CHAPTER 33
~Reese~
SITTING AT A table in the back of a bistro next to the hotel, I can’t take my eyes off him—my handsome “someone.” Danny and I are on our second bottle of a recommended French red when we hear, “There they are.”
When we look toward the entrance there’s a spectacular commotion of purple. “Vinnie,” I say, standing up and running into his arms. “You’re here.”
“I am,” he says, whispering in my ear. “How are you, Candy girl?”
I take his hand and look him in the eyes. “Ridiculously happy.”
“Happy looks great on you.” We walk back to the table. Danny stands, and Vinnie asks, “How’s our favorite model?”
Danny reaches out to shake hands but Vinnie makes a face and they hug. Danny rolls his eyes as Vinnie embraces him around the middle, but he laughs. “It’s good to see you too.” When Danny tries to break the embrace, Vinnie remains latched on. “Okay. Okay. Back it up there.”
We laugh together. It’s light and carefree, feeling so good. After we sit, Danny asks, “What brings you to Paris?”
“I came to check on my favorite dynamic duo.” He picks up my wine and drinks half before speaking. “I also wanted to check on my store here and to see how the shoot went. It’s good to check on an investment.” Looking at me, he asks, “How did it go?”
“Better than we could envision.”
“I received some preview shots. They are better than we planned. I’m thinking Vogue and Elle for the New York and Paris shots. GQ for the Marfa photos. Thoughts?”
“I think they’re perfect for those magazines. I was also thinking a collage that moves for the commercial. Bryker said he took enough to make that happen.”
“Interesting. I’d like to see that.” He turns to Danny. “How do you feel it went?”
“The locations were amazing. The clothes were incredible. I loved being a part of it.”
He takes a sliver of Brie from the tray in front of us, and as he wiggles it back and forth, he says, “Let’s be frank here. I heard about the breach of contract. I’m here. How can I help?”
Danny says, “I don’t think there’s anything you can do. Thank you though.”
“What are you going to do?” He pops the Brie in his mouth.
“I’m going to pay. I’m not willing to sit in a court of law under oath and lie about how I feel about Reese.”
Vinnie’s smile is contagious. He takes my hand and kisses it. “I love a good romance and yours is one of my favorites. I saw that connection the first time you guys met. But I guess that was because it wasn’t a first meeting but a reunion. So romantic.”
“I couldn’t have made a better match for my Candy than you, Model Danny.”
Danny chuckles. “I’m glad you approve, Designer Vittori.”
Vinnie stands and claps his hands together again. “We must celebrate. Why don’t we go get you two hitched?” His eyes are wide with expectation and hope.
“What?” I take the word out of Danny’s mouth.
Vinnie nods. “So that’s a yes?”
“No,” we reply in unison.
Standing up, I say, “Slow your horses. We just got back together. I think we’re enjoying right where we are.”
Danny adds, “For now,” and drops money on the table.
I’m drawn to him when he stands, surprised by his response. His hand warms my lower back, and he shrugs. “I’m not opposed to marriage. I never was.”
I lean against him. “You just made my heart flutter.”
Vinnie says, “You both just made my heart flutter. We should celebrate your togetherness with a wedding.”
My evil eye works and Vinnie backs off. “Fine. Can’t blame me for trying. Think how romantic that would be. Just the three of us and a candlelit service.”
Danny ushers me forward. “Come on. I know a great bar around the corner.” His phone rings and he stops, his hand disappearing from my back.
I turn back when I realize he’s stopped. “Vinnie. Wait for Danny.”
Danny turns his back to us and plugs the opposite ear of the one with the phone pressed to it. I overhear him ask, “Where are you? What room? I’ll be right there.” He hangs the phone up and comes toward us with purpose. “We need to get back to the hotel.”
“What is it?”
“Claudia.” As soon as we’re on the sidewalk, he takes off running to the hotel next door.
Vinnie and I run after him. He’s disappeared up the stairs, and we rush to the elevator. I’ll never be able to run those stairs in the heels I’m wearing. “I know her room number.”
The door is open when we reach her room, the large latch from the inside, swung out. I push it open slowly and walk in. I find Danny on the bathroom floor holding Claudia. Her head is tucked against his chest and her mascara has run down her face from crying. Her hair is a mess, and when I look around, several prescription bottles are in the sink. I try to stifle my gasp, but I don’t think it works. Danny looks up and shakes his head just enough for me to get the message. I back out of the bathroom, tugging Vinnie’s sleeve as I go.
In her room, we sit on the side of the bed. He whispers, “She’s alive and they’re talking. That’s a good sign.”
Nodding, I watch the bathroom door for any sign of them coming out. Danny’s deep voice carries even when he’s trying to be quiet. “You’re going to be okay. I’m here for you.”
My memories drag me back to the time he was leaving me for a job, back when we were together years ago…
The tears keep coming and my body is racked with sobs. I can’t do it. I can’t watch him walk out that door again. I was going to marry someone who wanted to study maps, travel during work hours, not gone weeks at a time. Danny’s degree came with those guarantees. Modeling came with none. “I don’t want to be alone anymore, Danny. Please stay.”
“I’ve taken the job. I can’t back out on them at the last minute. It’s one week. I’ll be back before you notice I’m gone.”
He’s convinced himself that this is normal. Maybe this is our new normal. I hate change. I hate him being gone even more. “You’re not even using the degree you just spent four years earning.”
Rolling onto his back, he drapes his arm over his eyes. “Please don’t do this. I can’t back out now.”
“I’m sorry if my emotions inconvenience you,” I snap.
Turning to face me again, he says, “I love every one of your emotions. Even the ones currently angry at me. I understand. I miss you too, but I want to earn money for us, for our future.”
“You’ve been home three days in the last two months. This doesn’t feel like a relationship. This feels like an affair. An affair you’re having on your job.”
“Reese, it will be okay. You’ll be okay. We’ll be okay.”
He leans in and kisses my shoulder. “We are going to be okay. Let’s just get through this. I’m sure it’s just the busy season for modeling or something. This won’t be my life. You’re my life.”
“Promise me. One week and then you’re home for at least a week.”
A gentle smile that wins me over every time it appears. “I promise you.”
…He broke that promise. And in the end, for what? Money he earned that he’s going to have to give away now if we want to be together? The only life he’s known, he’s willing to sacrifice for me. My eyes tear up.
Vinnie brings me in for a side hug. “Don’t cry. She sounds like she’s going to be fine.”
“It’s just that man. He’s too much. Too good.”
“You’re good. That’s why you two work.”
“Thank you.” I rest my head on his shoulder.
In the quiet room, I hear Claudia say, “He broke up with me so he could date a girl who works at Hot Topic.”
“He doesn’t deserve you. He’s just cleared the way so you can find the man you’re meant to be with.”
She laughs and that’s a great sign. “Let’s hope. I have terrible luck with men.”
“Those bad boys will wreck your heart every time.”
“Sucks because I always liked Hot Topic. Now where am I going to get my Funko Pops?”
They laugh, their tones much lighter. I hear shuffling coming from the bathroom, and Danny say, “Let’s get you something to eat. I think you need something more than water-based foods tonight.”
“Me too. I might take your girlfriend up on that burger.”
Danny says, “I think she’d like that.”
I laugh under my breath, and stand up.
Just as they walk out, Danny takes her and hugs her. I hear him whisper, “You’re not just beautiful on the outside. You’re beautiful on the inside too. Don’t let some jerk ever dull that beauty again. Or I’m going to kick his ass and I fucking hate getting in fights.” When they part, he winks at her, and adds, “Takes me out of the game if I mess up this pretty face of mine.”
Claudia pushes him in the chest. “You’re ridiculous.”
“You’re not the first to tell me that but it’s usually followed by –ly handsome. I’ll settle for the shortened version though.”
When Claudia is done rolling her eyes, she turns to me, and teasingly asks, “How do you put up with him?”
“He’s the easy part. It’s his ego that is impossible.” After sharing a laugh as a group, I see her tears are dried and a smile lingers on her face. I hug her and she hugs me. I’m thankful she had someone to call who she trusted. She’s not a threat. She’s Danny’s friend, and that makes her mine.
Vinnie coos, “Look at my girls.” Claudia and I laugh as Vinnie holds his hands in front of him, feeling the love. Then his irritation shows. “Your ex is a loser with a capital L. This is the best thing that could happen to you. Mark my words.”
Claudia replies, “Let’s hope.”
She looks at me, and I ask, “So, about that burger? Room service?”
It’s amazing what you can get at any hour, even in Paris, if you flash the big cash. The four of us have shared our dinners, laughs, and stories while sprawled out in Vinnie’s large suite. It’s been an unexpected ending to an eventful day, but it’s been good. Relaxing, and I haven’t felt truly relaxed since Marfa.
Watching Danny, I wonder if every night with him will always be this easy, this… wonderful. I’m betting seven million it is.
Vinnie stands and starts swooshing toward the door. “I need my beauty sleep and we still have lots to discuss in the morning with the campaign.” Looking at the clock, he corrects, “Lunch. Since it’s two in the morning, let’s just meet for lunch instead.”
“Call me when you wake up and let me know what time you want to meet,” I say.
After goodbyes full of hugs, love, and smiles, Danny and I go back to our room.
I brush my teeth and get ready to go to sleep, and then we swap places. I’m exhausted—the day draining, both emotionally and physically. While I lie in bed, I think about the journey we’ve taken. The bad has been dragged up because of unhealed wounds. But lying here, I take a freeing breath, releasing all the bad history and breathe in the future that awaits us.
Danny climbs into bed next to me and immediately molds his body to mine. “With a grin like that on your face, you have me curious what you’re thinking about.”
Taking his hand, I hold it to my chest, loving the feel of his arm around me. “Not thinking. Feeling. I feel my heart beating for the first time in years. Like really feel it. I feel alive and full of hope.” Lifting my hair up, he kisses the back of my neck. I whisper, “You’re the only one who ever broke my heart. You’re also the only one who could piece it back together until it was whole and beating again.”
“I’m sorry I broke it. If I could change how things played out, I would.”
“So would I. If we would have had improved email or even Skype back then, we could have kept in touch better than we did.”
“It killed me some nights when I couldn’t call you, just to hear your voice again. Damn phone cards never did work well in other countries.”
“No matter what, you still deserved better than how I left.”
“You had a job to start—”
Turning in his arms so I can face him, I say, “No job was worth losing you over. I lost myself without you and thought you had found yourself without me.”
“You were wrong. I never had a life without you. For years, I’ve been searching for something that I stupidly thought I could replace.”
With a light laugh, I rest my hand on his neck. “You were wrong.”
“I have no doubt that you’re the stronger and braver of the two of us.” He smiles so gently that I can’t help but return it.
The passion, the determination that builds inside, I can’t hold back any longer. “I’ll fight for us this time. Whatever it takes, I’ll do it.”
He kisses me softly. Then with our foreheads pressed together, he says, “Thank you for showing me the way back.”
“I didn’t show you. Your heart led you. Straight back to mine.”
“You’ll always be home to me.”
We don’t make love. We don’t fuck. We hold one another and whisper gratitude for each other. You’ll always be home to me. His words comfort me until my eyelids grow heavy and I fall asleep.
* * *
LUNCH WITH VINNIE is fabulous, just like him. He can’t be more pleased with the photo shoots and I can’t wait to see how the campaign turns out. When we return to the hotel, Claudia is checking out. Her flight is earlier than ours. She runs over and hugs me, and I hug her because I have a soft spot for her now that I’ve gotten to know her better.
With her suitcase in hand, she hugs Vinnie and tells him she’ll see him in New York. She’s about to go, but makes sure to tell me, “I think you and Danny are an amazing couple. Hold on tight to each other.”
“I intend to.”
“He’s special, and not just because he’s a supermodel.” She laughs. “Don’t tell Danny I called him that. I know how much he hates it.”
“I won’t,” I reply, grinning. “Good luck, Claudia, and safe travels.”
“Bye. Oh, and thanks for the burger last night. It was amazing. I’ve not felt this good in years, but maybe that’s not from the food, but the company.”
Vinnie blows her a kiss and turns to me. “I’ll pay the buyout fee.”
My jaw drops open. When I gather myself back from the shock, I say, “What? No way. You can’t do that.”
“That money is nothing to me, but everything to you. I can’t stand the thought of you and Model Danny fighting for your love through the court system. That would be so retro, late 80s/early 90s courtroom drama-ish. Oooh, maybe Chris Hemsworth can play Danny in the movie.”
“Slow down there. Let’s hope this never sees a day in the courtroom or we’ll really be screwed.”
“The offer stands, and now I’m leaning toward the other Hemsworth, Liam, for Danny’s role. But it would be a shame to cover up his blue eyes with contacts. Oooh, maybe Josh Duhamel. He’s ridiculously dreamy.”
I hug him, so grateful to have this man in my life. “Thank you for everything, including making me smile. I can’t accept your money though. I’m working on something and hopefully it pans out.”
“I’m intrigued.”
“More details on that soon, but for now, we should get ready to leave. Our flights are in three hours.”
“Yes, real quick though, and this is important.” I stand before him waiting to hear what he has to say. “Who will play you and me in the movie adaptation?”
“My dear Vinnie, please never change.”
He wraps his arm around my shoulders. “I’m doing my best to stay the same, but the world is a changing, my sweet Candy girl.”