Chapter Ten
I slowly came up to the surface and realized something. I didn’t want to. This was new. New and exciting. I decided to push the doubt back to the recesses of my brain and just let it go.
“Ok, so, now what?”
He smiled his devilish smile. “Well, now you sleep. I’m gonna go home ‘cause if I stay, I cannot be held responsible for what happens next and it won’t be slow. I can tell you that much. Well, maybe I could manage that the second time around.”
Oh. That felt nice.
“Ok. Sor-“
“Stop. We are going to have to lay some ground rules again George. No more sorry’s unless you really have done something to be sorry for. Got it? If I am here, it’s because I want to be. If I’m here and exhausted and likely looking like shit, it’s because I choose to. I don’t do things I don’t choose to do so get me on this. Stop with the sorry.
“Ok.”
“Next, I’m into you. Believe it because it’s true. No matter what you might hear or think you might know, it’s true. Got it?”
“Yes, I-“
“Don’t worry, darling. It’s just that dating me, might come with some complications that don’t normally complicate relationships. Like say, fans who think that I’m supposed to be dating them or belong to them because I’m a super-hot an actor on TV.” He sat back and gave me his best Blue Steel impression. “I can’t promise easy with me, but if you trust me, we can get through it.”
“Ok.”
“Ok? That’s it? Tired baby?” He swept my hair back from my face and looked so adorably concerned. I could get used to this.
“Yeah.”
“Ok, go to bed. I need to get out of here. Lock your doors behind me.”
He got up and I instantly felt cold and lonely. He gave off some good heat that one.
He grabbed my hand and pulled me up and into a giant bear hug. He held me and rubbed my back and just plain soothed away my nerves. How was he able to do that so well?
I looked up and held his face in my hands. “Thank you Finn.”
He smiled. “Ok, rule three. No more thanking me. Really. Please. George, I’m just glad I got through to you.” His eyes took on an intensity that was quite marvelous to watch. “You’re mine now Georgina Marie Windsor. Mine. Are you ok with that?”
My heart skipped. I had never experienced a budding relationship like this. I always thought I was all feministy, but it turns out, I was wrong. Being his felt good. Not like a possession, but something to take care of, and watch out for. Really good.
He kissed her lightly and growled. “Never mind answering. I can see you still need some time to catch up to me. I gotta go before I can’t do slow babe.”
I walked him to the door and saw him out. Before he turned to leave, I called to him. “Finn?” He looked back. It was time for me to own my feelings. “Being yours makes you mine you know.”
He lunged back in for one last urgent, heated, toe melting kiss that promised being his was going to be well worth all pain and heartache it was sure to bring.
My phone woke me up and once again I cursed Sam for programming the world’s most annoying tone into my text alerts. Yet again, I had forgotten to put it on silent. Shit. The ringer was going nuts indicating there was a message and that was alternating with various texts coming in. I checked the time. Ten o’clock. Double shit. I needed to get up. I had a deadline to meet and I needed to get a move on. Suddenly I felt like there was a lot I needed to write down. However, after Finn left, I had a hard time getting to sleep and estimated I finally dropped like a stone around six. I fumbled around trying to reach the side table, silently thanking myself for investing in room darkening blinds, and finally felt my glasses. Sliding them on, I got up the courage to tackle the phone.
I could see I had three new voice mails and ten new texts. God, not another day like yesterday.
Texts or voice mails. Which would it be first? Texts were easier, so I took that route.
The first one was from Sam. It had come in the night before.
Have a great time, blah blah blah.
Delete.
Next one was from Finn.
Where are u? Starting to worry. Text me back.
Ouch, I felt that one. It had also come in sometime last night. Delete.
The last one was from Finn again. This one had come in about twenty minutes after he had left this morning. It said simply- Miss you. Her heart did a little double beat that ended in a jolt down to my toes again. I hitched up my big girl pants and replied, Miss u too.
Ok, now the voice mails.
First one from my editor.
Great meeting. Follow up. Send draft by next week.
Ok, saved that one.
The next one was from Finn again looking for me. Same went for the third one. Shit, I was an ass. I got out of bed and dragged my sorry butt to the shower, humming and smiling like a lunatic and I didn’t care one bit. It appeared the time may have come to move forward. Not too far forward, just forward.
As per usual, I was running late for my meeting with the producers of the movie I was consulting on. It was an adaptation of my first novel. The project occupied way too much of my time, but I couldn’t find the desire to give up control. So, I found myself that morning in a crazy rush to leave the house. I grabbed my phone without looking at it as I was running out the door. I was going to see who had texted me, when a piece of paper taped to my door caught my eye.
Back off from my boyfriend, bitch! Finn is mine.
Wow, what the hell? I shoved the letter into my purse and put off thinking about it until I could devote the time that one needed and to figure out what my next steps were. Or just put my head in the sand which was what I usually do so that sounded like a decent plan.
A few minutes into my drive, my phone rang again. I answered it to high pitched screeching, followed shortly by my name being yelled at a pitch only dogs should be able to hear.
“George! Where have you been? I have been calling for nearly 24 hours!”
“I’m sorry, Sam. You know how bad I am with this phone.”
“Yes, I do and I am going to have to do something about that. This was a best friend emergency. Frankie and I are going insane waiting to hear from you. Two dates, and no details! Two dates with one of GQ’s hottest men of 2014, and no details for your best friends? Who does that? Do we need to go over the rules of being a best friend?”
“Jesus, not more rules from you too.”
“Well, come on. Out with it. Oh, wait, I’m going to conference in Frankie.”
“Fine. Let’s get this over with.” I waited for Sam to connect the three of us.
“Ok she’s on.”
“George?” Frankie. Finally. My level headed friend. The one that will make me think to reason, not like Sam, who crosses the street without looking both ways. “Hey Frankie.”
“So, dating much? Hottest man of 2014? Wow, George. Go big or go home, huh?”
“I didn’t know, Frankie. I’m still not sure. We’re taking things slow.”
“Oh God, why me? I don’t need this stress, Lord. She’s just a little slow, someone please help her. Only person alive who is dating a high profile, most wanted man around and wants to take things slow. Honestly. George, you need to lock that down. Do you know how many other women are lining up for a shot?”
“Come on Sam. You’re not making things better. This is all new to me. And on that note. I had a crazy night last night. Roller coaster ride from hell and I hear I have you to thank for that.”
“Me? What did I do?”
“Your mouth did it Sammy. Well, more like your fingers. Texting from my phone? You told him? How could you?”
“Well, did it help at all?”
“Help? I nearly committed a double homicide. You and Finn were both on my major shit list. It was messed up Sam. Like crazy. I don’t know. Time will tell but he stayed, but didn’t stay if you get my drift.”
“Eeeeeeeeee.” Was that really Frankie making that horrid noise? “Omg Omg omg, Georgina Windsor had a Finn Lowry sleep over!”
“Frankie, please. What has gotten into you? No, he didn’t sleep over, he came over sometime before three and stayed until after four. For most of that we fought like maniacs and then I spent thirty minutes bawling my eyes out and then we spent fifteen hot minutes making out like teenagers. Then he left before things went further.”
“Oh George. I’m so happy for you.”
“Frankie, are you crying?”
“Maybe. Sam is too. I can hear her.”
“Ladies, get a hold of yourselves. We’re moving slow. This is all pretty scary for me and I am still learning to deal with keeping the memories locked away and not mess up what’s happening now.”
“You’re going to be fine, love. He’s a good guy and it seems like he’s pretty into you. When we talked he lost his mind. He’s not going to let you put up that damn wall you love to reinforce, George. He kinda scared me a bit with his big macho man self. Then when he texted me looking for you last night I knew. I knew you got scared and split and knew he needed to find you. Sorry, girl, but someone had to do it.”
“I know Sam. I know. I feel good. Happy actually, before the guilt sets in. Oh, hey listen. I got the weirdest message on a piece of paper taped to my door this morning. And since you were my go to girl for stalker research, maybe you can give me some insight?”
“Shit, George, what did it say?”
“It said, Back off from my boyfriend, bitch! Finn is mine.”
“So, did you call the cops?”
“Not yet. I have a meeting with a producer and my agent. That screenplay project is moving forward today. I don’t have time to call the cops and deal with this.”
“George, you can’t treat that stuff lightly. Call the cops and call Finn.”
“Ok. Ok. I will. I texted him this morning. After he texted me when he got home last night.”
“What did he say?”
“Miss you already.”
“Ahhhh.”
“Frankie, are you crying again?” She didn’t respond. She was most likely too busy crying.
“What am I going to do with him? I gotta go. Doesn’t California law frown upon driving and talking on your cell?”
“Ok, well next time, don’t take so long to call and then we won’t have to talk while you are driving all over town.
“Ok, promise. We will get together next weekend? I’ve got a deadline that I need to push through this weekend.”
“Sure, later babe.”
Three hours later I rushed out to the car, hoping that my phone was in there. I realized halfway through the meeting that I had dropped it somewhere and after some frantic digging in my stupid oversized purse, I prayed it had just dropped out of it inside the car.
I hopped in and was only momentarily relieved to see it flashing angrily at me from the floor. I swiped it on and saw that, as per usual, I had what felt like a zillion messages. I scrolled through the numbers and my stomach did its’ circus act when I landed on one number in particular. That number had called five times while I was in there. And oh shit, it had texted four times too.
I listened to the messages before I called him back. Crap. It seemed my cell phone was getting me into a ton of trouble lately. I wouldn’t be surprised if he implemented carrying and answering of cell phone rules soon.
I scrolled through the texts. I decided to call Finn while driving home. He answered on the first ring. “George, baby. Where have you been? I’ve been worried sick.”
I held my breath, let my stomach settle and then let the breath out. “Really? Worried about me?”
“Yes, about you. Who else? I’ve been trying to call you for the past three hours and now I have to go to set and don’t have much time. I really need to talk to you though. Can you come onto the set again tonight?”
“Sorry, I can’t Finn. I have plans but will be in later tonight. We can talk on the phone?”
“Well, I’m done around midnight? Can I call then?”
“Sure,” I breathed into the phone. “Yes.”
“Ok, but until then, do me a favour, be careful. I had the weirdest fan try to talk to me on the set this morning. I had to have her removed. I don’t want any of my crazy fans to bug you. They can get a little obsessive.”
“Yes, so I’ve seen.”
“What have you seen?”
“Well-“
“Damn, I have to go. Can you text me what you were going to say? And George?” He lowered his voice until I could barely hear.
“Yes?”
“I miss you still.”
He disconnected and I nearly missed my turn I was so flustered.
Later that night I was just crawling into bed, when the bloody phone rang again. I glanced at the call display and my anger dissipated. How could I have forgotten he was calling? It was midnight. Looked like he was a prompt little guy. Could spell trouble for chronically late little ol’ me.
I answered it before the dreaded voice mail got it and I was banished from owning a cell phone at all.
“Hi,” I said.
“Hey. So, what are you doing?”
“Trying to sleep. Just dragged my sorry ass into bed and nearly passed out just as you called.”
“Sorry, babe. What have you got on for tomorrow?”
“Nothing. Glorious dead space all day long.”
“Perfect. Sleep baby and then make sure you answer your door around nine.”
Mmm, there it was again. That baby thing that made me feel weak and unusually hot. What the hell was happening to me?
“Ok, Finn. I will.”
“Say it again before I hang up and go to bed.”
“Say what?”
“You know. Say it.”
“Oh.” I lowered my voice to a whisper in my lame ass attempt to be sexy. “Finn.”
“I love to hear you say my name George. Can’t wait to hear you say it when you’re in the middle of an orgasm.”
Ok, I did not know what to say to that. Except possibly, “oh,” so I went with that.
“Night baby, sleep tight.”
“Night,” I said then hung up and fell asleep with a gigantic, goofy grin across my face.