“Lina, there’s this gorgeous guy staring at you. He’s blatantly staring. Do you want me to go over and talk to him?”

Sitting directly across from one another, I sit with Main Street as my view while Roger faces the café. Although he won’t admit it, he’s disappointed that Peter is off today.

Unlike yesterday, more patrons are here this late morning. Usually quiet, the small café is bustling with conversation and the sound of bossa nova in the background. When we arrived a few minutes ago, we were fortunate to find a table inside, since no seats were available outside. Roger ordered our drinks and pastries while I sat and waited for him.

“Who could possibly be staring at me?” I ask while sipping my coffee.

“He’s on the other side of the room.”

I turn around to look at the guy inconspicuously.

Ooh, it’s him.

“No, please don’t. He was here the other day. It’s strange, but I feel like I know him from somewhere.” I continue to enjoy my Italian Roast. This is extra yummy. That guy looks extra yummy as well.

“How could you forget someone who looks like that?” Roger admires the handsome stranger up and down without a hint of restraint. I swear, I think his tongue is about to fall out of his mouth. There he goes, licking his lips.

“Yeah, he’s hot … but I need to know why you had to fly to see me, not that I don’t love being with you.” I begin to tear a piece of my chocolate croissant.

“Give me a break. It’s not every day that I notice a man like him,” he teases. “Anyway, our favorite production company has a new film and they want you to score it. I know it’s last minute, but they’re moving quickly and already have a release date slated for next year. They requested that you be in New York for at least a month.”

“Really? How soon do I need to be there?”

“Like yesterday,” he answers with a laugh.

“Seriously?” I peek down at my light gray dress now covered in croissant crumbs.

Before taking a sip of his coffee, Roger answers in a more professional tone, “No, but they’d like you to be in New York starting next week. I know this is not the norm, but you’re going to want this project.”

“I don’t know anything about the film.” I drop my napkin, and when I reach for it, I turn my head slightly and notice light sapphire eyes on me. Suddenly, I find myself lost in them.

“Lina … Lina …”

Those eyes are mesmerizing.

“I’m sorry, just distracted.” Stop staring at that man.

“The screenplay is adapted from that book you’ve read a gazillion times. Cosima Carp, your girl crush, is directing and really wants you to do the score. She’s traveling and will be calling you later today.”

“Holland Kingsley’s Disappear?” I shake my head.

The boyish grin on his face is priceless.

“I swear, you’d better not be playing with me. You know how much I love that book. And I love working with Cosima. I would actually pay to do it!”

“Well, let them pay you,” he says sternly. “This is going to be your fourth film with Cosima, so you know the drill. I know this is all moving quickly. Do you want to discuss this with Andrew before committing?”

I lower my head, staring at my hands, and realize I need to get a manicure. “To be honest, Andrew wouldn’t even notice if I were away for a year.” I start laughing nervously. “He’s been working on his book, has some new classes and is worried about tenure. He doesn’t remember that he has me anymore.”

Admitting my fiancé’s lack of interest in me forms an ache in my chest.

“Andrew is … he’s … he’s ... I don’t want to say, okay? But sweetheart, you’re going to need to open up to him.” He pauses before changing the subject. “This is going to be your best project yet with your favorite director and your favorite book. Let’s not forget, the most gorgeous writer. By the way, did you finally go to the store on Sunset?”

“Roger, how the hell do you go from my dream gig to asking me if I finally went to the Hustler store? And the answer is no.” I take a bite out of my chocolate croissant, trying to forget the missing O in my life.

“There are other adult stores close by. Suit yourself.” He shrugs. “But if you don’t get something soon, you’re going to crack.”

This conversation needs to end. “I’m not going there,” I say adamantly.

Roger traces the edges of his white coffee mug. Without taking his eyes off it, he says, “You know, studies suggest that a woman can look better and live longer with satisfying sex.”

“I guess that’s why I don’t look so good these days, and at the rate I’m going with Andrew, I’ll be dying at an early age.” My laugh is dry and unconvincing.

“When was the last time you got fucked? Wait. Don’t answer that. It was probably months ago. Sweetheart, you can always get something online or even at Brookstone on the promenade.” Suddenly, he moves forward and whispers, “They sell personal massagers.” Leaning back, he taps his bottom lip with his forefinger before thinking out loud. “Ask Patti. She has quite a collection. She could easily open her own adult store.”

“I’m not going to ask her. Knowing Patti, she would probably order an entire cargo load for me. And anyway, Andrew would die if he caught me with a vibrator. Hell, I would die of embarrassment.” Me, myself, and I are pretty good at getting me off. “It’s really not that bad.”

It’s pretty bad.

“Fuck embarrassment. Sweetheart, you don’t need to pretend with me. You were the only one who remained my friend after I came out. You can’t tell me that having sex only once a week and on a specific day and time every week is normal?”

“Yes, well, for Andrew and myself, yes. It works for us. Let’s just leave my sex life alone, okay? We don’t have much time and I know you have other meetings, so let’s discuss something else.”

“Sooooo on edge. You need a real good fuck, my friend.” Roger laughs heartily before sipping his coffee.

I would love a real good fuck.

As Roger tells me about the new man he’s trying to bed, the same sparkling eyes from yesterday are burning a hole right through me. I turn around to meet his gaze, and I blush. He got some sun today. We stare at one another a bit too long. And I notice the small curve forming at the corner of his full lips. It’s as if he recognizes me as well. I notice the slight movement− he’s about to rise from his seat. Suddenly, our connection is broken. An exotic beauty in a striped maxi dress walks in and heads toward him. Even though his gaze falls on someone else, I continue to study him. His gorgeous face lights up when he greets the raven-haired woman who resembles a young Monica Bellucci. Sitting only a few tables away, my fingers itch to touch him. Standing to greet her, he’s actually much taller than I had remembered. Standing at about six-foot-two or three, his dark form-fitting jeans show his incredible long, lean legs and his vintage Bob Marley t-shirt, although loose, reveals his muscular biceps and lean abdomen. He is hot. As I continue to admire him, trying desperately not to be too obvious, I can’t help but feel the same familiarity that I felt yesterday. It couldn’t possibly be him. He would surely have said something. Then sadness sweeps my heart knowing full well he couldn’t be the boy who left me broken-hearted years ago.

Roger glances up, and his jaw drops as well.

“Stop staring.”

“Well, you stop staring too!” he says as he reaches across the table and lightly punches my left arm like a toddler. Sitting back in his chair as if he were watching porn, a grin forms across Roger’s face. “Oh, Lawdy. That man is fucking hot.” Finally noticing the Monica Bellucci look-alike, his smile disappears. “Oh, he’s with her, you think?” He pauses, and his next words surprise me. “Well, at least she’s beautiful, too. Even my dick could get hard for her.”

“Ewww, that’s … that’s too much. I’ll have to drink something hard to wipe that image out of my head. I swear he looks familiar. He reminds me of a childhood friend. But I don’t think it could be him.” Feeling uncomfortable at the thought of someone who had been dear to me years ago, I have this sudden urge to leave. “I … I should go soon. I’d like to get some work done before Andrew gets home. It’s Wednesday night,” I remind him with a forced smile.

“Well, thank goodness. I swear you’re not much fun when you don’t get it for a while.”

“Uh, Roger, not that it’s any of your business but I actually had sex last week.”

“Obviously, it wasn’t mind-blowing because you’re still uptight.”

I roll my eyes. “Come on, just show me the screenplay. Have they started filming?”

“No, not yet. They’re scheduled to start on Monday. They’ve already had two read-throughs,” Roger explains as he hands me a copy of the screenplay. I giggle with delight while skimming over the pages. We continue to discuss the upcoming trip when the beautiful couple exits the café. An hour later, I head to the counter to pay for the coffee and pastries. Larry, the barista, informs me that the insanely hot guy I spent the early part of my meeting drooling over took care of my bill.

My mouth falls open. “Really?”

“Yeah, he paid it along with his,” Larry says like it’s no big deal a stranger would take care of someone else’s check.

“Wow, what a nice surprise.” A small smile forms on my face.

“Yeah, whatever.”

As I sit down, Roger takes a last sip of his coffee. “Thanks for the coffee and croissant. I know I should watch the waistline, but I’ll start going to the gym again in a couple of weeks.”

“No need to thank me. The guy we’ve been ogling took care of our bill. And Roger, you look fine. You just need to stop smoking. It’s going to give you wrinkles.”

“Wow, he’s gorgeous and generous. Two things I look for in a man. Anyway, I can always count on Botox if I ever get wrinkles.” We both laugh as we gather our belongings and head out the door.