Molly
“Hi, my friend,” I said once Tommy’s cheerful voice answered my call.
“Well, well... if it isn’t my favorite fluffer. What’s up, sweetheart? Where’s the hot porn star?”
“Production meeting.”
“Ah, those damn production meetings. So you’re alone now? Finally?” Tommy had tried to call me a few times over the past week, but each time he had, I was with Trent. “Which means no excuse on giving me a minute by minute replay, and no cutting out details.”
I giggled at his predictable demand. “Not much to tell,” I lied. It was so silent over the line I pulled my phone away to be sure I hadn’t lost him. “You there?”
“Why do you have to be so cruel to me? I know for a fact you have a shit-ton to tell me. Do you want to know how I know?” The question wasn’t meant for me to answer when he rushed on, “The way you said, ‘not much to tell.’ You’re lying.”
“How the hell? You know what, never mind.” It was easier to just do as he asked. Otherwise, he’d make my life a living nightmare once I got home. “Fine. I’ll share with you what has happened since I left. Most of it you know. I go to the set, lend Trent a helping hand when needed, and then we have been spending our free time getting to know each other.”
“Now, we’re getting somewhere. And?”
“He’s really sweet. I enjoy spending time with him.” Another stretch of silence came. “Now what?” I asked wondering what the hell I said to cause an issue.
“You fucked him.”
“What?”
“You heard me. You fucked him.”
“It’s not like that... at least not anymore.” I had never told Tommy of the first time we were together. Tommy may have been all sassy and daring when it came to taking chances in life, but if it involved my heart, his mama bear side came out. And now, I wondered what he would think of me knowing I had sex with Trent. “Say something,” I prompted.
A slow, methodical clapping came over the line. “It’s about time you got yourself some.”
“You don’t think it was a stupid thing to do? I mean, at first I tried to deny how attracted I was toward Trent, and I hated how cocky he was over knowing it. But now, it’s different between us. It’s like there are two of him... the guy who goes off every day and fucks strange women on camera, and then the sensitive, kind, easy-to-talk-to man who surprised me out of nowhere.”
“Uh oh. You like him.”
“I do.” Why deny it? It was the god’s honest truth. “Every minute I spend with Trent off the set has been wonderful. That doesn’t change what he does for a living and how I feel about it. What the hell am I doing, Tommy?”
“Baby girl, why does his job have to ruin what could be something wonderful between you?”
I released a sarcastic huff. “Seriously? Okay, say we pursue this thing we have between us after the contract term ends. I’ll go one further and say maybe we can have a relationship that’s semi-normal as long as I ignore his profession. But then what? Am I never allowed to introduce him to family, friends without lying about what he does?”
“He’s an aspiring actor. End of... lies of omission aren’t really lies. They’re just there to protect people from getting hurt.”
“Unless someone recognizes him?”
He chuckled over the phone. “You’re worried your parents will know his face because of all the porn they watch?”
“Shut it,” I laughed with him at that ridiculous scenario. “I mean friends at work or people we may randomly meet. I’ll always worry he’ll be outed.”
“So?” The groan I released didn’t deter him in the least. “I mean it. So fucking what? If, and I mean if that were to happen, you throw the love word out there and suddenly all is forgiven. When it comes to love, nothing is taboo, or immoral, or even nasty. Love is forgivable.”
“First off, who said love?” At his grumble, I quickly continued, “Second, you make it sound so easy,” I said softly over the line. Just talking about this had my hands shaking from nerves. I didn’t think I was strong enough to endure the attention that could come from dating a porn star, and that worried me. Really it shouldn’t matter what people thought, but that was easier said than done. Imagining my picture in a tabloid did little to calm my anxiety.
“Sweetie, just enjoy your vacation away from dull-ville and don’t sweat things that haven’t happened yet. Okay?”
“I’ll try,” I admitted. We chatted some more about what I’d seen on set, and the grounds of the hotel, but my mind wandered during the conversation a few too many times. “Tommy, I have to go. He’ll be back any minute. I’ll try to call you in a few days.”
“Okay, sweetie. I’m here... and Molly?”
“Yeah?”
“You know I always have your back.”
“I know. Love you.”
“Love you more,” he said before hanging up.
Was he right? Did it all really matter? If push came to shove and I had the option of being happy and in love with Trent and all his baggage, versus being alone or even with someone I didn’t have such an intense attraction with, would I rather the latter? I wasn’t sure.
***
Once Trent returned to our room, he kissed me hard and dragged me right out of my funk. We spent the evening picking up needed items for what he planned the following day. It was his day off, and where the crew and cast were heading to Sacramento, he and I were going on a hike through Yosemite. Trent excitedly purchased everything we would need from the proper attire, hiking boots, to a backpack filled with all sorts of emergency supplies.
The resort rented Jeeps to guests who wanted to explore the park, and the moment the sun rose we were on our way. I was part terrified and part excited. Sure, I’d been camping many times as a kid, but being in the wilderness alone with Trent scared me a bit.
Feeling my gaze fixed on his profile, he turned toward me with a smirk. “What?”
“You’ve done this before, right?”
“What? Hike?”
“Well that, and roughed it in the woods.”
“You have no faith in me?” He snatched my hand and squeezed it before adding, “We’re not exactly going to be in the woods alone. There are bears out there. I hired a private hiking guide to take us to Glacier Point.”
“You did?” I asked excitedly. “I always wanted to see it.” Hearing this I went from being apprehensive to eager, especially knowing we were going to be with a professional.
Lifting my hand, he kissed my knuckles and shrugged. “Just say it, I’m amazing.”
“Amazingly conceited? Yes, that you are.” I teased. “How long is the hike?”
“Four hours. Afterward, I have a surprise for you.”
“Which is...”
“Nope. You’ll just have to wait and see.” And with that, my nerves spiked once again.
“Just promise me we’re not free falling off the top of the falls, or bungee jumping off the side of a cliff.”
“Nothing like that, but my plan will be much more exhilarating to your libido.” He threw me a wink and turned up the radio, probably to shut me up. Not long after, Trent pulled into the visitor center parking lot. “We’re here.”
Once he retrieved our backpack, we ambled inside and met our guide. Doug gave a quick rundown of the trails we would be exploring, and minutes later we were on our way. Doug guided us along the route, pointing out facts as we hiked our way to the falls. During, Trent held my hand helping me when I needed it and whispered naughty things in my ear when Doug wasn’t paying attention.
Before we knew it, we arrived at our destination and the exertion it took to get there was most definitely worth it. “This is gorgeous,” I said in awe.
“It is pretty spectacular,” Trent agreed. When I turned to look his way, his eyes were focused on me. Butterflies took flight in my gut, not because he was staring at me but more so because of the look on his face. I’d seen that look, several times now, and it meant he wanted to devour every inch of me.
“Okay folks. This is where I leave you.” Doug handed Trent a two-way radio. “Channel 18 will get you the tour guide office. Once you’re ready, give us a call, and we’ll be here in fifteen minutes.”
“It took us four hours to travel fifteen minutes?” I joked.
“Well, we kind of have a shortcut that’s not very scenic,” Doug responded in all seriousness.
Trent chuckled at the look on my face and nodded toward Doug. “Thanks, man. I have it covered from here.”
We enjoyed the view, I leaned over the stone wall, and Trent pressed up behind me. His arms loosely circled my body in a familiar way. To any unsuspecting person nearby, we looked like a couple in love, and my thoughts drifted to the things Tommy said. Maybe he was right, and it was no one’s business what Trent did for a living but ours.
“Penny for your thoughts,” Trent whispered into my ear.
I twisted my head to bring us face-to-face. “Thank you. This is really lovely.”
He kissed the tip of my nose, something I’d come to find very endearing, and then my lips. “I had a feeling you’d enjoy it. I do have a confession to make,” he said with a boyish smile. “My surprise is really why we’re here. The hike was just a filler.”
“Are you going to tell me what that is now?”
Once again, he brought his lips to mine in a slow passionate kiss. “I’d rather show you. Ready?”
“I think so.”
“Don’t be so skeptical. Trust me?” My nod was automatic. A week ago, I would have hesitated at his question. But now, having spent day and night with him since arriving to Yosemite, I did trust him. I just hoped with each day that passed as my heart became more invested, I could trust him with that too.