Chapter Nineteen
The night before her audition, Ashleigh was alone in her hotel room, sitting at the little dresser table opposite the mirror, eating her room service dinner. The restaurant in the hotel wasn’t the best, but it served a purpose, and she wasn’t particularly hungry that night anyway, far too nervous and on edge to actually have a proper appetite.
The thing she was dreading the most was having to see Francis again, to sit in a private audition room, and sing and perform for him. She knew his creepy, lecherous eyes would be on her the whole time.
And her thoughts kept coming back to Rico too. Had she been too harsh on him? She missed not being friendly with him, not hanging out or joking around on set. Maybe she should send him a text, or make the effort to go and stand with him in the line for coffee next time she saw him. Just something to break the ice and the barrier that seemed to have come up between them. Even if they weren’t “seeing” each other anymore, having sex, or dating or whatever it was, she’d still like it if they could be friends.
An hour or so later, she was just getting ready for bed and changed into her pyjamas when there was an unexpected knock on her hotel room door.
She assumed it would probably be one of the staff members coming to collect her room service tray and empty plates, so she opened it up and was taken aback to see Rico stood there with his hands sheepishly in his pockets.
“Rico…I….” She didn’t know what to say. She definitely hadn’t been expecting this so she was thrown.
“Sorry it’s a bit late,” he mumbled. “I didn’t wake you up, did I?”
“No, no, I was just getting ready for bed, I hadn’t gone yet.”
“Oh right, good. Can I come in?”
He made a move as if he was about to put one foot in the door but Ashleigh stood firm. As much as she’d been thinking she missed him earlier, it was a bit weird of him to just show up at her room like this late at night. She hoped he wasn’t expecting to stay over or have sex or something. She wasn’t about that.
“Well, like I said, I was just literally about to go to bed. It’s not a good time.”
“Oh.” He seemed disappointed, but still didn’t leave, just remained standing there with his hands in his pockets.
“Look,” she continued, softening her tone a bit, but still firm with him. “I’m not just gonna be some booty call for you, Rico, if that’s what you think this–”
“Just let me speak.” He held up one hand and interrupted her.
She stopped talking, closing her mouth.
“That’s…that’s not why I’m here,” he sighed. “I guess you mustn’t think much of me if you think that but…listen, I know I said I’m not interested in relationships and the truth is I’ve never had intentions to settle down with anyone, not usually…but…I feel as though I could make an exception for you…”
She grew more confused the longer she listened to him speak. Surely, he couldn’t be saying what she thought he was saying?
“What…what do you mean?” she said tentatively.
“What do you think I mean, Ashleigh?” He smiled at her warmly, looking into her eyes. “I mean, I think I could give this a go. I’d like to give this a go. I miss you.”
“I miss you too,” she admitted in a quiet squeak, her heart pounding and her hands growing a little clammy. She was still so reluctant to get her hopes up, but he seemed genuine.
“Can…I come in?” he asked shyly.
She nodded, and stepped back, closing the door behind him once he was inside.
He held open his arms for a hug and she almost fell into them, wrapping hers around his sturdy, muscular frame as he enveloped her in his warmth.
She buried her face into his chest and inhaled his scent.
His hands gently ran up and down her back, and she instantly felt as though there was something different about this hug.
It felt real, loving, personal, and tender.
His fingertips were so soft and gentle, and everything about him filled her with love, sending her head into a spin.
They hugged for a long time, in silence.
There was nothing sexual about it. There were no primal urges to push each other against the wall and rip each other’s clothes off like on previous occasions. They just wanted to comfort one another, enjoy the presence and closeness of the other person, and that felt more important and crucial to Ashleigh right now. That was what made the difference between some work fling and an actual relationship.
“You still nervous about that damn audition?” he asked softly as they pulled back from the hug.
She nodded.
“It’s tomorrow, right?”
She nodded again, impressed that he’d remembered. He really was a sweetheart. She felt bad for being so harsh on him.
“Want to run lines again like we did last time?”
“That’d be nice. Thank you.”
They sat on the bed together, with Rico holding the extract from the script and reading out the other parts as Ashleigh smoothly rattled off her lines.
“You’ll be fine,” Rico insisted once they’d finished. “You know this inside out now and…you’re good. You really are very good.”
She blushed a bit and he leaned in, gently kissing her on the cheek and not pushing anything any further.
“You’re a natural at this. I mean it.”
“Thank you,” she smiled and stood up, putting the script down on the side and taking a sip of water.
He stood too, getting ready to leave.
“Would…would you like to stay the night?”
He seemed surprised, looking at her steadily. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah,” she smiled. “I’m sure.”