky half-grin, same clothes, but there is something definitely different about her. She moves closer to the mirror and studies herself. There is something different, she can feel it. She narrows her eyes at her reflection, looking a little more closely at the woman gazing back at her. That’s it, that right there is exactly it. It’s the look in her eyes. She looks calmer, more serene, more comfortable in her own skin, and she finally feels like a woman, not a young lady, or a girl, anymore. The thought that she’s finally finding herself makes her smile and fills her with a sense of pride.
Maybe the time has come for the caterpillar to turn into a butterfly.
A ping on her phone alerts for another text message.
-Hi Angel, was thinking about you, can’t wait to see you. You’re still coming right?- it’s John.
Oh, my God! He texted me! she thinks, feeling like a teenager.
A tremor of excitement ripples through her. Her body throbs all over, just from his simple message. Her heat rises and her heart rate accelerates. Yep, she’s definitely got it bad. And it’s not just the sex.
-Of course I’m coming, Janie’s waiting for me downstairs right now. See you soon-
-Don’t let her speed, see you soon-
He’s over-protective even long distance, she thinks, smiling broadly to herself.
Realizing she’s taking a long time, Elsie slips her blue pea coat on, then grabs her pocketbook and keys, shoving her phone in her pocket while running out the door. When the elevator arrives, and the door opens, she exhales a brief sigh of relief. There’s no Beach Barbie in there that she’ll have to stare down. But not even she could ruin her mood tonight.
Elsie turns the corner outside and finds Janie in her usual spot, by the hydrant. They wave at each other as Elsie jogs the few feet to the car.
“Elizabeth next?” Elsie asks, as she gets in the car, closes the door, and puts on her seatbelt.
“Yep, then we’re off,” Janie answers her smiling. She turns to look at her friend with a Cheshire Cat grin on her face. “I’m really looking forward to watching the boys tonight, aren’t you?”
“Yes and no,” Elsie laughs. “As long as they all win.”
“Oh, I have no doubt about that, those guys have more talent than we can even imagine. I think we are going to be in for one hell of a show tonight,” Janie says as she pulls out into traffic. She can’t hide the excitement in her voice.
*
Driving down highway 17 in Myrtle Beach is like being stuck in a bad dream of tacky tourists. All along the roadside are miniature-golf courses and so-called surf shops, which are filled with souvenirs and beach crap. In reality hardly anyone surfs here. The six lanes of traffic are always slow and often bumper to bumper. It’s easy to forget that the ride takes about an hour and a half until you’re halfway there and you’ve already been in the car almost an hour.
When they finally arrive at the Convention Center, the parking attendant tells them the lot is full and they’ll have to use the pay lot on the next block. The sun’s almost completely down and the temperature has really dropped. With the icy ocean breeze blowing in from a couple of blocks away, the short walk is going to be hell.
They park and finally enter the exhibition hall, and the energy
